Tri-Tech’s structural engineering included designs for the addition’s foundation, wall, and roof framing. As part of its mechanical designs, multiple pad-mounted HVAC units were installed behind the building for flexible zoning and ease of maintenance.
Tri-Tech has experience in many commercial building projects, including existing building renovations or new construction. Tri-Tech has developed the tools necessary to provide to develop and deliver practical solutions and quality designs, regularly communicating with owners, architects, and builders.
Demolition
Assisting the architect, Tri-Tech’s SE team determined in its analysis that the building drawings didn’t accurately represent the building’s structural engineering features, including how the floors were framed and constructed. It was important to the SE team to avoid unnecessary and costly demolition, so they developed a conservative design for the updated elevator and elevator shaft that ensured the safety of the surrounding floors. The outdated, limited drawings also meant that Tri-Tech’s SE team had to conduct extensive analysis on the elevator pit, backfilling information about the pit and floor slab into any of their potential redesigns. Despite the constraints related to the lack of drawings, Tri-Tech developed a redesign of the elevator pit and floor slab without requiring additional time from the project and construction timeline.
While Tri-Tech provided the project’s final structural-steel design, Grace Construction Management also requested Tri-Tech be the Engineer of Record for the project. Tri-Tech developed their detailed steel engineering designs, which included every hole and weld, with 3D software (Tekla Structures). Additionally, Tri-Tech supplied the structural steel-shop drawings for fabrication. The builder then also requested a separate service for concrete designs from Tri-Tech for the addition’s foundation, floor slab, CMU retaining walls, stair shafts, elevator shafts, and partitions. Providing these numerous services allowed Tri-Tech to help the builder avoid extra costs, time, communications with multiple firms, and overall construction management.
Tri-Tech offers forensics-and-investigative services for many kinds of possible claims. Tri-Tech’s team’s cumulative engineering experience enables them to offer detailed investigations involving structural investigation—structural collapse or damage, roof inspections for wind and hail damage, foundation failures, repair recommendations—mechanical investigations—product liability and failures, mechanical pipe systems, heating and air-conditioning failures—and electrical investigations—lighting strikes and electrical systems analysis. Tri-Tech can often be on site within the same week of receiving a call, and its commitment to being “built on integrity” means its reports will vindicate the facts involved in a claim.