The Customer
A U.S.-based structural engineering firm led by a licensed Professional Engineer was managing a growing portfolio of residential projects. The firm needed additional engineering support to meet demanding schedules while maintaining established engineering and documentation standards.
For this single-family residence, the firm required support for a complex cast-in-place reinforced concrete structural system. The design included a thickened-slab foundation, reinforced-concrete walls, buttresses, roof slabs, and an inverted-catenary-arch roof.
The Challenge
The project combined unconventional structural geometry with detailed requirements for code, documentation, and design coordination.
Complex roof and wall geometry
The inverted catenary-arch roof, curved form, buttressed walls, and architectural openings required precise structural modeling and detailing.
Multiple loading conditions
Gravity, wind, and seismic forces had to be evaluated while confirming stable and continuous load transfer through the structure.
Reinforcement complexity
Foundations, walls, roof systems, and connections required detailed reinforcement layouts that balanced structural requirements with constructability. Architectural revisions: Ongoing design changes had to be incorporated without creating inconsistencies between calculations and drawings.
Permit requirements
Structural documentation needed to comply with applicable U.S. building codes, client drafting standards, and Professional Engineer review requirements.
Resource constraints
The firm needed additional engineering capacity to support concurrent projects while allowing its internal team to focus on reviews, client coordination, and project management.
First-time offshore engagement
Clear communication, reliability, and adherence to established workflows were essential to building confidence in the collaboration.
The Solution
Flatworld Solutions assigned a dedicated structural engineering team to support the project under the oversight of the client’s Project Engineer and Professional Engineer.
Direct use of design inputs
Architectural drawings, PDF markups, hand sketches, and client-provided information were converted into structural models, calculations, and drawings without additional data preparation.
Structural analysis
Models were developed to evaluate gravity, wind, and seismic loads; member forces; deflections; load paths; and overall stability.
Concrete system design
The team designed the foundation, slab-on-grade, reinforced concrete walls, buttress elements, roof systems, and associated structural components.
Specialized roof evaluation
The inverted catenary roof system and its supporting elements received focused analysis to verify force transfer and structural performance.
Reinforcement detailing
Reinforcement layouts, sections, and construction details were developed to support code compliance, durability, and field execution.
Construction drawings
Foundation plans, roof plans, structural sections, connection details, isometric views, general structural notes, and related details were prepared in PDF and DWG formats.
Design update management
Architectural revisions and client comments were incorporated across calculations and drawings as the project evolved.
Quality control
Calculation packages and drawing sets underwent internal reviews, independent design checks, and coordination checks before Professional Engineer review.
Code compliance
Engineering work followed the applicable IBC, ASCE 7, ACI 318, AISC 360, and NDS standards identified for the project.
Flexible engagement
The hourly model allowed engineering resources to be adjusted in response to project milestones and workload changes.
The Result
The engagement supported the successful delivery of the residence while extending the firm’s engineering capabilities across its broader project workload.
- Completed structural analysis, reinforced concrete design calculations, reinforcement detailing, and construction documentation for the residence.
- Delivered coordinated structural information to support design review, permitting, and construction.
- Reduced the amount of production work handled by the in-house engineering team.
- Enabled access to additional engineering resources without adding full-time internal staff.
- Supported the timely incorporation of architectural revisions and review comments.
- Maintained compliance with client standards and applicable U.S. design requirements.
- Delivered 450+ engineering deliverables across the broader engagement.
- Established an ongoing engineering relationship following the initial project collaboration.
The Summary
Flatworld Solutions supported a structurally complex reinforced-concrete residence through analysis, design, detailing, and construction documentation, while providing the client with additional engineering capacity for its broader project workload.
- Complex reinforced concrete design
- Inverted catenary roof system
- Structural analysis and calculations
- Reinforcement detailing
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