Technical engineering capabilities for buildings, sites and construction.

Structural Engineering

RAM’s structural engineering work may support new buildings and structures, foundations, additions, renovations, structural modifications and existing-building projects. The engineering is developed around the proposed work, available site or building information and the responsibilities established for the project.

Structural considerations may include framing systems, load paths, foundations, openings, alterations, equipment supports, material transitions and coordination with architectural, mechanical or other project requirements. RAM works with a range of structural materials and systems, including wood, structural steel, concrete, masonry and cold-formed steel where appropriate to the project.

Starting structural topics may include

• New buildings, additions and structural systems
• Foundations and support conditions
• Renovations, openings and structural modifications
• Equipment supports and modifications to existing structures
• Existing-building framing and verified field conditions
• Coordination with architectural design and other disciplines

For architect-led applications, see Architect Project Support →

Civil & Site Engineering

RAM’s civil and site engineering work may support site development and building-related site requirements. The scope is defined around the property, proposed work, available survey or servicing information and the project responsibilities assigned to RAM.

Potential work may involve grading, drainage, stormwater, site servicing, water and sewer servicing and coordination between the building and site. Requirements vary with the property, municipal context, project stage and information available.

Starting civil and site topics may include

• Site development and site planning information
• Site grading and building elevations
• Drainage and stormwater requirements
• Water and sewer servicing
• Coordination of access, servicing and building-related site needs

Building Design & Drafting

RAM’s Building Design & Drafting capability can support the development of coordinated technical drawings for new buildings, additions and renovations. The available scope depends on the project, permitting requirements and the professional disciplines required.

For appropriate projects, RAM may coordinate Building Design & Drafting + Structural Engineering + Civil & Site Engineering to provide a coordinated building and engineering drawing package. This can include projects where the required building design, code review, permit documentation and engineering can be completed within RAM’s professional scope. Where the project requires an architect or other professional consultants, RAM works within the appropriate consultant team.

Starting design and documentation topics may include

• Building layouts, elevations and technical drawings
• Permit and construction documentation
• Revit / BIM documentation and coordination
• Integration of structural, civil/site and building information
• Coordination with project participants and required professional services

For building and development applications, see Building & Development Projects →

Assessments & Investigations

Assessments and investigations help establish information about existing buildings, structures, foundations and other engineering concerns. This work may be used to understand a reported condition, inform a property or project decision, or identify what additional review may be appropriate.

Assessment work is distinct from design work. An investigation may document observations and engineering considerations without automatically including drawings, repair design, construction documents or monitoring unless those services are separately included in RAM’s scope.

Starting assessment topics may include

• Structural and foundation conditions
• Deterioration, damage or movement concerns
• Previous alterations and available existing drawings
• Field observations and available project information
• Feasibility considerations for proposed changes

For residential applications, see Residential Projects →

Construction & Contract Administration

RAM’s involvement during construction depends on the agreed engineering scope and the services retained for the project. Construction-phase support may include responses to questions related to RAM’s design, review of relevant field conditions and coordination of engineering matters within RAM’s responsibility.

Where included, services may also involve field reviews, review of relevant submittals or changes, and contract-administration support associated with RAM’s work. These activities are not automatically included on every project, and the required approach depends on the project and professional responsibilities involved.

Starting construction-phase topics may include

• Engineering questions within RAM’s agreed scope
• Relevant site conditions, construction deficiencies or proposed changes
• Field reviews where included in the retained services
• Review of applicable submittals within RAM’s scope
• Contract-administration support where RAM has been retained for it

Specialty Engineering

Specialty engineering addresses clearly defined components, systems or project-specific technical requirements. The role, design criteria, interfaces and required deliverables should be established before the work proceeds.

Potential applications may include delegated design, structural steel connections, steel stud or cold-formed steel engineering, aluminum and glass-supported components, equipment supports, reinforcing or modifying existing structures for new equipment, shop-drawing-related engineering, temporary conditions and other specialized structural components or systems.

Starting specialty topics may include

• Delegated-design components or systems
• Structural steel connections and miscellaneous steel
• Steel stud and cold-formed steel engineering
• Aluminum, railing and glass-supported structural components
• Equipment supports and structural modifications for new equipment
• Shop-drawing-related engineering where appropriate
• Temporary or other specialized structural conditions

For contractor applications, see Contractor Engineering Support →