The Buildings Group at raSmith provides innovative and efficient structural design solutions for a wide range of project types and sizes. Our licensed structural engineers bring decades of combined experience and serve as trusted partners to support new construction, renovations, adaptive reuse, structural evaluations, structural repairs/reinforcements, specialty structures (towers, retaining walls, or custom steel framing), historic preservation, and peer reviews/value engineering.
We proudly serve clients throughout Milwaukee, Madison, and across the United States. Our team has contributed to the successful design of thousands of projects, earning repeat work from leading architects, contractors, developers, and municipalities. Several of these projects have earned national and regional recognition for engineering excellence, including awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Structural Engineers Association (SEA), and The Daily Reporter’s Top Projects.
Our cold-formed steel engineering group has also been honored by industry organizations such as the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) and the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA). Learn more about our cold-formed steel expertise.
We combine technical precision with a collaborative mindset, working closely with clients to meet the unique requirements of each project, from industrial to multi-family residential, mixed-use, higher education (including the University of Wisconsin system and others), K-12, retail, and more. This detail-driven approach consistently leads to exceptional outcomes and lasting client partnerships.
Structural Engineering Services
- Building Design: raSmith’s licensed structural engineers design innovative, efficient structural systems for new buildings using materials like cast-in-place concrete, pre-cast concrete, structural steel, masonry, wood, and cold-formed steel. We provide the experience required to meet your post-tensioned (PT) concrete design requirements in multi-story construction and podium structures. We prioritize safety, long-lasting performance, and architectural alignment.
- Bridge Inspection: Our comprehensive bridge inspection services ensure the safety and durability of pedestrian and vehicular bridges. We assess structural integrity and compliance with DOT and FHWA regulations, helping municipalities and owners protect vital infrastructure.
- Canopies/Unique Structures: Specializing in custom structural engineering, raSmith designs architecturally striking specialty structures like entry canopies, trellises, signage supports, and other unique architectural features–delivering solutions that blend aesthetic appeal with rigorous custom load and safety analyses.
- Cold-Formed Steel Engineering (CFS): Our cold-formed steel engineering team designs precise framing systems including load-bearing and non-load bearing walls, joists, and trusses. We support mid-rise and commercial building projects with expert structural steel detailing and innovative CFS solutions.
- Existing Structure Inspection, Evaluation: raSmith provides detailed structural inspections and evaluations for aging or compromised buildings, identifying critical issues and offering actionable recommendations to guide repairs, code compliance upgrades, and renovations.
- Renovation and Reinforcement of Existing Structures: We develop tailored engineering strategies for the renovation, reinforcement, or adaptive reuse of existing structures, addressing challenges such as vertical expansions, load capacity upgrades, and restoration while respecting existing conditions.
- Parking Structure Design: Our parking structure design integrates structural robustness with functional planning for above- and below-grade parking facilities. raSmith focuses on durability, traffic flow optimization, drainage, and safety to deliver long-term, practical solutions.
- Retaining Wall Design: raSmith engineers structurally-sound retaining wall systems – gravity, cantilevered, or mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls –designed to manage soil pressures, support site grading, and withstand complex loading scenarios.
- Tilt-up Structural Engineering: Supporting fast track commercial and industrial construction, our tilt-up strucutural engineering services include panel layout optimization, connection design, and erection planning to facilitate efficient, safe building assembly for fast-track commercial and industrial developments.
- Utility Support Design: We provide customized structural engineering solutions for utility supports, including pipe racks, equipment pads, transformer foundations, and custom steel framing.
What Type of Building Materials Are Integrated in raSmith's Structural Design?
No two structures demand the same solution. At raSmith, our structural engineers bring a deep understanding of material behavior, load paths, and real-world construction constraints to create designs that are efficient, practical to build, and fully code-compliant. We bring proven expertise to a wide range of structural systems, including:
- Cast-in-place concrete and post-tensioned concrete – foundations, slabs, and elevated structural systems
- Precast concrete and tilt-up concrete – wall panels, diaphragms, and connection detailing
- Structural steel - moment and braced frames, long-span systems, and composite
floor assemblies
- Masonry systems - load-bearing CMU walls, reinforced shear walls, and hybrid systems
- Wood and mass timber - conventional framing, glulam, CLT, and multi-story wood structures
- Cold-formed steel (CFS) - interior and exterior framing, load-bearing walls, and specialty detailing
In What Markets Does raSmith’s Buildings Group Work?
The structural design expertise of our structural engineers spans a variety of markets. We apply consistent technical rigor, regardless of project type, size, or material. raSmith’s Buildings Group supports clients across the following markets:
- Athletics
- Higher education
- K-12
- Mixed-use
- Multi-family
- Senior living
- Health care
- Religious
- Retail
- Restaurant
- Industrial
- Institutional
- Utility
Who Does raSmith’s Buildings Group Work With?
raSmith’s structural engineers collaborate across the industry. We work closely with:
- Architects - providing structural solutions that integrate seamlessly with the architectural vision
- MEP and civil engineers - designing systems that align with and support their engineering requirements
- Developers and owners - delivering efficient, code-compliant designs tailored to project goals and constraints
- General contractors and design-build teams - ensuring constructible, cost-effective structural systems
- Specialty contractors - providing delegated design services and thorough shop drawing reviews
Why Use raSmith's Buildings Group?
Working with raSmith’s structural engineering team means partnering with a firm known for engineering precision, responsiveness, and proven results. Our team brings both technical depth and practical field experience, delivering value across all phases of design and construction.
- Engineering foresight, including anticipating any unforeseen challenges in design and/or construction. Our licensed engineers have successfully completed thousands of structural design projects nationwide, ensuring early identification of design and constructability issues.
- Regular communication with the owner, architect, subconsultants, and other project stakeholders. We collaborate on projects nationwide, including a strong regional presence in Milwaukee and Madison.
- Focus on understanding project complexities, applying creativity, and managing finite design details.
- Discovery and analysis of all practical and cost-effective design alternatives, leading to the best solution that ensures constructability, sustainability, and overall client satisfaction.
- Detailed plans and specifications to ensure competitive bids and to help lower the final construction cost.
- Ability to always remain flexible and open-minded, including adapting to project changes that may require design revisions.
