Renovation, Adaptive Reuse and Historic Building Structural Engineering
Pittsburgh has more good old buildings than almost any city its size, and most of them are worth keeping. Rise Structural Group provides structural engineering for renovations, additions and adaptive reuse of existing buildings throughout Pittsburgh, western Pennsylvania and the surrounding region, from a century-old warehouse becoming apartments to a bank branch becoming a restaurant.
What we do
- Evaluate existing structural systems and capacity from drawings, field measurement and visual assessment
- Design new openings in floors, roofs and bearing walls
- Strengthen existing beams, columns, floors and foundations for new loads
- Add stories, mezzanines, elevators and stairs to existing buildings
- Design additions that tie into existing structures, including expansion joints and differential settlement
- Replace deteriorated framing, masonry and concrete
- Convert warehouses, industrial buildings, schools and churches to new uses
- Repair and stabilize historic facades, cornices and masonry
- Prepare code analyses for change of occupancy under the existing building code
Working with what is there
Existing buildings rarely match their drawings, and often there are no drawings. We measure in the field, open ceilings and walls where it counts, and design around the structure as found rather than as assumed. We are comfortable with riveted steel, cast iron, unreinforced masonry, heavy timber, terra cotta arch floors and concrete-encased steel, and we know when the existing building code lets you keep what you have and when it does not.
Keeping the budget realistic
Renovation surprises are structural surprises. We identify the high-risk conditions early, recommend targeted probes before bidding, and write details that give the contractor room to adapt in the field. Where a historic building is involved, we design repairs that keep the original fabric wherever it can be kept.
Recent work
- Brewer’s Block, Pittsburgh: three-building apartment community including the restoration and renovation of a historic concrete-encased steel building with a new rooftop pool.
- The Dog Penn, Pittsburgh: conversion of a former sausage factory into a dog-friendly bar and restaurant.
- Ten60 Bolivar, Cleveland: four new residential floors built over an existing three-story parking garage.
- Ongoing sidewalk vault, sub-basement and full-building repair program for a downtown Pittsburgh high-rise.
Who we work with
Architects, developers, owners, historic preservation consultants, property managers and contractors.
Talk to us early
The best time to call is before you close on the building. Call 412-230-3583 or contact us.