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When you choose Cavvy Structural Engineering, you work and communicate directly with an experienced senior-level structural engineer throughout your project. This hands-on approach allows us to better understand your goals and deliver practical solutions across a wide range of structural engineering services.

We provide reports, drawings, analysis, and a variety of other deliverables for building projects in British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon. Click on the the links below to learn more about our most common services. And then, take a look at some of our past projects.

Have a project to discuss? Need a quote for services? Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Planning a renovation and need to determine if a wall is non-loadbearing?

Noticing issues with your home that require a structural assessment?

Did a home inspector find areas that require review by a structural engineer?

Either way, we’ve got you covered. Cavvy Structural Engineering provides structural assessment reports for a variety of requests. Our process starts with understanding the reason for the request: curiosity and planning, strata or city requirements, concern and peace-of-mind. Once our approach is established, we ask the client to provide any record drawings available from the building department. We review these documents and schedule a site visit. Once on site, we will observe the structure and discuss our observations with the client. We will then follow-up with any structural analysis necessary and submit a sealed summary report to the client.

Fees vary depending on complexity of the request and project location. Please contact our office for more information.

Submitting a permit for a new single-family home or coach house?

Designing your dream custom house and need an experienced structural engineer to provide detailed design drawings?

Does your Part 9 design have Part 4 components (tall walls, engineered beams, steel) that require a structural engineer?

Cavvy Structural Engineering is well equipped to take on residential projects of any size. We complete structural design and create detailed engineered drawings, often with a quick turnaround to suit your permitting schedule. Once a contractor has been selected, we work with them to determine their requirements before issuing construction drawings. Throughout the build we provide field reviews to observe progress. Upon completion of the structure, we conduct a final field review to ensure substantial compliance with the building code before issuing Schedule C-B.

Our structural drawings are developed with construction in mind. Rather than relying on generic details, we provide drawings with project-specific details. By identifying important structural considerations early, we can help contractors anticipate material needs, coordinate construction activities, and minimize delays caused by unexpected site conditions or design clarifications.

Fees vary depending on complexity of the design, size of the building, and project location. Please provide preliminary architectural drawings when requesting a quote. Please contact our office for more information.

Planning to open up or extend a living space?

Constructing an exterior deck?

Need to repair some existing damage on the house?

Cavvy Structural Engineering works closely with contractors and homeowners on renovation and repair projects of all sizes. Working with existing structures requires careful investigation, practical problem-solving, and thoughtful design. We provide clear engineering guidance that helps contractors build efficiently and homeowners navigate the process with confidence.

Fees can vary widely depending on the scope of the project. Renovation and repair projects often require drawing packages for permits. Small modifications may be required once the existing structure is exposed. Field review costs can also vary depending on the complexity and location of the project. Please contact our office for more information.

Cavvy Structural Engineering is experienced with cold-formed steel (steel stud) design. We are often retained by contractors and architects working on tenant improvement projects where new walls and ceilings are required. Our established detail library and analysis software help provide quick turnarounds on permit drawings. We support the project team through construction with field reviews and sign-off on schedules.

Fees vary depending on the complexity of the design, size of the project, and project location. Due to the high repeatability with steel stud design, we are often able to provide preferred rates to established and returning clients. Please provide preliminary architectural drawings or basic project information (room height, existing building construction, preferred material and supplier) when requesting a quote. Please contact our office for more information.

Cavvy Structural Engineering have expert-level knowledge with suspended ceiling systems, including t-bar, gypsum board ceiling, custom architectural panels, and other hanging attachments. We use the force-based methodology of BCBC 2024 to provide a safe, code-compliant seismic bracing plan. We also have a catalog of details and tools to properly address the anchorage requirements for seismic bracing.

Although simple in principle, suspended ceiling design can be challenging due to the ceiling plenum constraints. We communicate closely with the installation contractor during construction to help work through these challenges as they arise. This helps ensure all work is compliant prior to completing field reviews and project sign-off.

Fees vary depending on the complexity of the design, size of the project, and project location. Due to the high repeatability involved with suspended ceiling design, we are often able to provide preferred rates to established and returning clients. Please provide preliminary architectural drawings or basic project information (plenum depth, total size of room, bulkhead requirements, existing building construction, preferred material and supplier) when requesting a quote. Please contact our office for more information.

Has your architect or building department asked for a seismic engineer sign-off?

Do the mechanical and electrical drawings specify a seismic engineer sign-off for restraint and anchorage?

Are you curious about how to improve the seismic resistance of your home or building?

Seismic design is a fundamental part of our practice. Our senior engineer is trained on the latest Seismic Retrofit Guidelines (2023) and works within one of Canada’s most seismically active regions, where seismic requirements are an essential part of everyday structural design. 

We can provide a variety of practical services focused on seismic design including: designs, sign-off on schedules, and general assessments. 

Fees vary depending on complexity and location of the project. Please contact our office for more information.

Connection design is at the heart of our practice. And whether it is a simple shear connection for residential construction, a moment frame for a custom house, a miscellaneous metals package, or a complex braced bay design in a seismic retrofit, we have the experience and resources to take on the design.

“Connection design is the last bastion of rational design.”
-Dr. William A. Thornton, P.E.

Although we use advanced software analysis (Idea Statica) in our workflow, our designs still originate from a rational perspective of the load path. This perspective leans on our expertise with local fabricators and good engineering practice. We have numerous design tools developed in-house to make the design process efficient. We are also able to provide design drawings that can be easily transferred to a fabricator for shop drawings.

Fees vary depending on scope of work and complexity of the design. Please provide the pre-existing project budget if available. Please contact our office for more information.

Cavvy Structural Engineering provides Independent Reviews of Structural Design for engineering firms throughout British Columbia, helping teams meet EGBC requirements with confidence. Since founding our practice, we have completed 500+ independent reviews, supporting both long-standing clients and firms seeking a trusted review partner for the first time. Our reviews are thorough, practical, and collaborative, with a focus on providing clear, constructive feedback.

We have extensive experience and are able to review a variety of projects including:

  • Light-frame wood
  • Steel connections
  • Structural steel low-rise buildings
  • Metal deck design
  • Cold-formed steel
  • Reinforced concrete retaining walls
  • Reinforced concrete foundations
  • Reinforced concrete suspended slabs
  • Retrofit and repair on existing structures
  • Seismic upgrades and retrofits

 

Fees are billed at our current hourly design rate, but we are often able to work within a firm’s pre-existing project budget if discussed in advance. We offer preferred (reduced) rates for long-term, returning firms.

Cavvy Structural Engineering provides structural analysis support to engineering firms that require additional design capacity for large, complex, or remote projects. Working as an extension of your team, we deliver technically sound analysis supported by clear, well-organized calculation packages that are easy to review and integrate into project documentation. We use advanced analytical software, where necessary, in combination with customized design tools to develop efficient engineering solutions while maintaining the organization, consistency, and attention to detail that consulting firms rely on.

We have extensive training, experience, and capacity to assist with a variety of projects including:

  • Light-frame wood residential and commercial buildings
  • Detailed steel connection design
  • Structural steel low-rise buildings with various lateral force resistance systems (brace bays, moment frames, metal deck diaphragms)
  • Reinforced concrete low-rise buildings (one- and two-way slabs, slab bands)
  • Reinforced concrete retaining walls and foundations
  • Retrofit and repair on existing structures
  • Seismic upgrades and retrofits

 

We develop our fees based on discussions with the firm regarding scope of work, available budget, and deliverables. We are often able to provide preferred (reduced) rates for long-term, ongoing design work with established firms.