Services & Projects

Accurate preliminary cost data is essential in determining the economic viability of any construction project. Selecting a cost effective structural system for a given project is a valuable decision tool when presented to the owner, developer or design team members in the early planning stages.

Economical structural solutions will vary with the intended use type and geographical location of any proposed facility. SSE, Inc. has a proven track record of providing timely and cost effective structural design schemes during this critical early planning phase.

Our services include the following key areas:

• Conceptual Cost Analysis
• Preliminary Design
• Project Scope Analysis
• Project Cost Analysis

Value Engineering, when applied to structural design, has been defined as a corrective process designed to reduce costs associated with the structural elements of a construction project while still maintaining the original functionality of the initial structural design.

The value engineering process should be embedded in the thought process of the various disciplines throughout the design phase but should be a prevailing concern in the early planning and design development stage. The ability to economize costly structural schemes may become a burden on other members of the design team once deep into the production of contract documents.

Design-build projects offer a unique opportunity to interface with the partnering contractor in the preliminary stages of design development and incorporate their expertise in producing a cost effective, value engineered, design. Decades of experience in the production of design-build projects has allowed SSE to gain the confidence of the region’s largest and most successful contractors and we continue to work closely with them on some of their most complex projects.

It is our goal to always engage other members of the design team early in the planning phase and offer timely, cost effective, value engineered structural solutions that must serve the owner’s needs.

A beneficial outgrowth of this project-based production process is the “Lean Construction” and “Integrated Project Delivery” approach. Viewing the project planning and delivery system as a whole instead of a compilation of individual contributions by project participants results in a continued evolution of cost effective solutions during the course of the project thereby enhancing the owner’s value in the completed work. Our firm’s participation in projects utilizing the “LC” and “IPD” approach has not only benefited those owners with cost effective solutions, but has continued to encourage an exchange of evolving ideas between disciplines beneficial to project delivery as a whole.

Application software for cost effective analysis of complex structures and foundation systems relies on a constantly evolving science. Our analysis software packages are routinely assessed in an effort to offer our clients the most current technology available when developing economical and sound structural solutions for their most demanding projects.

Analysis software currently utilized by our engineers includes:

• RAM Structural Systems by Bentley Systems, Inc.
• Visual Analysis by IES, Inc.
• Structure Point

Our clients expect delivery of a comprehensive set of design documents at the conclusion of the design phase for any project. Information contained in the design drawings and specifications must be presented in a manner to reduce the potential of non-owner generated change orders and to provide the contractor with a clear representation of design intent. In addition, the delivery system should facilitate inter-disciplinary sharing of information during the design process and construction phase as well as the ability to integrate with current construction management software used by contractors.

Revit Design Suite and 3-D modeling software utilized by our firm in preparing design documents address these concerns as they are linked directly to our design software. This process results in a cost-effective transition of information from analysis to design drawing and a comprehensive set of design documents.

Integrated project delivery systems with 3-D modeling also enables our engineers to work closely, in real time, with other disciplines to resolve potential conflicts in a timely manner during the design phase and long before they could evolve into an unanticipated change order during the construction phase.

We have always strive to provide our experienced staff with the most current technology in an effort to give our clients, team members and contractors the tools necessary for completing a successful project in a timely manner.

Providing our clients with a comprehensive, well-conceived set of contract documents is essential in our continuing effort to build a trusting relationship with team members and is a crucial component of any successful construction project. Our drawings and specifications are intended to clearly identify the structural requirements for the project and provide sufficient information to assemble cost estimates for owner review and for contractors to accurately bid the proposed scope of work.

Successful implementation of the work identified in the contract documents is often linked to the quality of contract administration services offered by the consultant. Critical path schedules can be negatively impacted if interruptions or delays occur in the flow of information between consultants or between the consultant and contractor.

In an effort to address these concerns, it has always been the policy of SSE to maintain an organizational strategy capable of tracking RFI and shop drawing submitting response times so as not to cause delays. Clients can anticipate a periodic site presence by our personnel during the construction phase to address contractor concerns and provide field observation of construction progress. Observations are documented and issued in report form on a regular basis. In addition, our projects are staffed with experienced personnel capable of generating cost effective solutions to problems created by unforeseen field conditions.

As we continue to implement and enhance these strategies and maintain open channels of communication between team members, we look forward to expanding our broad base of satisfied clients and successful projects.

Our basic Contract Administration Scope of Services includes:

• Bidding and Award
  • Assist in evaluating bidders qualifications
  • Provide structural addenda and clarification
  • Attend pre-bid conference
  • Assist in bid evaluation
    • Pre-Construction Services
  • Attend meetings
  • Assist in establishing communication procedures
  • Assist in establishing procedures for testing and inspections
  • Assist in confirming submittal procedures
  • Assist in selection of testing agency
• Submittal Review
  • Review specified submittals
• Construction Observation
  • Make site visits at intervals appropriate to the stage of construction
  • Prepare site visit reports
• Material Testing and Inspection
  • Review testing and inspection reports
  • Initiate appropriate action in response to testing and inspection reports, if required
• Review Contractor’s Request for Payment
• Respond to Contractor’s Request for Information (RFI)
• Review Change Orders

The public’s life safety and property are at constant risk when located in active seismic zones due to the potential destruction caused by earthquakes. Active seismic regions are located throughout the United States.

Seismic retrofit incorporates a design strategy to reinforce and strengthen a structure for the purpose of increasing its ability to resist the lateral and vertical forces incurred during a seismic event.

Seismic retrofit reduces the life safety risk to the public during an earthquake and provides increased protection for essential internal equipment, instrumentation, and building operations hardware. Damage caused by seismic activity can also have a negative economic impact on the owner through temporary or permanent loss of a business’s productivity.

Current seismic strengthening strategies vary from time tested structural steel reinforcement solutions to recently developed, state of the art, strengthening systems such as Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP). Selection of the appropriate strategy will be influenced by the structure’s use type and geographical location.

SSE has designed major seismic retrofit projects within the New Madrid Seismic Zone centered in the southeast corner of Missouri. Our design solutions have ranged from the addition of vertical steel truss systems for strengthening of multi-story concrete structures to the application of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) for reinforcement of interior structural elements.

Our services include the following:

• Structural Assessment of Existing Facility
• Structural Analysis
• Present Retrofit Solutions
• Preparation of Design-Bid Documents
• Construction Administration

SSE provides a broad spectrum of services related to forensic engineering and has a long history of responding to our clients’ needs in times of distress. Our services include:

Damage Assessment
Our experience includes assessing extent of damage due to floods, earthquakes, storms (Including tornados), fire, and building collapse. Retaining a qualified engineering professional is essential in reducing the potential for future problems associated with damage that may not be easily detected or readily visible following a loss. Our investigative team will quickly arrive on site, assess the damage, and, if necessary, offer recommendations addressing immediate life safety concerns. Our objective will then shift to determining potential causes for all distress observed and developing a cost effective repair strategy to remedy the condition.

Restoration
Data gathered during our Damage Assessment will be utilized by our team of engineers and restoration consultants in formulating a timely and cost effective strategy to restore the damaged structure to function in its previous service capacity or replace it if necessary. Our long history associated with the design of a wide variety of structure types including cast-in-place, precast, and post-tensioned concrete as well as structural steel, light-gauge metal, masonry, and timber frame construction allows us to draw on that experience when developing a cost effective restoration program for a damaged property or recommending a design concept for a replacement structure.

Expert Testimony
Expert witness testimony can have a significant impact in the outcome of the litigation process. Selecting a qualified expert may increase the potential of a successful resolution to a dispute. SSE personnel have provided expert witness testimony related to a wide variety of case types for attorneys representing owners and developers as well as contractors. Please contract our office for additional details.

There are a variety of reasons owners and investors choose to renovate existing buildings.

• They may prefer their current site to alternative locations.
• Their property may be of historical significance.
• Seismic retrofit.
• It may be more cost effective to renovate as opposed to constructing a new building.

There are a number of factors to consider when planning a building renovation.

• Will the tenant demand a portion of the building remain functional during the renovation process?
• Will the building require structural strengthening for it to function in its proposed use?
• How will loads be distributed if load bearing members or lateral load resisting elements are removed?
• Which walls are structural?
• Does the planned renovation reduce the structural capacity of the lateral bracing system?
• To what extent will existing occupied space be affected as a result of seismic upgrade?
• Will a new façade require additional structural support?

Answers to these questions are essential when formulating a budget for renovation costs, preparing a project schedule, and in determining the extent of useable space for tenant occupancy.

Retaining a qualified structural consultant early in the renovation planning process will reduce the potential for unexpected costs related to structural concerns. Our design team performs site investigations and assists in selecting exploratory opening locations to assess and confirm the structural elements of the building. Our engineers review existing structural drawings, when available, to facilitate a structural analysis of the existing framing system and provide structural strengthening where necessary. Our history, associated with a wide variety of construction types, allows us to draw on that experience when developing cost effective structural solutions for successful renovation projects.

Trusting relationships are imperative when owners, property managers, and financial institutions seek out structural engineering professionals to assess the condition of their properties whether they be office or healthcare facilities, industrial complexes, or parking structures. SSE has established and maintained these relationships with our client base over the years and we continue to build that trust with new clients by offering them the services of a staff with extensive experience in structural assessments and responding to their requests in a timely manner.

Our typical assessment services address:

• Acquisitions
• Due Diligence
• Insurance
• Condition Appraisal
• Material Testing
• Pre-Purchase

Plaza Deck Restoration

Often the first impression visitors experience when arriving at the entrance to a property is the facility’s Plaza Deck. This feature space can range in size and design from several hundred square feet of flat pavement to an expansive space utilizing decorative paver and concrete systems, fountains, sculptures and exotic planting areas. Whether developing a new plaza deck design, restoring an existing space, or enhancing an existing area with updated plaza deck features, common concerns raised by our clients often include:

• What disciplines should be included on the design team?
• What is a reasonable project completion cost?
• What is the structural capacity of the existing elevated support system?
• What type of decorative features and landscaping enhancements can be added to the existing structure?
• Will the structure require strengthening to safely support proposed deck enhancements? If so, what will it cost?
• Does the existing support structure require restoration due to damage attributed to normal wear, water infiltration, chloride penetration or deterioration resulting from repeated freeze-thaw cycles? If so, can repairs to the support structure be included in the plaza deck restoration project and what costs should be anticipated?
• Is the waterproof barrier between the plaza deck finish materials and elevated structural substrate functioning properly? If not, what is the most cost-effective solution to remedy the condition?
• What is the life expectancy of the completed project?
• What should be included in a joint material/labor warranty?

An experienced professional design team can assist owners and property managers in addressing the unknowns associated with plaza deck design and restoration. SSE, Inc. has partnered with some of the region’s most notable landscape architects in delivering a wide array of quality plaza deck designs. In addition, our restoration team will formulate a design strategy and opinion of probable cost to remediate deteriorated support systems for elevated decks and strengthen existing framing systems as required to safely support deck enhancements.

Please refer to the Projects section for examples of SSE’s plaza deck work.

Contact SSE, Inc. for more information.