Structural Engineering

Expertise in Every Structure.

Our structural team leverages its combined breadth and depth of expertise to collaborate on and develop an innovative, tested design solution that meets the highest standards.

Our team of 30 structural professionals has experience designing education/academic buildings, recreational/park facilities, residential, office, and government buildings, libraries, medical/healthcare facilities, retail, manufacturing/warehouse buildings, churches/worship facilities, correctional facilities, industrial facilities, parking structures, and skyways.

We also have extensive knowledge and experience in various building materials and systems, including structural steel, composite steel, precast concrete systems, cast-in-place concrete systems, post-tensioned concrete, masonry, wood, and heavy timber. 

At BKBM, we understand the importance of preserving and restoring existing structures. Our restoration services are designed to extend the life of your buildings, ensuring safety, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. Whether it’s historic preservation or modern updates, our team is equipped to handle all aspects of structural restoration with the same level of expertise and dedication we bring to new construction projects.

Structural Engineering Services Include:

Building Design

  • New Construction
  • Expansion/Addition
  • Renovation
  • Building Information Modeling
  • LEED/Sustainability
  • Seismic Design
  • Tornado Secure Facilities

Evaluation and Inspection

  • Condition Assessment/Special Investigation
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Peer Review
  • Roof/Floor Capacity Evaluations
  • Special Inspection

Restoration

  • Building/structure design
  • Facade restoration
  • Building and ramp repair
  • Feasibility studies
  • Structural forensic investigations
  • Due-diligence studies

Relevant Experience

Belfry Apartments, Minnesota
Struthers Apartments, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado, has experienced rapid growth due to an influx of remote workers. This has led to a surge in housing demand and a negative vacancy rate. BKBM Engineers have collaborated with a design team to fill this need, providing engineering services for a 3-story modular apartment complex comprising two 24-unit buildings. The units were finished inside with site-built architectural components for added curb appeal.
Kalaco Apartments, Colorado
Elk River High School Stadium Improvements, Minnesota
The project consisted of the redesign of the existing Elk River High School Stadium complex including a new teams/storage/concession buildings, synthetic turf field, track, and track events.
Elevate at Southwest Station Apartments, Minnesota
BKBM provided structural engineering services for this new 222-unit mixed-use apartment building providing market rate and affordable housing units.
Pillsbury Hall Rehabilitation, Minnesota
Originally constructed in 1889, Pillsbury Hall is the second-oldest building on the University of Minnesota campus. The building was fully rehabilitated to house the English Department.
Mino-bimaadiziwin Apartments, Minnesota
Mino-bimaadiziwin, which means “living the good life” in Ojibwe, is a multifamily housing development.
Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church Addition, Minnesota
With the front of the addition having two of three levels below grade, a substantial structure can serve the campus while the main Sanctuary remains the focus – a key feature requested by the architect. The slope on the site drops quickly to showcase the full depth of the building from the rear, maximizing daylight throughout the space and providing a view of Schutz Lake.
Range Family Dental, Minnesota
Range Family Dental is a one-story, scissor truss and glu-lam framed structure. Integrating exposed structure, vaulted ceilings, and substantial glass cladding, it is an inviting and warm structure for all who enter.
Ridgedale Library, Minnesota
Remodel of existing library to modernize layout and improve functionality that included a new mechanical penthouse, façade restoration, and site improvements.
Land O'Lakes Headquarters Expansion, Minnesota
The new 155,000SF Land O'Lakes Headquarters Expansion features open, collaborative spaces to encourage innovation.
Blaine Twin City Orthopedics, Minnesota
BKBM Engineers performed the structural engineering for the Blaine Medical Office Building located in Blaine, Minnesota.
Vadnais Heights Twin City Orthopedics, Minnesota
The project consisted of an approximate 20,000 square foot medical office building. BKBM provided both civil and structural engineering services for the project.
College of Saint Benedict Athletic Complex, Minnesota
A new Alumni Center featuring a press box, alumni lounge, locker rooms, training facilities and more was at the heart of this project. Additionally, a new soccer dugout and softball grandstand added much needed amenities to the new athletic fields.
Revel Apartments, Minnesota
The building is a mixed-use property located in Uptown along Lake Street. The building includes two below-grade levels of parking, commercial at street level, and primarily residential for levels 2-6.
Caedmon, Wendelin, and Artisan Studio Renovations, Minnesota
CWA is a renovation and connecting link addition of three existing campus buildings. Each building had a different number of stories from one to three, including basements. The new link was three story construction with two story curtain wall façades.
Oaks Union Depot, Minnesota
The project is a 70 unit apartment complex with two levels of parking in downtown St. Paul. The building has three levels of post-tensioned concrete (parking level, main floor, and podium slab) with 5 stories of wood above. Wood framing included a partial mezzanine level at the top floor, and the top floor of wood framing was offset inward at the exterior walls to create recessed balconies.
Grand Living at Lake Lorraine, South Dakota
BKBM provided structural engineering services for a 200,000 square foot senior living facility with 156 units. The challenging structural design showcased BKBM’s commitment to outstanding client service and collaborative solutions.
Hawthorne EcoVillage, Minnesota
Due to unexpected poor soil quality in the area where the townhome buildings were to be constructed, a new approach to the foundation systems had to be devised late into construction. BKBM’s structural and civil team worked with the architectural team, construction team, and geotechnical engineer to come up with options to avoid expensive soil corrections that would disrupt an actively used alleyway. The team was able to shift the locations of the buildings to reduce the impact and decided to use helical piles and grade beams to avoid deep soil corrections that were needed for one of the townhome buildings. The quick re-design of the townhomes from all parties allowed the construction to continue with minimal disruption to the construction timeline.
Zvago at Glen Lake, Minnesota
The structural system for this building consists of a precast concrete podium supporting four levels of conventional wood framing with a flat wood roof. Beneath the podium, there is one level of partially below grade parking with a slab on grade and masonry foundation walls. In addition to 54 residential units, building amenities include a 2-story entrance lobby, fitness room, and a club room leading out to a large wood-framed deck.
Sanford Middle School Addition and Renovation, Minnesota
Modifying a historic structural system is not an easy undertaking, especially to meet demands of a modern mechanical system, and the design team worked with the contractor throughout construction as unforeseen and challenging existing conditions had to be addressed quickly and creatively to keep the project on schedule.
United States Embassy, Santiago Chile
Located near downtown Santiago, this prominent 5-acre site chosen for the U.S. Embassy offers magnificent views of snow-covered mountains, the river and the downtown skyline.
Stillwater High School Pony Activity Center
Stillwater High School was expanded with two classroom additions and a large activity center.
The Moline
The six-story Moline offers luxury urban living in a small-town setting near a future Southwest Light Rail Transit station.
MnWest / Jackson Campus – Powerline Technician Training
The powerline training project involved demolition of a portion of a two-story concrete pan and joist structure to provide a new training facility for powerline technicians on the same location.
St. John's University Alcuin Library
The existing Marcel Breuer-designed library was renovated in two phases.
Rayette Lofts
The project was a restoration and conversion of a seven story concrete frame building to an apartment building from its use as a parking garage following SHPO guidelines.
Waters of White Bear Lake
BKBM provided structural engineering services for the 166,000 square foot, four-story senior living facility with 136 units.
Waters of Highland Park
BKBM provided structural engineering services for the 114,000 square foot, four-story senior housing facility with 84 units.
Macalester College - Music Building
Provided civil and structural engineering for the complete renovation of and third-floor addition to the existing Music Building.
Wayzata High School Additions
This project consisted of multiple additions to all sides of the existing high school.
CNA Surety
BKBM provided structural engineering for a 131,000 square foot, three level office building on top of two levels of parking (one level below grade) in downtown Sioux Falls, SD.
Longfellow Station
Provided civil and structural engineering for a five-story, 262,000 square foot, 180 unit structure consisting of four levels of wood construction on top of two levels of precast framing with one below grade level for parking.
Downtown East Park Residential (The Edition)
BKBM provided structural engineering services for the new mixed-use facility that flanks the west end of the new downtown east park. The new building is comprised of 134 housing units, amenity spaces, retail, and two levels of below-grade parking containing 119 stalls. Five levels of conventional wood framing were constructed over the concrete levels below.
The Paxon
Provided civil and structural engineering services for the design of a 189,000 square foot, five-story apartment building with 140 units.
Third North Apartments
Provided civil and structural engineering for design of a 265,000 square foot, six-story apartment building with 204 units.
Silver Creek on Main
Provided structural engineering services for the design of a 275,000 square foot, four-story senior housing complex with 195 units.
The 700 On Washington
The project consisted of the demolition of a two-story building and parking lot for the construction a new six-story student housing building with first floor retail space.
Calhoun Greenway
BKBM provided civil and structural engineering for a 185 unit, six-story apartment building in Minneapolis.
Vintage on Selby
Provided structural engineering services for the design of a 428,000 square foot mixed-use grocery store/five-story apartment building with 210 units, including four two-story townhomes.
University of Northwestern - Community Life Commons Center
BKBM provided structural engineering services for the 80,000 square foot Billy Graham Community Life Commons Center that serves as the hub of the UNW campus.
Idalia PK-12 School
Provided structural engineering for a new 40,000 square foot single story steel and masonry framed school addition to an existing structure in Idalia, CO, to enhance an aging facility.
Noble Academy
Provided structural engineering services for a new K-8 charter school. The project includes a two-story classroom wing and a one-story entry, gym, auditorium, and music wing.
Princeton Primary School
This is a two-story elementary school focusing on Grades K-2. The north half of the building is two stories.
Fort Logan Northgate Elementary
Provided structural engineering for a new Grade 3-8, 110,000 square foot, three level school with basement level gym and cafeteria, main level classrooms and upper level classrooms and project space.
Meadow Ridge Elementary
This project is a new elementary school in the Wayzata school district consisting of two stories with a mechanical penthouse and a two-story gymnasium space. The lower level area is 44,000 square feet, the main level is 35,000 square feet, with a total area of 79,000 square feet.
Como Park Bonsai Japanese Garden
BKBM provided civil and structural engineering for an addition to the north end of the Como Conservatory to showcase the indoor Bonsai Gallery.
Arbors Two
BKBM provided civil and structural engineering services for a three-story, 22,000 square foot senior housing facility that is part of the Ebenezer Ridges campus in Burnsville, MN.
St. Cloud State University - ISELF
To facilitate the laboratory use of the new facility with high-powered microscopes, the new building structure was designed to meet strict vibration criteria.
University of Minnesota - Amundson Hall Gore Annex
The project consisted of two objectives, a 41,000 square foot building expansion and an existing infrastructure upgrade. The building expansion was immediately north of the existing Amundson Hall, which is located along Washington Avenue on the University of Minnesota East Bank Campus.
University of Dubuque Heritage Center
Provided structural engineering for a new 80,000 square foot building, colloquially known as "The Wave", that is part classroom building, part performance hall, and part art gallery.
Washington County Courthouse Addition
The Washington County Campus project included three major parts: A five-story courthouse addition, a three-story addition on top of the existing law enforcement center, and new secure links to connect different areas of the campus.
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
Provided civil and structural engineering for the new Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts facility.
Macalester College - Studio Arts Building
The project included a complete renovation (27,000 square feet) of the existing Studio Arts Building and a 7,000 square foot third-floor addition. BKBM provide both civil and structural engineering services for the project.
Maple Grove Library and Ramp
Provided civil and structural engineering design services for a new public library with an adjacent parking ramp located on a 4.75 acre parcel. 
Prior Lake City Hall
Provided structural engineering services for a new 37,000 square foot city hall building with lower and main levels, a partial upper level, and a mechanical penthouse level.
St. Cloud Public Library
Provided civil and structural engineering for a 118,000 square foot library and administrative offices for the Great River Regional Library Board.
Burnsville Twin City Orthopedics
The project consisted of an approximate 18,000 square foot surgical building addition with new parking to an existing orthopedic building. BKBM provided both civil and structural engineering services for the project.
Hudson Medical Office Building
Provided civil and structural engineering for a new approximate 40,000 square foot medical office building attached to the existing Hudson Hospital.
Habitat For Humanity
BKBM provided civil and structural engineering for a 28,000 square foot, three-story office building along the light rail corridor in St. Paul.
MoZaic
This ten-story post-tensioned concrete structure contains 13,000 square feet of restaurant space on the ground floor, 556 parking stalls on the second through seventh floors, and 65,000 square feet of Class A office space on the top three floors.
Fort Morgan Middle School
Provided structural engineering services for a new middle school campus consisting of three 2-story classroom pods connected via “links," a two-story open media center wing, a one-story office/admin space, a new gymnasium, and a “cafetorium” (cafeteria/auditorium).
Ivy Hotel and Condominiums
Provided structural engineering for renovation of a historically significant hotel and construction of an adjacent 26-story, mixed-use building, including housing, hotel, and commercial spaces, plus five-levels of underground parking. Construction also included a skyway.
Mill City Museum
Provided engineering design for the restoration and renovation of a historic mill complex that had survived three devastating fires, 1928, 1991 and 1996, since it was originally built in 1879.
Valspar Lab Campus Building 4
Provided structural, civil, and restoration engineering for a major remodel to accomplish re-purposing a vacant building for state of the art research and test labs to enable Valspar, Inc. to consolidate their North American Research and Test Lab capabilities into one campus.
Centennial Lakes Executive Office Complex
Provided structural engineering services for the five-building office complex and the associated plaza connections and parking ramps.
Crescent Ridge Corporate Center
Provided structural engineering services for Phases I and II of the two-building corporate campus located at the northeast corner of Interstate 394 and County Road 73/Hopkins Crossroad. Each phase included an office building, a parking ramp, and a skyway connecting the building and ramp.
Great River Energy Corporate Headquarters
Provided structural engineering design services for a 150,000 square foot, four-story office building. The building was also designed with a partial basement and limited underground parking.
Comlux Aviation Hangar
Provided structural engineering services for a new 66,000 square foot aircraft hangar and adjoining 68,000 square foot two story office/service shop complex in Indianapolis, IN.
Normandale Community College Academic Partnership Center
Performed civil and structural engineering services for the design of a new 82,000 square foot, three-story classroom building located on the northwest end of the existing campus.
North Hennepin Community College - BHCC
Provided structural engineering services for design of the new 65,000 square foot Bioscience & Health Careers Center (BHCC). The academic building provides biology, chemistry, medical lab technology, science preparation and instrumentation rooms, and nursing simulation labs.
71 France
Provided structural engineering for the Byerly's/71 France redevelopment in Edina.
Burnsville Performing Arts Center
Provided structural engineering for the new two-story approximate 66,000 square foot Ames Center housing a 1,000 seat proscenium stage theater and a smaller 150 seat Black Box theater.
Cowles Center For Dance & The Performing Arts
The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts consists of two historic structures - the Hennepin Center for the Arts and the Goodale Theatre (formerly the Shubert) - annexed by a new two-story addition.
Maplewood Mall Parking Structure
Maplewood Mall Transit Center Parking Structure is a Metro Transit Park and Ride.
Stonebridge Lofts
Stonebridge Lofts is a 12-story luxury condominium complex in a prime location in the historic Mill District in downtown Minneapolis.
Portland Tower
Portland Tower is a 0.75-acre site located at the corner of 8th Street and Portland Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. BKBM provided both civil and structural engineering design services for the project.
LaZBoy
BKBM provided structural engineering design for the one-story retail showroom facility in the Fountains at Arbor Lakes shopping complex in Maple Grove, MN.
Motorwerks Mini Cooper Building
BKBM provided civil and structural engineering for the new automobile dealership.
Trinity Lutheran Church
Performed civil and structural engineering for an approximate 19,000 square foot two-story addition.
Wayzata Community Church
BKBM provided structural engineering for a $6 million renovation and addition project to the existing church facility.
Chaska Curling Club
The Curling Club consisted of four main areas: the welcome hallway, curling rink, restaurant and banquet room.
Como Park Gorilla Exhibit
BKBM provided civil and structural engineering design services for improvements to the existing building, a new gorilla holding building connecting to the south side of the existing building, a new visitor viewing structure, two new gorilla exhibits with mesh canopies, and a heavy timber framed view blind.
Hyland Ski and Snowboard Redevelopment
BKBM provided structural engineering for a two-story, 36,000 square-foot chalet facility.
Como Park Polar Bear Exhibit
The new Como Polar Bear Exhibit complies with the Manitoba Conservation requirements with a 3,200 square foot indoor facility and over 13,000 square feet of outdoor space with native plantings, a saltwater pool, and rock outcroppings that mimic a Hudson Bay ecosystem.
Radius @ 15th Student Apartments
BKBM provided civil and structural engineering services for the design of a 324,000 square foot, five story apartment building with 200 student apartments containing 630 bedrooms.
Interstate North Business Center
Provided civil and structural engineering for a new distribution facility located on a 12 acre site in Brooklyn Park, MN.
Waters on Mayowood
Provided structural engineering services for the design of a 280,000 square feet, four-story senior housing complex with 175 units.
Conejos Apartments, Colorado
Denver is experiencing a housing shortage, and BKBM Engineers have been invited to join the modular design team for an 8 over 1 apartment project. The project features 89 units with puzzle parking, precast concrete podiums, and cold-formed steel (CFS) modular units with demising shear walls and finished interiors. Architectural components such as balconies, decks, pergolas, grilling stations, and solar-ready roofing appeal to residents.
Market Street Apartments, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado has experienced a surge of growth due to an influx of remote workers from the tech industry, resulting in a need for housing. BKBM Engineers collaborated with the project design team to help fill this need, providing full engineering services for a 3-story walk-up apartment complex comprising of two 36-unit buildings on concrete crawlspace foundation walls. The units were built offsite with site-built architectural components providing unique features and enhancing the curb appeal.
Hutchinson Health Inpatient Care Addition, Minnesota
Brooklyn Park Twin Cities Orthopedics, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Downtown View
MnDOT Clear Lake and Des Moines River Rest Areas