Existing-building evaluation
Evaluation of the building’s configuration, available records, and known conditions to identify structural concerns and establish an appropriate retrofit approach.
California structural engineering
Seismic retrofit engineering for multifamily buildings
Seismic evaluation and retrofit design for multifamily owners and professional project teams across California. Vexo prepares structural drawings and calculations for permit review, with services also available for other suitable existing buildings, including select single-family projects.
What the service covers
Seismic evaluation and retrofit design
Retrofit design and calculations
Strengthening designs, structural calculations, and details tailored to the existing structure, building layout, and project constraints.
Permit and plan-check support
Structural documents for the applicable local review process, with responses to structural plan-check comments within the agreed engineering scope.
Construction questions
Clarification of structural details and responses to standard construction requests for information (RFIs), when included in the agreed scope.
Project experience
Recent projects
Selected projects, with engineering scope and excerpts from the design drawings.
Project 01Design documentation
Oakland, CA
Multifamily basement conversion & seismic retrofit
Structural engineering & seismic retrofit
Structural engineering for a basement conversion and seismic retrofit in an existing 10-unit multifamily building. The proposed conversion added two basement residences, with new footings, posts, and steel shear-wall panels supporting the alterations and strengthening the garage openings.
- Basement conversion
- Two new residences within the existing building, with structural alterations at the lower level.
- Seismic retrofit
- New steel shear-wall panels and connections provide lateral support around garage openings.
- Foundations and framing
- Reinforced footings and posts integrate the work with the retained foundations and ceiling framing.
Selected drawing excerpts are shown for project context, not for construction use.
Project fit
Projects we support
Multifamily and apartment buildings are our primary focus, including those with soft, weak, or open-front conditions and parking beneath occupied floors. We also consider select single-family projects and suitable commercial, mixed-use, industrial, and institutional buildings.
Multifamily and apartment buildings
Soft, weak, or open-front conditions
Parking beneath occupied floors
Select single-family projects
Commercial and mixed-use buildings
Industrial and institutional buildings
Engineering scope
Typical deliverables
Depending on the agreed scope: evaluation findings, retrofit drawings, structural calculations, details, and responses to applicable plan-check comments.
Local requirements
Seismic requirements and review procedures vary across California. The structural scope and permit documents are developed around the building’s conditions and the applicable local review process.
Initial review
What to share first
- Building and concernProperty location, use, configuration, and the reason for the inquiry.
- Existing recordsAvailable drawings, reports, photographs, notices, and jurisdiction correspondence.
- Goals and timingRequested work, target dates, and the applicable local review process.
Common questions
Before you get started
I received a notice or assessment report. Where do I start?
Share the property address, the document you received, and any available building records. We review that information to help define the structural engineering work and relevant local review requirements.
What if I do not have the original drawings?
Share the information you have. The initial review helps identify additional records, inputs, or investigation needed to define the engineering scope.
Does every building require the same retrofit?
No. The approach depends on the structure, identified weaknesses, available information, proposed work, and applicable local requirements.
How is the project schedule determined?
The engineering schedule depends on the evaluation and design scope, available information, and coordination needs. Local review timing depends on the jurisdiction and its process. Share any stated deadlines with the initial inquiry.
Project inquiry
Tell us about your project
Share the project location, services you need, and a short description of the work.
After you submit
We’ll review your inquiry and contact you to clarify the engineering scope and next steps.
Prefer to speak with us?
Call (408) 412-3348Loading project inquiry form…
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