D+M Structural Ltd. – Our Services

D+M Structural Ltd. provides professional structural engineering expertise to the building, construction, and development industries – during the entire lifecycle of a building (plan, design, build, operate & maintain, renovate/re-purpose, decommission). From custom home renovations to 30-storey developments, we aim to provide a high quality, professional and friendly service.

With almost 50-years of combined structural engineering experience, D+M Structural Ltd. staff have successfully completed all sorts of building structures in a wide variety and combination of materials – including cast-in-place concrete, precast concrete, structural steel, cold formed steel, timber, engineered wood/CLT, masonry, composites (glass fibre and carbon-fibre), and structural glass.

Our services are always tailored to suit individual clients or projects, and we encourage you to contact us to discuss how we can best add value to your current projects. Key service offerings include:

Feasibility Studies

Everything begins with an idea. Sometimes that initial idea will be great, but more often the idea will benefit from analysis and refinement. In the field of structural engineering and building design, feasibility studies involve preliminary engineering studies and collation and processing of information to recommend a plan or course of action for a project.

These studies may include exploration, gathering information and examining site conditions, economic studies of capital, operating costs, and other financial considerations, before making project-specific recommendations as to the best course of action to fulfill the clients’ requirements in a cost-effective manner.

Structural Analysis

Structural engineering combines the application of laws of physics and empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different materials and geometries. Structural analysis is at the core of everything that we do as structural engineers – from a simple hand calculation to complex finite element analyses.

Fortunately, today we have easy access to the latest technical and research information, and a range of tools and technologies that allow us to quickly analyze how a certain structure will respond to static and dynamic conditions – for example gravity loads due to use or occupancy, environmental loading (wind, thermal changes) impact loading or dynamic loading from wind, earthquakes, or reciprocating machinery. At D+M Structural Ltd we use the latest world-class engineering software to facilitate quick and effective analysis.

Structural Design

At D+M Structural Ltd we believe that good structural design achieves both the architect’s vision and the clients’ commercial and operational goals. Almost every building is unique in some way – not just in appearance or functionality, but more importantly in the needs and wishes of the building owners, managers, and occupants over its entire lifespan. Our goal is always to deliver practical and efficient designs for our clients, delivering cost-effective long-lasting solutions tailored to their specific needs.

The structural design of a building is usually completed in stages as the design becomes more detailed and developed, working closely with other stakeholders at each step of the way. The result is a coordinated, detailed design that translates initial ideas into construction plans that can be used for permitting, tendering and construction – converting ideas to reality.

Seismic Analysis & Design

Also known as Earthquake Analysis & Design.

Often considered a structural engineering specialty due to its complexity and inter-related nature of the analysis, designing buildings to be more resistant to earthquakes is becoming more common – particularly in areas of high seismicity like Ottawa/Montreal.

Selection of an appropriate Seismic Force Resisting System (SFRS) and its incorporation into a building layout at the earliest stages of design is key to minimizing disruption to the layout and achieving an effective overall design.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Virtual design tools such as 3D modelling are becoming increasingly sophisticated and integrated. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings.

BIM is a process, allowing design teams to leverage technology to achieve a better planned and coordinated design, and then to communicate the design and construction intent to all stakeholders at various project stages. At D+M Structural Ltd we are strong believers in the benefits of BIM as a methodology and utilize Autodesk REVIT to achieve these goals.

Construction Documents

The final phase in the structural design of a building is the production of detailed construction documents – structural drawings and specifications that detail how the structure is to be built. These documents are carefully prepared in conjunction with the rest of the design team – carefully coordinating how different elements and functions of the building work together.

At D+M Structural Ltd we believe it is very important to consider all the little details during the design phase, as each of these can have a big impact during construction and throughout the life of the building. Construction drawings are prepared using AutoCAD or REVIT and coordinated extensively with other design consultants. This results in a level of detail that allows more accurate cost estimating, tendering, fabrication, and construction.

Construction Review – Quality Assurance

During the construction of the project, D+M Structural Ltd remains an integral part of the process, helping to make sure that construction progresses smoothly and to plan. Construction delays can be costly, but these can be minimized by thoroughly reviewing shop drawings, responding quickly to questions or issue that arise – or better yet working with the contractor to anticipate issues before they happen.

A key responsibility is on-site inspections and reviews – ensuring that construction is completed in accordance with not only the structural design details but also the intent of the structural design. When everything is finished, we can provide an engineers’ letter of conformance and as-built drawings documenting what was built.

Evaluation of Existing Buildings

Structural assessments of existing buildings are usually requested because of a renovation, modifications or change of use that can cause a change in loading patterns (for example new equipment or snow drifting).

Assessments can also be required due to new openings through structural elements (for example removing a loadbearing wall), or due to damage or deterioration – for example, a fire or fatigue cracking.

Repair, Restoration or Strengthening of Existing Structures

If required, repair or rehabilitation schemes can be developed to restore structural safety and functionality, using a combination of conventional repair methods and innovative technologies and materials such as fibre reinforced polymers.