Services

We engineer and build efficient and beautiful timber and hybrid structures that people love to own and use.

Engineer - Build

StructureCraft has a unique and value-laden business model. We call our primary delivery method Engineer-Build, because engineering and building are so closely linked in the way we do things. This draws on the historical model of “Master-Builder”, where as engineers who love architecture and good design, we take responsibility for building the structures we engineer. This is especially important in the field of timber construction, where the structure is featured and exposed. Our Engineer-Build model brings responsibility for all the steps of engineering and construction under one roof, to a company that has significant experience taking on this responsibility. Engineer-Build synthesizes and smooths out the building process.

With our long experience in prefabrication and integration with other disciplines, Engineer-Build adds significant value to the client, architect, and general contractor:

Creative, Buildable Solutions: Holistic, experienced design from the concept phase to create practical solutions that consider architectural and constructability constraints

EOR: We join the team early, as the Engineer of Record for the Structure offering sensible, economical design.

Early Trade Coordination: Early BIM coordination with other trades, and advice on integration of our scope with other systems (e.g. cladding, MEP)

Early Price Commitment: As the builder, we commit to pricing early in the design process, providing early risk transferal and minimal change orders.

Schedule Savings: Schedule reduction from single party responsibility, minimized inefficiencies, no engineering duplication, and early procurement.

Global Supply Chain: We bring access to major suppliers worldwide, ensuring quality, and competitive material sourcing.

Structural Engineering

Engineering is involved in everything we do, from developing early structural schemes to site installation. We think about efficiency of fabrication and erection while brainstorming with the architect and other disciplines during the concept stage. We generate structural models in parametric software to explore ideas during the SD and DD phases. StructureCraft provides full structural engineering services for our scope of work, with responsibility taken by us as engineer of record. Our engineers are licensed in Canada and many US States and jurisdictions.

Our modeling department is constantly pushing the limits of 3D models used to design and fabricate. We are fluent in advanced parametric modeling, including software development and computational design. We use the latest in structural engineering software for real-time structural analysis and optimization for our structures. StructureCraft’s models are a key component in planning out the entire process, and are often relied upon by the project team to facilitate between project stakeholders.

While preparing BP and IFC drawings, our engineers are busy hammering out constructible details that work for the architect and services engineers. Projects sometimes call for leading-edge solutions requiring structural testing. Small and full-scale testing is carried out as required in our controlled shop environment, under the direct supervision of our engineers. Before our construction supervisors arrive on-site, these same engineers will have developed a full set of erection drawings, considering how to most safely and speedily put the structure together.

We have experience designing in all materials, not just timber: structural steel, reinforced concrete, glass, aluminum.

Timber & Hybrid Construction

Over the past 20+ years, we have found that full integration of engineering and construction is the most efficient way to achieve both design and construction excellence in the final built product.

At our 50,000 sf. facility in Abbotsford, BC, we support our engineer-build work. From Dowel-Laminated Timber production to CNC fabrication and pre-assembly, offering these services in-house best positions us to control quality, costs, and schedule. Our operations team consists of expert carpenters, machinists, and fabricators, working alongside our engineers, computational designers, and project managers. Our test lab enables us to perform full-scale structural testing giving us the freedom to push the boundaries in structural engineering and design.

StructureCraft’s project managers are experts in managing logistics and planning for the smooth installation of beautiful, architecturally exposed timber and hybrid structures. Emphasis on prefabrication and off-site construction means that project management and site installation is a streamlined process. StructureCraft works with many of the largest North American and European suppliers. Stringent QA/QC processes throughout manufacturing ensures that our structures are installed efficiently by the site team. Our crews and supervisors are experienced installers, having erected a wide range of structures across North America, Asia, and Europe. Accurate, rapid erection results from our kit-of-parts approach; installation is to exacting standards and tolerances. A direct line of communication between site team and EOR, ensures a smooth installation; careful construction ensures a beautiful end result.

Related Projects

Who We Work With

Architects Owners / Developers General Contractors / Construction Managers Design-Build Contractors

Architects

If you do not already have a General Contractor involved, we can team with you as a consultant for the design phase, and then transfer our contract for the construction works to the successful General Contractor.
If you already have a General Contractor involved, we contract through them early – bringing our practical experience in timber erection and detailing to the table. In all cases, it is our mission to keep and enhance the architecture through to the completion of the work, while creating synergy with the entire team, a buildable and cost-effective structure. This is our reputation.

Owners / Developers

We often work directly with the owner or developer, particularly on private or municipal buildings and footbridges. We contract early with you in our Engineer-Build delivery method to develop custom structural solutions that are both beautiful and efficient.
With our model, we can offer early price certainty based on preliminary drawings, minimizing your risk and giving the project team confidence in the constructability of the scheme.

General Contractors / Construction Managers

On many building projects, our work is only one facet of a much larger project. It needs to fit into a complex array of disciplines managed by you, the overall builder. With the many services we offer (structural engineering, 3D modeling, detailing, testing, material supply, prefabrication, and installation) we are equipped and experienced to add to your team’s success with a competitive bid regardless of how you choose to include us.
Whether you are in need of a clever design alternative that sets you apart from the competition, or if you have a project where the timber structure is particularly tricky to erect, our expertise is available to you. With all our work, we provide a dedicated Project Manager to ensure proper transfer of information and execution of the work, lightening the cost, time, and quality control burden on your own Project Management. Our aim is to work synergistically and make you look good.

Design-Build Contractors

Increasingly we see this approach emerging as a preferred delivery method for ensuring quality design and fast delivery on budget-challenged projects. We particularly add value to projects like these when we are involved from the outset, giving firm budgets early, and looking for the best ways, structurally and architecturally, to put the money where it counts.
Thoughtful, holistic design is economical, but rarely happens when it is parceled out. That is why our early involvement strengthens your team in creating high value to the client. Our vertically integrated approach ensures all aspects of the project are considered, leading to buildable, economic, and efficient installations. And at the proposal stage, our experience in 3D parametric modeling and BIM give the team the ability to provide quality renderings and model perspectives that more effectively communicate the proposed scheme to the client and other trades.

Working With Owners Or Developers

Working With Architects

Working with General Contractors / Construction Managers

Working With D-B Contractors

Owners / Developers Architects General Contractors / Construction Managers Design-Build Contractors

Working With Owners Or Developers

We often work directly with the owner or developer, particularly on private or municipal buildings and footbridges. We work directly with you and your architect and engineer to develop custom structural solutions that carry the spirit of the architecture while driving for efficiency. As both engineers and builders we can offer early price certainty based on incomplete drawings, minimizing your risk and giving the project team confidence in the constructability of the scheme.We can be retained as a specialty consultant for the design phase and then contracted to your General Contractor for the construction of our works. Fee schedules can be handled in a variety of ways, whether kept separate from construction or rolled up together, depending on the needs of the project.

Working With Architects

Engage us early in your conceptual design process, where we work with you to sensibly express an efficient and elegant structure, maximizing your latitude architecturally. From our many years of working with architects we've learned that the provision of stock and often conservative structural solutions does not satisfy the demands of good design and constructability.

This company was established to untie the hands of designers who dare to push the limits with honestly expressed structure. Adding us to your team will help facilitate your design intuition. If you do not already have a General Contractor involved, we can team with you as a consultant for the design phase, and then transfer our contract for the construction works to the successful General Contractor. If you already have a General Contractor involved, we work with them as well - bringing our practical experience in timber erection and detailing to the table.

In all cases, it is our mission to keep the architectural intent in mind through to the completion of the work, while still creating a buildable and cost-effective structure.

Working with General Contractors / Construction Managers

On many building projects our work is only one facet of a much larger project. It needs to fit into a complex array of disciplines managed by you, the overall builder.

With the many services we offer (structural engineering, 3D modeling, detailing, testing, material supply, prefabrication, and installation) we are equipped and experienced to add to your team's success with a competitive bid regardless of how you choose to include us. Whether you are in need of a clever design alternative that sets you apart from the competition, or if you have a project where the timber structure is particularly tricky to erect, our expertise is available to you.

With all of our work we provide a dedicated Project Manager to ensure proper transfer of information and execution of the work, lightening the cost, time, and quality control burden on your Project Management. Further, with a certified crane operator and journeyman carpenters on staff, we have the proven capacity to ensure that your project is erected properly and with care and attention to detail.

Working With D-B Contractors

Increasingly we see this approach emerging as a preferred delivery method for ensuring quality design on budget-challenged projects. We particularly add value to projects like these when we are involved from the outset, looking for the best ways, structurally and architecturally, to put the money where it counts.

Thoughtful, holistic design is economical, but rarely happens when it is parceled out. That is why our early involvement strengthens your team in creating high value to the client. Our vertically integrated approach ensures all aspects of the project are considered, leading to buildable, economic, and efficient detailing. Additionally, our experience in 3D parametric modeling and BIM give the team the ability to provide quality renderings and model perspectives that more effectively communicate the proposed scheme to the client and the other trades.

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