SOME OF THE THINGS WE’RE GOOD AT
Gemini Structural provides a wide array of structural consulting services to help a project become successful. We work with clients to meet their needs and are eager to find ways we can help. Some of our most common services are below:
Construction Document Development
Gemini Structural produces construction documents using Autodesk Revit for both new construction and renovation projects. We work closely with the design team to produce models and drawings that are accurate, consistent, and easy to understand. During the design process, we typically produce a series of preliminary drawing sets for coordination and cost estimating purposes at the feasibility study, schematic design, concept design, and design development phases.
We use state-of-the-art design and analysis programs for accurate structural analysis of our buildings. We have licenses for Risa-3D, RAM Structural Systems, ETABS, and others that we utilize as appropriate. All of our models are verified by hand check methods and most of our post-processing is done in Excel for custom, efficient solutions that are well thought out and understood by humans. In addition to typical structural problems, we have experience solving more complex analysis challenges such as:
- Wind Engineering
- Seismic Engineering
- Vibration Analysis
- Sustainability Design
- Adaptive Reuse
- Performance-based Design
More and more, communities are asking for sustainable designs and developers are delivering. Gemini Structural has experience coordinating with material suppliers and fabricators, looking at Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and proposing the most sustainable solution in the required price range. Gemini supports the SE2050 Commitment Program developed by the American Society of Civil Engineers to reduce and eliminate embodied carbon in our projects by 2050, and we actively track our material quantities for cost and embodied carbon efficiencies.
Related to sustainability, timber and mass timber buildings have become more popular due to recent changes in the IBC and timber’s sustainable quality. Gemini Structural has experience designing mass timber and hybrid structures to improve sustainability and the aesthetic appeal of wood while using more efficient materials where it makes sense.
As design progresses to construction, Gemini stays on board to respond to contractor questions, RFIs, and submittal reviews. We like to conduct site visits at key times during construction and take part on preconstruction meetings as appropriate to make sure our plans are well understood and executed. We continue to participate in coordination meetings while the structure is erected. On an as-needed basis, we are also able to assist contractors with items such as temporary bracing, sequence of construction, equipment placement, and ancillary structure design.
Gemini Structural has experience performing peer reviews for a variety of reasons. Performance-based designs require third party peer reviews. At times, Authorities Having Jurisdiction also require peer reviews and we’ve also performed reviews as part of value engineering studies to find more cost effective ways to construct buildings.
One unique skillset of structural engineering is adapting an existing space to meet a new need. While the IEBC contains certain requirements, an ability to understand the existing structure and how it can accept new elements is paramount. We have experience looking through existing plans – or investigating when no plans are present – to make the most efficient use of the existing structure. We work with testing agencies to determine strengths of existing materials and find reinforcing in concrete elements.