Tipping Structural

10/14/2026

From the job site to the finished structure, our engineers help bring ambitious projects to life. Here’s a look at our team on site at a new lab building under construction at UC Berkeley, checking out the progress and unlocking possibilities. At Tipping, we’re hiring structural engineers who help shape the places that define communities!

Ready to engineer what’s next with us? Explore our open positions: https://apply.tippingstructural.com/apply/openPositions.php

10/06/2026

Tipping is seeking a full-time CAD/BIM specialist to support more than 30 engineers and expand our building-modeling capacity. Social skills and an attitude of service are paramount, in addition to expertise working with Autodesk AutoCAD, and Revit. We're looking for a fast learner who is enthusiastic to learn in-house custom tools, with an affinity for problem solving and the ability to think creatively. This is a nonexempt, or hourly, position and is 40 hours a week in person/on site. Learn more and apply here: https://apply.tippingstructural.com/apply/openPositions.php

09/30/2026

On October 16th, the Tipping Rebar Riders are participating in the City of Hope Real Estate and Construction Industry Council's Bike to Hope — all to help save lives! We're raising funds to support City of Hope’s global mission to find cures for cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases. Please support us by donating or joining our team for this meaningful event:

https://ourhope.cityofhope.org/team/851489

Riding from Tipping are: Andrew Jimenez, Itria Licitra, Henry Nistler, Elisa Woodham, Dayana Bulatbekova, and Christopher Tiran.

Structural support, in every sense.

09/28/2026

We're pleased to share that Samuel Merritt University – Oakland City Center is a 2026 Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) Awards Finalist in the Performance Design for Resilience category!

https://www.ncsea.com/education-events/2026-see-awards-finalists/

"Samuel Merritt University’s new 10-story, 250,000-square-foot campus supports expanded enrollment and helps address the Bay Area’s shortage of healthcare workers. Its structure uses an innovative BRB Mast frame lateral system that combines strong seismic performance, architectural flexibility, and cost efficiency. During design, four systems were studied: moment frames, a dual BRB plus moment frame system, a BRB-only frame, and a BRB Mast frame. The BRB Mast frame proved most effective, producing the lowest drift ratio—1.30%—with a uniform drift profile and no concentration of story deformations, improving seismic resilience over conventional approaches. The system pairs BRB devices with a vertical mast truss, which carries about 40% of the total base shear while remaining elastic. This helps distribute loads uniformly and simplifies design. Compared with a BRB-only scheme, it cut the number of BRB devices in half, improving constructability and reducing cost. Compact enough to fit within permanent walls, it also preserved interior planning flexibility."

Presented annually by NCSEA, these prestigious awards honor projects that showcase ingenuity, technical skill, and groundbreaking design. Winners will be revealed live at the Celebration in San Francisco on October 29th at the NCSEA Summit. Congratulations to the team and stay tuned for more!

Owner: Samuel Merritt University

Developer: Strada Investment Group

Architect: Perkins&Will

Contractor: Hathaway Dinwiddie

Steel Fabricator: The Herrick Corporation

Structural: Tipping (Leo Panian, Gina Carlson, SE, Jason A***s, S.E., Christopher Tiran, PE)

Photo: Bruce Damonte (building),

09/28/2026

We're pleased to share that Hacienda Heights Apartments is a 2026 Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) Awards Finalist in the Residential/Single and Multi-Family Homes category!

https://www.ncsea.com/education-events/2026-see-awards-finalists/

"Hacienda Apartments in Richmond, California, is a 150-unit, 121,000-square-foot senior affordable housing complex made up of four six-story non-ductile reinforced concrete buildings built in 1964, before modern seismic codes. The team leveraged a creative, performance-based engineering approach, supported by advanced nonlinear shaking simulations, to develop a targeted seismic retrofit that fully harnessed the strength of the existing structures while minimizing construction cost and disruption. The innovative exterior bracing scheme allowed seismic improvements and interior renovations to proceed simultaneously, shortening the construction schedule and minimizing impacts to the residential units. While early schematic retrofit estimates were $4.63 million, the optimized design was priced at $3.9 million at bid, allowing $730,000 to be reallocated to other important project elements. The result is a resilient, cost-effective retrofit that restored a deteriorating complex to provide safe, affordable housing for Richmond seniors while demonstrating the value of performance-based engineering for existing buildings."

Presented annually by NCSEA, these prestigious awards honor projects that showcase ingenuity, technical skill, and groundbreaking design. Winners will be revealed live at the Celebration in San Francisco on October 29th at the NCSEA Summit. Congratulations to the team and stay tuned for updates!

Owner: Mercy Housing California

Architect: PYATOK architecture + urban design

Contractor: Nibbi Brothers General Contractors

Structural: Tipping (Leo Panian, Gina Carlson, SE, Jason A***s)

09/22/2026

Come design what's next with us! Join our team and put your mark on the built environment: https://tippingstructural.com/careers/

At Tipping, we see every project as an opportunity to rethink what’s possible. We have developed a wide range of award-winning, unconventional structural solutions for projects with complex challenges. Rather than pursuing innovation for its own sake, we let project goals lead us in new directions. This responsive approach has repeatedly led us to push the boundaries of structural design.

09/21/2026

Please join us in welcoming Kaat Ceder, PE, Senior Project Engineer, to Tipping!

An expert in evaluating existing buildings, Kaat thrives on unique challenges, leveraging advanced analysis and specialized testing to design targeted solutions that preserve and restore historic buildings for future generations.

Kaat brings to Tipping years of client-facing expertise in existing building assessment, repair, and retrofit, along with award-winning contributions to the structural engineering profession. She takes a holistic view of each structure and its problems, weighing client budget and priorities against long-term performance. Kaat was drawn to Tipping’s emphasis on collaboration, learning, and engaging with the whole project, recognizing that every project involves decisions beyond structural engineering.

https://tippingstructural.com/people/?personid=2210

09/17/2026

From drawing to installation, on site checking out the new Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials under construction at the University of California, Berkeley!

A new steel-framed building that will house a climate tech incubator within five stories and a basement, the 146,000-square-foot Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials will be equipped to accommodate a diversity of companies engaged in chemistry labs, prototyping, machining, and 3D printing facilities. Programming includes a research laboratory with control areas, laboratory suites, assembly areas on the ground floor, and a terrace on level two. In consideration of the building’s highly specialized and technical use, Tipping is designing for special floor vibration criteria, going above and beyond the requirements of the building code. Additionally, we have designed the lateral force resisting system with Buckling Restrained Braces (BRBs) in combination with steel “mast” frames. Tipping is a pioneer in the use of BRBs, and has been using them in award-winning laboratory projects over the past decade. Stay tuned for updates.

Photos & People: 1. Post-installation (Burhan M., Elisa Woodham, EIT, Nick Bucci, Tipping); 2: Structural detail drawing (Tipping); 3. Factory visit to Gayle Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Will Eldam & Michael Fahrenholz, Turner; Lyo Heng Liu, Gensler; Andrew & Nick, Tipping; Jaime Rodriguez, Gayle Manufacturing Co.); 4. Pre-installation (Burhan & Andrew, Tipping)

Architect: Gensler
Contractor: Turner Construction Company
Structural: Tipping (Marc Steyer, Nick Bucci, Andrew Jimenez, Beverly Xu, Burhan M.)
Owner’s Rep: A Squared Project Solutions Inc.
Owners: UC Berkeley with Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

https://energy-materials.bakarlabs.org/

09/15/2026

Located at the bustling corner of Grant Ave and Sutter St, 300 Grant is a new six-story retail & office building and the first ground-up development in San Francisco’s Union Square this century! With three lower floors of premier retail space and three levels of Class-A office above, open floor plates and no obstructions along the three street frontages were key for full retail access and visibility. New to our website, learn more here: https://tippingstructural.com/projects/300-grant/

Owner: Lincoln Property Company & St. Bride's Managers LLC

Architect: MBH Architects

Contractor: Hathaway Dinwiddie

Structural: Tipping (Mike Korolyk, Nick Bucci, Joy Wei)

Photos: Matthew Anderson

09/11/2026

Please join us in welcoming Lisa Versaci, Marketing Manager, to Tipping!

Raised by design professionals, Lisa brings a lifetime of passion for California's built environment to her work. Her background and experience in the AEC industry and in preservation advocacy is an asset to Tipping's ability to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. Adept at synthesizing diverse inputs to support thoughtful, data-informed decision making and organizational effectiveness, Lisa supports Tipping’s marketing and communications efforts, communicating Tipping's assets, skills, and strengths to clients and colleagues.

https://tippingstructural.com/people/lisa-versaci