Structural Engineering
Structural design, review and assessment for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
Overview
Structural engineering covers the design, review and assessment of the parts of a building that carry load: foundations, framing, floor and roof structures, and the connections that hold them together. CanMaple Consultant provides structural engineering for new buildings, additions, renovations and structural modifications, and carries out structural assessments of existing buildings in Edmonton and across Alberta.
Every structural scope starts with the same question — what does this specific building, site and loading condition actually require — rather than a generic assumption carried over from a different project.
Who This Service Is For
- Owners and developers building new residential, commercial or industrial structures.
- Homeowners and contractors planning an addition, renovation or structural modification (removing a wall, adding a floor, altering an opening).
- Property owners and buyers who need an existing building's structural condition assessed before a renovation, change of use, or purchase.
- Architects and other design consultants who need a structural engineer as part of a coordinated project team.
Common Challenges We Address
- A new building or addition needs a structural system designed and documented before construction can be permitted.
- An existing structure shows signs of movement, cracking or deterioration and the owner needs to know what's actually happening and what it means.
- A renovation involves removing or altering a load-bearing wall, column or beam, and the change needs to be engineered so the building remains structurally sound.
- A property is changing use or occupancy, and the existing structure needs to be evaluated against the new loading it will carry.
- A contractor or architect needs a structural engineer of record to complete drawings and support permitting for a project already underway.
Scope of Service
- New building structural design — foundation, framing and lateral (wind/seismic) system design for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
- Structural design for additions and renovations — sizing and detailing new structural elements and their connection to existing construction.
- Structural modifications — engineering for removed or altered load-bearing walls, columns, beams and floor openings.
- Existing-building structural assessment — visual review and evaluation of an existing structure's condition, ahead of a renovation, change of use, or as a standalone assessment.
- Foundation design — footings, foundation walls and, where site conditions require it, deeper foundation systems, sized to the loads and soil conditions on a given site.
Typical Deliverables
- Structural drawings sized and detailed for permit submission and construction.
- Structural design briefs and calculation packages supporting the drawings.
- Existing-structure assessment reports describing observed condition and engineering recommendations.
- Construction-phase structural review of shop drawings and site conditions, where scoped.
Project Types
Residential
Single- and multi-family structures, additions, and structural work supporting renovations such as basement development, second-storey additions or open-concept modifications.
Commercial
Office, retail and mixed-use buildings, tenant improvements involving structural changes, and structural input to building condition assessments.
Industrial
Warehouse and light-industrial structures, including foundation and framing design suited to equipment loading and material-handling requirements.
How the Engagement Works
Site and scope review
We review the site, existing conditions (for renovation or assessment work) and the project's loading requirements before proposing a scope.
Proposal
A written proposal describing exactly what structural scope is included — design, assessment, or both — is returned before work begins.
Design and analysis
Structural systems are sized and detailed based on applicable code requirements, site conditions and coordination with other disciplines on the project.
Drawing production
Structural drawings and supporting calculations are produced to a level of detail suited to permitting and construction.
Permit and construction support
Drawings are issued for permit submission, with construction-phase review available where the project requires it.
Alberta & Edmonton Considerations
Structural design in Alberta is governed by the National Building Code – Alberta Edition, which sets the loading requirements (snow, wind, seismic and live loads) that a structural design has to satisfy. Edmonton's snow-load requirements and freeze-thaw climate are directly relevant to foundation and envelope-adjacent structural detailing, and the region's expansive clay soils are a well-documented factor in foundation performance and movement for older Edmonton-area buildings — a common reason a structural assessment gets requested in the first place.
Structural drawings prepared for permit submission in Alberta are typically required to be reviewed and stamped by a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licensed with APEGA, the province's engineering regulator. Confirm specific stamping and permit-authorization arrangements directly with CanMaple for your project.
Working With Your Project Team
Structural work rarely happens in isolation. On a coordinated project, the structural design is developed alongside architectural layout, civil site servicing, and mechanical/electrical routing so that structural elements (beams, columns, shear walls) don't conflict with ductwork, plumbing or the architectural design intent. Where CanMaple provides multiple disciplines on the same project, that coordination happens directly within one team; where CanMaple is engaged as the structural engineer on a project led by another architect or contractor, we coordinate through the project's regular design-team process.
Related Engineering Disciplines
Why Choose CanMaple
- Structural scopes handled directly by the discipline team, coordinated with civil, mechanical, electrical and architectural work on the same project rather than reviewed in isolation.
- Both new-design and existing-building assessment experience, so a renovation or change-of-use project gets an engineer who understands what's actually there, not just what a drawing says should be there.
- Edmonton-based, with direct familiarity with regional soil and climate conditions relevant to foundation and structural performance.
- Scoped proposals — you know what structural work is included before it starts.
Service Area
CanMaple is based in Edmonton, Alberta, and provides structural engineering services for projects across Edmonton and other Alberta communities.
Industries commonly served with this discipline include Construction, Manufacturing & Factory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a structural engineer to remove a load-bearing wall?
In most cases, yes. Removing or altering a load-bearing wall changes how the building carries load, and the replacement structure (typically a beam and posts) needs to be sized and detailed by a structural engineer to keep the building sound and to support permit approval.
What is included in an existing-building structural assessment?
A visual review of accessible structural elements — foundation, framing, connections — documented in a report describing observed condition, any signs of distress or movement, and engineering recommendations for further investigation or repair where warranted.
What is included in a structural assessment for adaptive reuse or conversion projects?
The existing structure is evaluated against the loading and configuration the new use will require — for example, converting a warehouse to office space typically changes live-load assumptions and may require reviewing floor framing capacity, in addition to a general condition review.
How long does structural design take?
Timelines depend on project scope and complexity, and are confirmed as part of the proposal once the project is understood — a small renovation scope moves faster than a full new-building structural design.
Do you provide structural engineering for both new construction and renovations?
Yes — CanMaple designs structural systems for new buildings and additions, and also provides structural design and assessment for renovations, structural modifications and existing-building evaluations.
What information do you need to start a structural engineering scope?
For new design: site information, architectural or conceptual drawings, and the intended use/occupancy. For renovation or assessment work: any existing drawings available, and access to the site for a review.
Can you work alongside my architect or contractor?
Yes — CanMaple regularly acts as the structural engineer of record on projects led by another architect or contractor, coordinating through the project's design and construction process.
Request a Structural Engineering Proposal
Tell us about your project and we'll follow up with a scoped proposal.
Request a Consultation