Structural Engineer
Your Design-Build Structural Engineer for Residential & Commercial Projects
Uni Construction combines licensed structural engineering with full design-build execution — delivering structural calculations for permit, ADU engineering, home additions, seismic evaluations, and new construction under one team. No middlemen, no coordination gaps, no wasted time.
Why Uni Construction
Why Property Owners Choose Uni Construction as Their Structural Engineer — Design-Build Expertise Most Engineering Firms Cannot Match
Most structural engineering firms hand you a set of calculations and send you on your way. You are left to find your own architect, your own drafter, your own contractor — and then spend weeks reconciling details across disconnected consultants. Uni Construction + Adu Design was built to eliminate that entire problem.
With more than twenty years of preconstruction and cost management experience on projects ranging from custom residences to large-scale commercial developments throughout California, our structural engineer team operates inside a design-build framework. That means your structural calculations, architectural plans, energy compliance documents, and construction execution all flow through one coordinated team. The result is faster permitting, fewer plan check corrections, and a project that is engineered for real-world constructability — not just code compliance on paper.
When you search for a structural engineer near me, you are looking for someone who can solve your specific problem quickly and correctly. Uni Construction delivers that responsiveness with the depth of a firm that has managed preconstruction on institutional-scale projects — applied to the residential and mid-scale commercial work that matters to you.
Value Points:
- Licensed structural engineering integrated with design-build delivery
- Structural calculations for permit — coordinated with architectural plan sets
- Deep knowledge of California building codes, seismic requirements, and local amendments
- ADU, addition, remodel, and new construction structural engineering under one roof
- Transparent fixed-fee proposals after scope review — no hourly billing surprises
Structural Engineer for ADU
Structural Engineer for ADU Projects — Every Configuration, Every Code Requirement
Accessory dwelling units require structural engineering that accounts for foundation design, load paths, lateral force resistance, and connection detailing — whether you are building new or converting existing space. As a specialized ADU structural engineer, Uni Construction has engineered hundreds of accessory dwelling unit projects across Southern California, delivering structural calculations for permit that pass plan check on the first submittal.
Detached ADU
New stand-alone structures up to 1,200 square feet under current California ADU law. Our structural engineer designs foundation systems, wall framing, roof structures, and lateral bracing to meet seismic and gravity load requirements while keeping material costs practical.
Attached ADU
Additions connected directly to your primary dwelling demand careful structural analysis of the existing building. We evaluate existing foundations, framing capacity, and load paths to ensure the new unit integrates safely without compromising the structural integrity of your home.
Garage Conversion
Converting a garage into a permitted ADU involves structural upgrades that most homeowners do not anticipate — foundation reinforcement, removal of the garage door opening with a new load-bearing header or infill wall, insulation framing, and window egress openings. Our structural calculations address every element the building department will review.
Junior ADU (JADU)
Units of 500 square feet or less carved from the existing footprint of your primary residence. Structural engineering for JADUs focuses on fire separation assemblies, load redistribution from partition modifications, and egress compliance within compact layouts.
Existing Floor Conversion
Repurposing underused interior space into a code-compliant ADU requires a structural engineer to evaluate floor load capacity, bearing wall locations, plumbing and mechanical chase routing, and fire-rated assembly requirements. We assess what your existing structure can support and engineer the modifications needed to convert it legally.
Residential Structural Engineering
Full-Service Structural Engineer for Home Additions, Remodels & New Construction
Beyond ADU projects, our structural engineering team delivers the full range of residential structural services — from single-room additions and interior remodels to ground-up new construction and permit-ready structural calculations.
01 — Home Addition & Room Addition Structural Engineering
Second stories, rear extensions, side additions, and bump-outs all require a structural engineer to design foundations, framing connections, and lateral force-resisting systems that tie the new construction into the existing building. We produce structural plans and calculations coordinated with your architectural drawings so your permit package is complete and consistent.
02 — Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel — Structural Support
Removing or modifying walls, relocating plumbing stacks, and opening up floor plans often involves structural modifications. Our structural engineer evaluates bearing conditions, designs replacement beams and headers, and provides the structural calculations for permit that your city requires before construction can begin.
03 — Residential Renovation — Structural Planning
Whole-house or phased renovations that involve roof modifications, floor system upgrades, foundation repairs, or seismic strengthening require structural engineering input at every stage. We coordinate with your design team to deliver renovation-specific structural plans that satisfy plan check reviewers and give your contractor clear direction.
04 — Site Planning & Zoning Review — Structural Feasibility
Before committing to design, we evaluate your lot and existing structure for structural feasibility — soil conditions, foundation type, existing framing capacity, and seismic zone considerations. This upfront structural review prevents expensive surprises during plan check or construction.
05 — Coordinated Plan Sets — Structural Calculations, Drafting & Permitting
Structural calculations for permit are only valuable when they are fully coordinated with your architectural and civil plan sets. Uni Construction produces integrated permit packages where structural plans, architectural drawings, Title 24 energy reports, and site plans align — one cohesive submittal, not a stack of disconnected documents from separate consultants.
06 — Structural Engineer for New Construction
Ground-up residential and commercial projects require a structural engineer from day one. We design complete structural systems — foundations, floor framing, wall systems, roof structures, and lateral force-resisting elements — for wood-frame, steel, masonry, and concrete construction. As a design-build structural engineer, we carry the structural scope from initial calculations through construction observation, ensuring what gets built matches what was engineered.
Our Process
How Our Design-Build Structural Engineering Team Works With You
We have refined a four-phase process that keeps structural engineering projects on track from the first conversation through permit approval and construction support.
Step 1 — Structural Assessment & Scope Definition
We evaluate your property and existing conditions, review applicable building codes and seismic requirements, and define the structural scope of work before any calculations begin.
Step 2 — Structural Design & Analysis
Our structural engineer develops the structural system — foundation design, framing layouts, connection details, and lateral force analysis — coordinated with your architectural plans and project budget.
Step 3 — Structural Calculations for Permit & Construction Documentation
Complete structural calculation packages and plan sets prepared for city submittal. Every detail is coordinated with architectural, energy, and civil documents so your permit package is consistent and complete.
Step 4 — Permitting Support & Construction Observation
We manage plan check responses and structural corrections, and provide construction-phase structural observation to verify field conditions match the approved engineering.
Ready to Work With a Structural Engineer Who Builds What They Engineer?
Request a free project consultation. We will review your property, assess your structural needs, and provide a clear fixed-fee proposal — typically within 48 hours.
Service Area
Structural Engineering Services Across Los Angeles & the San Gabriel Valley
Uni Construction serves homeowners, property investors, and developers throughout Los Angeles County. Our structural engineering team has completed ADU, addition, remodel, and new construction projects across dozens of jurisdictions in the region.
Cities Served:
· Los Angeles
· Diamond Bar
· Pasadena
· West Covina
· Alhambra
· Arcadia
· Rosemead
· Temple City
· Glendora
· Covina
· Monrovia
· El Monte
· Hacienda Heights
· Rowland Heights
· Walnut
· Pomona
· San Dimas
· La Verne
· Azusa
· Whittier
· Downtown Los Angeles
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Our Structural Engineering Services
Q: What makes Uni Construction different from other structural engineering firms?
A: Most structural engineering firms operate as standalone consultants — they produce calculations and hand them off. Uni Construction is a design-build structural engineer, which means your structural engineering, architectural design, and construction execution are coordinated within one team. This eliminates the miscommunication, conflicting details, and schedule gaps that property owners experience when managing separate structural engineers, architects, drafters, and contractors. With over twenty years of preconstruction and cost management experience, we engineer structures that are code-compliant, permit-ready, and built with real construction costs in mind.
Q: What types of projects does your structural engineer team handle?
A: We provide structural engineering for all five ADU configurations — detached ADUs, attached ADUs, garage conversions, junior ADUs, and existing floor conversions — as well as home additions, room additions, kitchen and bathroom remodels, whole-house renovations, and ground-up new construction for both residential and commercial projects. Each project includes structural calculations for permit coordinated with your full plan set.
Q: Do I need a structural engineer for my ADU project?
A: Yes. California building code requires structural engineering for any new habitable structure, and most jurisdictions require stamped structural calculations as part of your ADU permit submittal. A structural engineer for ADU projects designs the foundation, framing system, lateral bracing, and connection details that ensure your unit meets seismic and gravity load requirements. Skipping or underinvesting in structural engineering is the most common reason ADU permits get rejected or delayed at plan check.
Q: How much do structural calculations for permit cost?
A: Pricing depends on project type and complexity. A straightforward garage conversion or single-story ADU will sit at a lower fee range, while a two-story addition or new construction project with complex soil conditions or seismic detailing will require more engineering scope. We provide transparent, fixed-fee proposals after an initial scope review — you will know the cost before we begin.
Q: How long does it take to get structural calculations completed?
A: For a standard ADU or single-room addition, structural calculations are typically completed in two to three weeks from scope confirmation. More complex projects such as second-story additions, multi-unit buildings, or new construction may require three to five weeks. We coordinate closely with your architect and drafter to avoid delays, and our structural calculations are delivered as part of a complete permit package ready for city submittal.
Q: What areas do you serve as a structural engineer?
A: We serve property owners and developers throughout Los Angeles County with a concentration in the San Gabriel Valley — including Diamond Bar, Pasadena, West Covina, Alhambra, Arcadia, Rosemead, Temple City, Glendora, Covina, and surrounding communities. We also take on projects across broader LA County when the scope and location are a good fit.
Q: Can you handle both the structural engineering and the construction?
A: Yes — that is our core differentiator. As a design-build structural engineer, Uni Construction carries your project from initial structural assessment through construction completion. This means the team that engineers your structure is the same team that builds it. There is no handoff, no reinterpretation of plans, and no finger-pointing between your engineer and your contractor. What we calculate is what we construct.
Contact
Together, We Shape the Extraordinary
Interested in working with us? Let’s bring your space to life.