ENGINEERING DESIGN FOR NONBUILDING STRUCTURES
Engineered for Impact
From initial consultation through construction and closeout, we offer a full range of engineering design services for nonbuilding structures (NBS). Our deep-dive approach to understand all facets of the project conditions ensures integrated, tailored solutions.
“Our expertise with nonbuilding structures and components spans more than two decades. We design customized NBS solutions, and our supportive, responsive team always puts your needs first.”
Russ Leffler, PE, SE, MLSE
Senior Principal,
Salas O’Brien
Nonbuilding structures include:
\ Acoustic clouds and panels
\ Artwork and sculptures
\ Auditorium seating
\ Cooling towers, large RTUs
\ Equipment and crane foundations
\ Equipment skids
\ Fire suppression support
\ Loading docks
\ Maintenance and equipment platforms
\ MEP hanger design / wind and seismic anchorage
\ Modular data center units
\ Operating room lighting and X-Ray, Cathlab, MRI, and CT equipment mounts and anchorage
\ Specialty equipment bracing and anchorage design for seismic/ wind
\ Steel connections, stairs, and miscellaneous metals
\ Storage rack design and analysis
Miles of hydronic pipe supports
Gaylord Rockies Convention Center and CUP Aurora, CO
Put Our Experience to Work on Your Next Project
NBS engineering is a complex discipline that often requires the expertise of consulting engineers who understand the specific structural characteristics and performance objectives along with additional considerations such as specialized equipment loads, vibration, and thermal expansion. Salas O’Brien, with over 20 years of experience in NBS consulting engineering, is among the few firms that excel in this field. Our impressive track record includes a diverse range of project types, such as airports, hospitals and medical office buildings, venues, hotels, manufacturing facilities, and water treatment facilities.
Fully Integrated Services
We provide fully integrated services, ranging from mechanical supports and anchorage, seismic restraint, and equipment and crane foundations, actively coordinating with other disciplines to avoid problems in the field. We have the ability to perform existing building scans that can be integrated with BIM to provide coordinated designs with complicated and/or busy existing conditions.
Adding Value and Developing Relationships
We take means and methods seriously and assist the team in implementing stakeholder input, detailing, and VE items. We develop cost-effective alternates, to meet the project needs and budget, particularly for MEP design. During construction, we ensure that the design intent is carried through to the end of the project. All with the goal of continually adding value and reducing risk while developing effective, long-term relationships with our clients.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
The right expertise to deliver optimum results
800+ NBS projects completed
20+
Years of NBS design experience
How
Hybrid steel pedestrian bridge features unique cold-formed steel design
Park Union Bridge CFS Engineering
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA
Called “the bridge of the future”, the Park Union Bridge is a 250-foot-long $20M pedestrian bridge that connects the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum with America the Beautiful Park. The Salas O’Brien team was tasked with designing the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing that supports the canted wall panels wrapping the inside of the twisting oculus. The CFS framing gradually curves and varies in height on each end, above and below the oculus.
The primary challenge presented by the CFS design was the threedimensional and rotational movement of the steel structure as it induced thermal, wind, seismic, and live loads. Each element required an allowable tolerance of movement so that the panels could achieve their smooth, flawless appearance. It took careful coordination with the structural engineer of record, the CFS contractor, and the panel manufacturer to secure the final design.
SERVICES
Structural Engineering, Cold-Formed Steel Engineering
COMPLETION YEAR 2021
PROJECT PARTNERS
Spacecon Specialty Contractors, Arup North America, MG McGrath Inc.
CONSTRUCTION COST
$20 million
RECOGNITION
2023 First Place Design Excellence Award, NonBuilding Applications, CFSEI
CONTACT
Russ Leffler, russ.leffler@ salasobrien.com
“The hybrid steel structure system functions as an arch and a truss, elegantly preserving views from Downtown to the majestic mountain ranges of Pikes Peak.”
Benjamin Gilmartin, Partner-in-Charge Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Architect of Record
© Jason O’Rear Photography
4 Salas O’Brien Engineering
Swift mobilization meets deadline and certification challenges
Hydronic Pipe Supports, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center AURORA, CO, USA
Salas O’Brien was tasked with the design of hydronic pipe supports for the central utility plant and 520,000 square-foot three-story convention hall for this ground-up project. Our team swiftly conducted field verifications, designed enhanced hanger solutions, and created custom solutions to accommodate existing piping supported by temporary shoring. We also improved hanger capacities by providing strengthening solutions for increased loads.
Our coordination with on-site teams and suppliers enabled faster solution implementation, ensuring our client met deadlines and conducted the already-scheduled hydronic pipe load testing. Additionally, we collaborated with a local third-party testing facility and our client to establish an on-site testing protocol for the post-installed anchors, which expedited the field certification of the overhead anchors.
SERVICES
Structural Engineering, Nonbuilding Structures Engineering
COMPLETION YEAR 2018
PROJECT PARTNERS
RK Mechanical
CONTACT
Russ Leffler, russ.leffler@ salasobrien.com
15 miles
approximate length of the hydronic piping in the CUP and convention hall
85 acres
size of the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, making it the largest non-casino hospitality project under construction in the United States at the time of its construction
Custom stair tower design meets the challenges of elevated electric commuter line
North Metro Rail Line Skyway Bridge Stair Towers, Regional Transportation District (RTD) Denver DENVER, CO, USA
Salas O’Brien was tasked with the design of five emergency egress stair towers for elevated portion of the North Metro Rail Line known as the Skyway Bridge. Each of the stair towers required a custom design due to the complex conditions associated with the 1.8-mile curvilinear structure.
The project necessitated extensive coordination with RTD and the rail system’s design team. The allowable egress space was limited, as each location had a small footprint for the structure. We provided integrated support for rail signal houses at two locations, rail security, an integrated handicapped evacuation chair at the top of the stair towers.
SERVICES
Structural Engineering, Nonbuilding Structures Engineering
COMPLETION YEAR 2018
PROJECT PARTNERS RK Specialties, TreanorHL, Stantec
CONTACT
Russ Leffler, russ.leffler@ salasobrien.com
Results
\ 10-foot to 60-foot tall bolt up custom evacuation towers
\ Salas O’Brien was prime on the project
6 Salas O’Brien Engineering
Cold Storage Racking Assessments and Certification
AMERICOLD, MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, USA: CALIFORNIA, MINNESOTA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
Salas O’Brien provided assessment and certification for existing older and/or non-proprietary racking for Americold, a leading provider of cold storage solutions
SERVICES
Structural Engineering, Building Information Modeling
COMPLETION YEAR
Ongoing
PROJECT PARTNERS
Americold
Jurassic Leaves Stairwell Canopy
DENVER, CO, USA
Salas O’Brien provided structural engineering for this canopy at the Louisiana-Pearl Light Rail Station Plaza. Large steel leaves with copper sheathing over stainless steel work together to provide a solid, artistic canopy over the stairwell. The project won a Denver Mayor’s Design Award, and the canopy’s iconic shape has become a landmark along I-25.
SERVICES
Structural Engineering, Nonbuilding Structures Engineering
PROJECT PARTNERS
Mark Leese Jump Design Company
CONSTRUCTION COST
$2.5 million
Operating Room 4 & 6 Stryker Integration Upgrade
SWEDISH MEDICAL CENTER ENGLEWOOD, CO, USA
Salas O’Brien’s most recent project at Swedish Medical Center consists of the renovation of Operating Rooms 4 and 6 to incorporate a Stryker Integration upgrade, including the replacement of the existing booms with two monitor/lighting booms and one equipment boom. The new booms were not located in the current location of the existing booms, which required the ceiling to be removed and the existing ceiling elements to be replaced and/or relocated.
SERVICES
Structural Engineering, Nonbuilding Structures Engineering
COMPLETION YEAR 2023
PROJECT PARTNERS
Hord Copland Macht
First place
2023 Design Excellence Award
Non-Building Applications
Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI)
Park Union Pedestrian Bridge
Colorado Springs, CO
Passion & Expertise
We are an engineering and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. We help clients achieve critical goals, advance team members through growth and opportunity, and operate at the center of important global issues, including sustainability and decarbonization.
Applying technical mastery and market vision
We have the objectivity to question assumptions, the versatility to embrace every problem’s unique nature, and the experience to challenge the status quo. We approach every project with a comprehensive view, focused on achieving high quality, lasting relationships, and a sustainable future.
Helping clients adapt to a changing world
We provide a full range of engineering and technical consulting services. From quick-turn projects to the most complex systems, our team is dedicated to providing quality solutions that deliver long-term value.
SERVICES
Embracing the unique nature of each problem and creating opportunity and impact through solving it.
\ Acoustics
\ Architecture & interiors
\ Asset management
\ Building envelope & building science
\ Civil
\ Commissioning
\ Digital & automation
\ Energy & resiliency
\ Geothermal & renewables
\ Litigation support
\ Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection
\ Technology
\ Structural
\ Sustainability
\ Resource efficiency management
85+
Offices throughout North America
600+
Registered professionals
3,350+ Passionate team members
RECOGNITION
Our consistent recognition among top-performing organizations in our industry reflects our commitment to excellence and solid year-over-year performance.
Engineering News Record 2024
#39 on the Top 500 Design Firms List
MEP Giants 2023
#11 top 100 MEP firms in North America
Inc. 5000 2023 11x honoree
BD+C Giants 400 2023
#8 on the Top 35 Engineering/ Architecture Firms list
Zweig Group Hot Firms 2023
#3 fastest-growing AEC firms in North America
