Services
Structural Engineering
AAI Engineering is committed to ensuring that our clients receive outstanding service and the best product possible. To this end, we offer a wide range of structural engineering services to meet the challenges of the modern building industry. Our structural engineering services focus on the design of low to mid-rise buildings for commercial, industrial, residential, educational and public facilities. Our design expertise includes structural steel, traditionally reinforced and post-tensioned concrete, composite, masonry, timber, light gauge steel and aluminum design.
AAI Engineering offers the following Structural Engineering services:
AAI Engineering began as a structural engineering firm and although our services have greatly expanded over the years, new building design is still core to AAI. From schematic design through construction administration, we focus on providing the best solutions with respect to budgets and schedules. AAI engineers take pride in producing creative, structurally efficient designs. Our design experience includes all major commercial and industrial construction types utilizing steel, concrete, masonry, wood, and light gauge steel for a wide variety of building applications.
As buildings age and codes evolve, owners and developers look to extending the lifespan, utility, and safety of existing structures. AAI staff can help clients navigate mandatory upgrade triggers as well as identify and prioritize voluntary rehabilitation measures. AAI staff often provides feasibility/evaluation reports as a first step and we have the expertise to design targeted repairs or provide entire building retrofits as needed for each specific project.
Preservation of historical structures, a respect for buildings that represent a sense of community, and reuse of existing structures are key concerns for AAI. We have participated in the renovation of many structures, some on the National Register of Historic Structures. For change of occupancy, seismic upgrades, additions, modifications, and due diligence evaluations, we have personnel that combine structural expertise and architectural sensitivity.
Construction is complex and inherently challenging. As public safety is fundamental to structural engineering, maintaining a safe and stable construction environment is a primary function for AAI Engineering. AAI engineers offer design experience in shoring, reshoring, bracing, material transport, fall protection, and general temporary structure services to the construction industry.
AAI offers a diverse selection of engineering services to industries such as the Pulp/Paper and Wood Products sectors. Projects range from the structural design of the facilities housing these industries to process related components such as boilers, paper machines, fiberline, power supply, materials handling, crane/lifting mechanisms, utility support structures, tank/vessel foundations, fall protection, saws and planers, presses and dust collection systems to name just a few.
Offered as a stand-alone service, or in conjunction with other services, AAI Engineering provides exceptional support to the construction industry. Our engineers take pride in their responsiveness and adaptability. As structural engineers with a broad depth of building experience, we design solutions to problems encountered in the field that consider economy, performance, safety and constructability.
Once a building shell is constructed, new tenants frequently need to customize the space for their occupation. AAI provides a broad range of structural capabilities to support this finish work. Some of these services include: analysis of existing structure to support new loads, design of reinforcements to existing structures, design of partitions, soffits, parapets or other architectural enhancements, suspended ceilings, screenwalls, and the design of anchorage systems.
AAI engineers particularly enjoy the opportunity to step outside our normal realm of building design by participating in a wide variety of art installation projects. We have been involved in over 30 public installations, in which we are primarily responsible for the design of the fastening and anchoring systems.
The creation of safe structures for the public is of paramount importance to the structural engineering industry. To achieve this goal, some structural engineering firms provide peer review services for fellow engineers. AAI supplies, and participates in, this industry practice. We view this activity as a cooperative service that helps to assure that our profession adheres to the highest industry standards.
When building development periods are at their peak levels, there may be a shortage of publicly employed plan reviewers. A particularly complex structure may require specialized analysis techniques to evaluate the design. To assist in these conditions, AAI Engineering offers plan review services to local jurisdictions.
AAI engineers have served as disaster response specialists, investigative engineers, expert witnesses, and have provided litigation support to owners, contractors, and architects. Our services in this area are dedicated to the objective determination of the root causes of failure and the communication of the details in a clear and concise manner.
Frequently, a great deal of information is required before a determination can be made whether to purchase, renovate, or condemn a property. AAI Engineering can assist in the procurement of this valuable information through structural observations, as-built documentation, seismic evaluations, (including FEMA compliant reports), specialized dynamic analyses in high-risk sites, and risk assessments that systematically prioritize structural deficiencies and/or hazards. These services are specifically tailored to individual projects and may be as brief as a walk-through followed by a professional opinion letter, or as complex as a state-of-the-art three-dimensional dynamic model.
Civil Engineering
AAI’s civil engineering group is a key component in the success of many public and private projects. AAI provides infrastructure design supporting land development and transportation activities. We supply leadership, sound engineering, quality service, and creative solutions. Our civil engineering services focus on the management and design of commercial, light industrial and residential development projects. AAI’s professional staff is experienced in anticipating potential environmental impacts as well as procedural requirements to facilitate compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
AAI Engineering offers the following Civil Engineering services:
Identifying the environmental and regulatory constraints that exist on a site before acquiring the property, or investing in detailed development plans, can save the client substantial time and money.
AAI Engineering combines common sense, effective construction documents, and good design principles with our planning and analysis expertise to meet various aspects of the client’s needs from project inception through completion. Our staff is up to date on trends in the constantly changing regulatory and environmental compliance field. Our goal is to ensure that all projects meet the budgeting, planning and permitting requirements unique to each development.
A successful development begins with a well-prepared site design and permitting schedule. Our planners and engineers work closely with our clients to develop a property to its best potential.
Our past projects have ranged from sites consisting of a few parcels to those involving several hundred parcels. AAI’s experience includes commercial, industrial, residential and institutional projects with complex geotechnical, grading and utility issues. Whatever the challenges, our extensive knowledge of the site development industry will help to ensure that your project is completed in a cost effective and timely manner.
At AAI Engineering, we provide effective solutions to problems and issues involving the flow and storage of stormwater, which enhance our reuse of rainwater, allow for natural filtration and treatment of stormwater runoff, and reduce our impact on the environment through consistent erosion and sediment control practices.
However, good design is only part of the solution. Increasingly complex regulatory requirements may make navigating the permitting process in many jurisdictions confusing and difficult. AAI has the expertise to keep pace with rapid compliance changes in stormwater planning that will keep a client’s project on track and on budget.
AAI provides plan and profile design for public/private streets and parking facilities that maintain positive drainage in accordance with the client and project type requirements. We will later tailor our work effort to assist your team in successfully completing the site development in an efficient and cost effective manner by specifying cut and fill volumes that result in a balanced site. In addition to providing expert technical analysis, our staff provides the facilitation skills essential to a successful project.
Construction administration and observation services provide the final quality checkpoint for successful completion of public works and land development projects. Our staff can provide construction services for any of our areas of expertise.
We believe the work of the Landscape Architect is to bring people,
The things they build,
Their communities,
Their cities – and their lives –
Into harmony with the living earth.- John Ormsbee Simonds
Landscape Architecture
AAI’s Landscape Architecture Department works closely with our planners, civil engineers and architects to creatively meet jurisdictional requirements. We focus on collaboration between the design team, client, and jurisdiction to provide sustainable designs within budget.
Our department is the most versatile and visionary division of the firm. Our projects range from bare-bones projects, creatively meeting minimal jurisdictional requirements to creating visually pleasing, functional outdoor spaces. All of our projects receive the same commitment; to produce an aesthetically pleasing space that meets the needs of the client and enhances the experience of the users.
AAI Engineering offers the following Landscape Architecture services:
Retail
Commercial
Mixed Use
Industrial
Illustrative presentation plans
Retail
Commercial
Mixed Use
Industrial
Illustrative presentation plans
Planning
AAI planners provide master planning of residential communities, office, industrial, civic, transit-oriented and commercial development. AAI planning staff can determine the most efficient use and layout for our clients’ sites. We work closely with each client to guide them through the myriad of jurisdictional rules, regulations and road blocks unique to each project through final approvals and construction.
Via top-notch critical thinking and problem solving, our Land Use Planning Department searches for solutions to land development challenges. Typically, these challenges are multifaceted and require full competency of land use law, architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, surveying and project management. Our planners are adept at dealing with multiple jurisdictions, conflicting stake holders and project-specific restrictions. In order to achieve the highest levels of efficiency and success, our Land Use Planners are creative, practical, diplomatic, sensitive to environmental sustainability, and meet the needs of the client and the communities while keeping mind of the project’s potential impacts. The AAI Planning Department has 20 plus years of experience honing skills and navigating these obstacles over a plurality of jurisdictions across the country, from City and County level to State level.
AAI Engineering offers the following Planning services:
You provide the address and we prepare a comprehensive study of the potential opportunities and constraints associated with the site. Focus is on Zoning and associated Land Use requirements.
AAI can apply your specific project goals, in accordance with the zoning code standards, to produce conceptual Site Plans that maximize the use of a site.
AAI has experience preparing many types of Land Use applications. We specialize in taking your project through these processes in a timely manner, to a positive decision.
- Conditional Use
- Variance and Adjustments
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment
- Zone Change
- Annexation
- Property Line Adjustment and Partitions
- Subdivisions
Never underestimate the power of public support. Our Planners are adept at illustrating the positives and minimizing the negatives.