Architect: Risinger Schmitt & Associates, Chicago, IL
Location: Blaine, Minnesota
Completion Date: Under construction

Description: Design of a 45,000 sq. ft. one story exercise facility with partial mezzanine structure in Blaine, Minnesota.

Design Challenge: The challenge was designing this structure to be constructed adjacent to an existing mall facility which had a lower roof height than the typical LA Fitness facility. The proposed roof heights had to match the existing roof heights so as not to impart snow drift load onto the existing structure.

Our Solution: The proposed structure was designed with multiple roof heights to match the existing structure elevation. The multiple roof heights created roof diaphragms at different levels which were accommodated with x-bracing between the varied roof heights and a drag strut.

Architect: Cornice & Rose, Int., Barrington, Illinois
Location: Lake Zurich, IL
Completion Date: Under construction

Description: Structural design of 16,500 sq. ft. two story residence with full basement and 3600 sq. ft. garage.

Design Challenges: The design challenges included designing the structure while the homeowner and the homeowner's architect were finalizing design decisions and evaluating value engineering options to maintain the construction budget.

Our Solution:We designed a structure with an open floor plan to provide the owner and architect ultimate flexibility with design decisions. The structure was designed with various building materials such as wood trusses, engineered lumber, steel beams and columns, perforated wood shear walls and concrete shear walls. Preliminary designs were completed on most elements to allow value engineering to verify that construction costs were within the owner's budget prior to completing final design.

Location: Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Completion Date: Under Construction

Description: Prepare design/shop drawings for proprietary segmental block retaining wall system.

Design Challenges: The design challenges included fast track design of walls and designing wall systems for specific site conditions.

Our Solution: We obtained direction from the contractor as to the sequence of wall construction. With this direction, we designed the walls in order of construction and released each respective wall design to the contractor upon completion. Each wall was designed for its unique site conditions such as water applications, tiered walls and roadways and/or parking lots. The water application walls were designed for hydrostatic pressure while tiered walls were designed for the surcharge loads from the upper level walls. Wall supporting roadways and/or parking lots were designed for traffic loads.

Location: Mount Prospect, Illinois
Completion Date: May 2007

Description: Highland Engineering, P.C. was contacted by an insurance company to represent the apartment building owner in a fire claim.

Our Role: We performed a cause and origin investigation into the fire at the multi-unit apartment complex. The cause and origin of the fire was a faulty electrical strip in the bedroom.

Location: Machesny, Illinois
Completion Date: April 2007

Description: Highland Engineering, P.C. was contacted by an insurance company to investigate a vehicle fire.

Our Role: We performed a cause and origin investigation into the vehicle fire. We advised the client the probable cause and origin was an electrical fire in the dashboard of the vehicle. The insurance company requested a report based on our findings with no further investigation required.

Location: Hinsdale, Illinois
Completion Date: September 2007

Description: Highland Engineering, P.C. was contacted by a residential home builder who was not able to get occupancy for their spec home. The village had informed the builder a structure on the adjacent property was unsafe and therefore, occupancy could not be granted.

Our Role: We performed an investigation of the subject structure and determined the structure was not adequately designed and/or constructed. With our report in hand, the builder was able to get their occupancy permit and sell the spec home.