Structural Engineering Sydney

Services Area And Approach

At Engineering Sydney, we pride ourselves on providing structural and civil engineering excellence, personalised customer service and value to our customers through innovative engineering designs.

From our location in Oatley, in Sydney’s south, we offer structural and civil engineering consultancy services all around Sydney. Examples of our work and testimonials from our customers are available here.

Once you contact us, we’ll organise to meet with you to discuss your needs.

What comes next is the favourite part of our job – developing a unique design that meets the needs of your project, with major emphasis placed on practical solutions.

Our Structural Engineering Services Include The Following:

  • Footings – foundations for all structures
  • On Ground Reinforced Concrete Slabs
  • Suspended Reinforced Concrete Slabs
  • Reinforced concrete beams
  • Steel beams
  • Steel columns
  • Steel trusses
  • Reinforced concrete columns
  • Composite beams (steel and concrete, timber and steel, laminated beams, LVL beams – laminated veneer lumber)
  • Concrete retaining walls
  • Timber retaining walls
  • Concrete block walls – reinforced and core filled with concrete
  • Retaining walls

 

 

What Is Structural Engineering?

Structural engineering involves analysing and designing all kinds of structures such as buildings, bridges, towers, tunnels, retaining walls and other infrastructure. Civil engineering is more about developing infrastructure projects, such as roads, railways, dams and water systems. Structural engineering supports and maintains the built environment, where structures must be safe, serviceable, durable, aesthetically pleasing and economical.

It also involves applying maths and physics to traditional construction materials such as concrete, stone, steel, timber and glass and innovative engineering materials, including aluminium, polymers and carbon fibre.

Structural design decides the type of structure most suitable for a specific purpose, the materials to be used, the loads and other actions the system must sustain, and the arrangement, layout and dimensions of its various components.

Structural design involves precise calculations to ensure that:

  • The structure is sturdy
  • All parts have enough strength to handle the design loads
  • The facility will remain serviceable throughout its design life and able to perform the function intended

Lastly, structural design involves the meticulous preparation of drawings that will illustrate the engineering design to the contractors who will build the structure.

Structural analysis is an essential part of structural engineering. It involves the calculation of the response of the structure to the design loads and proposed deformations that it will be required to endure for decades to come. In structural engineering, deformation is when an object is temporarily or permanently altered due to force. These calculations allow structural engineers to choose the suitable materials for the structure and to ensure that it will be ideal for it’s purpose.

Footings And Ground Slabs

Pad Footings Design

The most straightforward and cost-effective foundation is pad footings, also known as isolated or spread footings, and are primarily used for shallow foundations to carry and spread concentrated loads from columns or pillars. They are created by digging holes into the ground, fitting the holes with a reinforcement cage, and finally pouring a concrete mix to ground level.

Waffle Pod Footings & Slabs Design

A waffle slab is made of reinforced concrete and is flat on top with a grid-like system of narrow strip footings on its bottom surface. It’s name derives from these narrow strip footings or ribs, which are laid perpendicular to each other with equal depth.

Column Footings Design

One of the simplest types of foundations is a column footing. This footing is often a block of concrete on which the column sits so the weight placed on the column can be distributed through a larger area.

Load Bearing Pile Footings Design

These footings are commonly used for high-rise buildings or bridges. Load bearing pile footings become necessary if a home is being built on weak soil or uneven terrain. They are pushed into the ground until a solid base can be found so that structures can be supported on top of it.

Bored Pier Footings Design

Bored pier footings come into play in wet and coastal areas where footings and slabs require further support. After they are filled with concrete, holes are drilled down to the level of good load bearing soil.

Strip Footings Design

One of the most common footing types used in Australia is the strip footing—a continuous strip of reinforced concrete designed to support uniformly distributed loads, such as structural walls. These footings provide a stable foundation for load-bearing elements and are essential in residential and commercial construction.

In modern construction practices, composite beams are increasingly integrated with strip footings to enhance structural performance. By combining materials such as steel and concrete, composite beams offer greater strength and load distribution capabilities, reducing the risk of settlement and improving overall durability. This synergy between strip footings and composite elements ensures a more efficient and reliable foundation system, particularly in projects requiring additional support or load-bearing capacity.

Pad Footings Design

The most straightforward and cost-effective foundation is pad footings, also known as isolated or spread footings, and are primarily used for shallow foundations to carry and spread concentrated loads from columns or pillars. They are created by digging holes into the ground, fitting the holes with a reinforcement cage, and finally pouring a concrete mix to ground level.

Waffle Pod Footings & Slabs Design

A waffle slab is made of reinforced concrete and is flat on top with a grid-like system of narrow strip footings on its bottom surface. It’s name derives from these narrow strip footings or ribs, which are laid perpendicular to each other with equal depth.

Column Footings Design

One of the simplest types of foundations is a column footing. This footing is often a block of concrete on which the column sits so the weight placed on the column can be distributed through a larger area.

Load Bearing Pile Footings Design

These footings are commonly used for high-rise buildings or bridges. Load bearing pile footings become necessary if a home is being built on weak soil or uneven terrain. They are pushed into the ground until a solid base can be found so that structures can be supported on top of it.

Bored Pier Footings Design

Bored pier footings come into play in wet and coastal areas where footings and slabs require further support. After they are filled with concrete, holes are drilled down to the level of good load bearing soil.

Strip Footings Design

One of the most common footing types used in Australia is the strip footing—a continuous strip of reinforced concrete designed to support uniformly distributed loads, such as structural walls. These footings provide a stable foundation for load-bearing elements and are essential in residential and commercial construction.

In modern construction practices, composite beams are increasingly integrated with strip footings to enhance structural performance. By combining materials such as steel and concrete, composite beams offer greater strength and load distribution capabilities, reducing the risk of settlement and improving overall durability. This synergy between strip footings and composite elements ensures a more efficient and reliable foundation system, particularly in projects requiring additional support or load-bearing capacity.

Pad Footings Design

The most straightforward and cost-effective foundation is pad footings, also known as isolated or spread footings, and are primarily used for shallow foundations to carry and spread concentrated loads from columns or pillars. They are created by digging holes into the ground, fitting the holes with a reinforcement cage, and finally pouring a concrete mix to ground level.

Waffle Pod Footings & Slabs Design

A waffle slab is made of reinforced concrete and is flat on top with a grid-like system of narrow strip footings on its bottom surface. It’s name derives from these narrow strip footings or ribs, which are laid perpendicular to each other with equal depth.

Column Footings Design

One of the simplest types of foundations is a column footing. This footing is often a block of concrete on which the column sits so the weight placed on the column can be distributed through a larger area.

Load Bearing Pile Footings Design

These footings are commonly used for high-rise buildings or bridges. Load bearing pile footings become necessary if a home is being built on weak soil or uneven terrain. They are pushed into the ground until a solid base can be found so that structures can be supported on top of it.

Bored Pier Footings Design

Bored pier footings come into play in wet and coastal areas where footings and slabs require further support. After they are filled with concrete, holes are drilled down to the level of good load bearing soil.

Strip Footings Design

One of the most common footing types used in Australia is the strip footing—a continuous strip of reinforced concrete designed to support uniformly distributed loads, such as structural walls. These footings provide a stable foundation for load-bearing elements and are essential in residential and commercial construction.

In modern construction practices, composite beams are increasingly integrated with strip footings to enhance structural performance. By combining materials such as steel and concrete, composite beams offer greater strength and load distribution capabilities, reducing the risk of settlement and improving overall durability. This synergy between strip footings and composite elements ensures a more efficient and reliable foundation system, particularly in projects requiring additional support or load-bearing capacity.

Screw Piles in Modern Construction

 

In modern construction, materials like concrete, stone, steel, timber, and glass are fundamental, but the integration of innovative engineering materials such as aluminium, polymers, and carbon fibre is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. One key innovation is the use of screw piles, a versatile and efficient foundation solution.

Screw piles provide an innovative alternative to traditional foundations by offering quick installation, minimal environmental disruption, and the ability to support heavy loads. These piles are made from steel and are designed to be screwed into the ground, offering superior stability even in challenging soil conditions. Whether used for residential, commercial, or industrial projects, screw piles work seamlessly with other materials like concrete and steel, ensuring a robust foundation for various structures.

Incorporating screw piles into your construction project helps reduce construction time and costs while increasing long-term stability and sustainability. This is just one example of how modern engineering materials and techniques are shaping the future of construction.

Beams And Columns

Structural Engineering Services | Beams

Beams

Beams are horizontal planks or rods that carry weight perpendicular to their direction (which is longitudinal). Beams are supported at both ends of installation and transfer loads from slab to column.

Location

These structural elements are used to support the weight of a building’s walls, ceilings and roofs. Their primary job is to spread the weight to a structure’s vertical load-bearing supports.

Design

Structural engineers must carefully design beams. The structural engineers at Engineering Sydney are educated and trained to calculate the loads acting on the beam and will choose an optimal beam size, shape and material to accommodate the forces and loads on the structure. Beam dimensions are also allocated according to the value of the internal forces located on them.

Materials

The most common types of materials used to make beams include reinforced concrete, steel, grouted masonry and wood. Engineering Sydney’s structural engineers will select the material based on cost, geometry and fire rating, among other things.

Structural Engineering Services | Columns

Columns

Similar to beams, columns are used in structural support. Essentially, columns are vertical structures that transfer compressive loads. They support the floor or roof beams and the columns on the floors above; bottom floor columns must be strong enough to carry the full weight of each floor above it. They will transfer loads from the slab and beams to the foundations and soil beneath.

Location

For the most effective support, columns should be placed consistently on all floors (where possible), increasing the stability of the lowest set of columns.

Design

At Engineering Sydney, our structural engineers carefully calculate the loads that columns must support before determining the optimal design. Just like beams, column design is heavily influenced by vertical load values, as well as lateral forces from wind or seismic activity. These factors play a crucial role in ensuring structural integrity and safety.

To meet these demands, Reinforced Concrete Slabs and Columns are often used due to their strength, durability, and ability to distribute loads efficiently. Reinforced concrete columns are engineered to resist both axial and lateral forces, while slabs provide stable floor systems that transfer loads uniformly across supporting elements. Together, these components form a robust framework that is essential in both residential and commercial construction.

Materials

The two primary materials used in modern column construction include

1. Steel
2. Concrete

Retaining Walls

What Are Retaining Walls?

Retaining walls are structures used to provide stability and are commonly used to control soil banks. The structural engineering design of retaining walls varies across Australia. A geotechnical assessment is needed for all retaining walls, particularly those in clay sites. The structural design engineering undertakes drainage considerations to ensure long term performance in retaining walls.

Types Of Retaining Walls

Gabion Walls

A Gabion wall is a simple design and consists of rough cut stones, or randomly collected stones of similar size encased in a wire basket or mesh cage. They are easy to assemble on site, requiring only a specific stacking order to achieve stability and desired results. Gabion walls allow perfect subsoil drainage of the soil that is being retained.

In-Situ Concrete Walls

When an engineer designs concrete retaining walls that can suit a variety of project needs, the construction of a concrete wall can be done by just about any builder. In-situ concrete walls may be cheaper to build except for their formwork and are more flexible, depending on the type of soil retaining required to be achieved.

Gravity Structures – Limestone Retaining Walls

The gravity wall depends upon its weight to retain soil. Limestone retaining walls are gravity walls commonly used in the Perth Region. The interlocking blocks used to construct the limestone retaining wall can be either natural blocks or reconstituted ones. Limestone retaining walls can be used in a wide range of applications and have long durability. The type of retained soil is beneficial if required to support imposed actions such as light vehicle surcharge loading.

Panel & Post Retaining Walls

Also known as concrete sleeper retainer walls, they usually consist of concrete posts or steel beams cast into concrete footings. The retaining is achieved with concrete panels inserted between reinforced concrete posts or galvanised I-beam. This retaining wall is easy and quick to install on sand sites. Also, this retaining wall isn’t recommended within 1km of the ocean to ensure durability, and the steel I-beams must be galvanised.

Concrete Block Retaining Wall Systems

Retaining wall using concrete masonry blocks are straightforward to construct, and since there is a wide range of colours and textures available, there is a range of options for retaining walls, planter boxes and feature walls. Concrete block walls are typically constructed in Australia using 150 or 200 series blocks.

Structural engineering is often recommended for

  • Retaining walls over 1m in height.
  • Where the retaining wall is supporting a heavy load.
  • Complex ground conditions.
  • To fulfil council regulations i.e. Development Application, Works Orders, Emergency Works.

Why Choose Engineering Sydney?

At Engineering Sydney, we provide a comprehensive range of structural reporting services tailored to meet legal, forensic, and property-related needs. Our Structural Expert Witness Reports are prepared with precision and impartiality, supporting legal proceedings and dispute resolution with clear, evidence-based assessments. These reports are invaluable in court cases involving construction defects, structural failures, or professional negligence.

We also offer Forensic Structural Reports, which involve in-depth investigations into structural damage or failure. These reports identify root causes—whether due to design flaws, material defects, or environmental factors—and provide actionable recommendations for remediation. Our forensic expertise ensures accuracy, clarity, and confidence in addressing complex structural concerns.

Additionally, our Dilapidations Reports are essential for property owners, tenants, and managers, offering a clear record of a building’s condition before or after occupation. These reports help manage liability, protect investments, and provide peace of mind during lease negotiations or termination.

We also specialise in delivering high-quality structural engineering services across the region, with a strong focus on innovative and cost-effective design. One key area of our expertise includes shoring, which plays a critical role in supporting excavation sites and ensuring the safety and stability of surrounding structures during construction.

Our team integrates shoring techniques with retaining wall designs to provide comprehensive support systems tailored to each project’s unique requirements. Whether it’s for residential, commercial, or infrastructure developments, we prioritise efficiency and safety without inflating costs—helping clients stay on budget without compromising on quality.

Our team specialises in structural engineering all throughout Sydney. We deliver quality retaining wall design solutions and never over-price. We pride ourselves on developing innovative, efficient designs that focus on saving the client’s budget. Contact us now to discuss further information about structual engineering.