Structures North Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Setting a standard of excellence in Structural Engineering and Historic Preservation.

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About the firm

Structures North Consulting Engineers, Inc. is a structural engineering practice incorporated in 1997 and headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts. It has grown to become one of New England's preeminent consulting practices in historic preservation while maintaining a steady presence in commercial, institutional, and residential markets. Core capabilities include the evaluation, stabilization, restoration, and adaptive reuse of historic structures spanning masonry, timber, early steel, and cast iron. It also provides structural engineering for new construction.

Established
1997
Firm type
Structural Engineering

People

John WathneFounder, Principal

Edward H. Moll IIPrincipal

Greg NowakPrincipal

Jeff ReeseStructural Engineer

Rebecca WoodsAssociate

Jillian BorghardtStructural Engineer, Preservation Designer

Gabriel WathneOffice Manager

Capabilities

Historic Preservation and Restoration

Providing appropriate material treatments, design solutions, and intervention strategies to restore and save older structures of historical, architectural, or cultural significance.

  • Historic Timber and Wood Frame Preservation

    Focusing on timber framing, wood stick framing, and timber towers to reinforce historic structural integrity.

  • Masonry Restoration and Stabilization

    Formulating material treatments and structural solutions for dry laid and wet laid stone, fired clay masonry, and early mortars.

  • Early Steel and Cast Iron Evaluation

    Inspecting, analyzing, and designing remedial solutions for historic structural metal frameworks.

  • Structural Stabilization and Tower Repair

    Designing stabilization systems, shoring, and restoration frameworks for civic and religious towers.

Adaptive Reuse and Renovation

Transforming existing built environments to accommodate modern functional requirements and accessibility standards while preserving architectural heritage.

  • Building Additions and Connecting Links

    Designing new structural extensions and modern connecting frameworks like wood-and-glass links to interface with existing buildings.

  • Accessibility Compliance Upgrades

    Integrating modern elevator shafts, accessible restrooms, and custom exterior ramps into historical properties.

  • Structural Reinforcement for Modern Loading

    Assessing and reinforcing existing floor and framing structures to securely support current code and live load specifications.

New Structural Construction

Delivering complete structural engineering designs from initial project conception to completion across multiple sectors.

  • Residential Structural Design

    Engineering durable wood-frame and multi-material systems for single-family and multi-family residential projects.

  • Commercial and Retail Structural Design

    Developing structural systems, framing layouts, and foundations for retail and business developments.

  • Academic and Civic Facility Design

    Structuring safe, long-lasting facilities for public administrations, educational organizations, and community venues.

Structural Diagnostics and Non-Destructive Testing

Utilizing advanced evaluation methods to diagnose damage, assess existing conditions, and understand internal structural health.

  • Existing Condition and Structural Surveys

    Conducting meticulous physical inspections of structures to identify deficiencies, environmental damage, and degradation.

  • Non-Destructive Structural Investigation

    Employing advanced investigative technologies such as sonic tomography and ground-penetrating radar to inspect structural interiors.

  • Drone-Assisted Aerial Inspections

    Deploying unmanned aerial vehicles to capture high-definition visual diagnostics of elevated structural components, facades, and towers.

Building Information Modeling

Employing detailed digital modeling to coordinate complex structural systems with other design disciplines and construction teams.

  • Three-Dimensional Structural Revit Modeling

    Developing highly detailed 3D structural representations using Autodesk Revit to visualize geometry and structural interfaces.

  • Multi-Discipline Design Coordination

    Using digital models to streamline spatial coordination, resolve clashes, and integrate architectural and engineering components.

Industries

Historic Preservation · Government · Education · Religious · Commercial · Residential · Multifamily Residential · Retail

Projects

Topsfield Town Hall

Topsfield, MA · Government · Client: McGinley Kalsow & Associates Inc.

Project details

Renovation and new addition for this historic 1874 Victorian Eclectic town hall. The new addition connected to the existing building via a glass-and-wood link. The project featured Building Information Modeling (BIM), and the structure was modeled in 3D using AutoDesk's Revit software.

Paul Revere Education and Visitor Center

Historic Preservation

Project details

Adaptive reuse of an 1835 tenement building adjacent to the Paul Revere House. The project included a new elevator, accessible bathrooms, and a new exterior ramp connecting the second floor.

Durant Kenrick House

Newton, MA · Historic Preservation

Project details

Structural survey of entire 17th century structure and identification of deficiencies, reinforcement for modern loading and repairs, and construction of an attached addition with an elevator to replace a collapsing ell.

Fort Morgan

Historic Preservation

Project details

Comprehensive inspection of an early 19th-century fortress and subsequent additions, including evaluation of structural damage caused by natural elements and heavy bombardment during the Civil War, followed by structural analysis of critical elements.