SDA Structures is a specialist structural engineering practice.
Since inception, the firm has been involved with high profile projects throughout Australia. A significant proportion of the practice’s workload is derived from buildings with complex forms and high architectural content, requiring close collaboration between the members of the design team. Projects we are involved with vary in size from quite small to $100m+.
The firm prides itself on our involvement with many of the major architectural projects completed in NSW in recent years and our work has been recognised for Excellence in Structural Engineering by Engineers Australia and the Association of Consulting Structural Engineers ACSE NSW. The projects we collaborate on have received awards for engineering, architecture, heritage, urban renewal, adaptive re-use, sustainability, timber structures, concrete, steel and masonry. All major projects that the firm has been involved with recently have been designed using ESD principles.
We specialise in providing the right level of structural advice to suit the particular project characteristics. We have the experience necessary to keep a small house extension simple and cost effective, and the technical capacity to tackle the most complex structures from high end residence to public building, bespoke multi residential development, educational, commercial, heritage project, or unique artistic commission.
As a medium-sized firm, SDA are able to provide our clients with a highly personal service often forgotten in larger practices, while maintaining the resources and knowledge base often lacking in smaller practices.
We offer the direct involvement of a director in all stages of a project. We appreciate that every project is different and design all our structures to reflect the specific constraints of an individual site and do not attempt to force the site to accept structural solutions imported from other projects.
SDA has the engineering software, experience and capabilities to analyse and design complex structures and geometries. We have collaborated successfully with many architectural firms to produce economical structural design solutions and utilise the latest engineering computer software to analyse and design the structures efficiently and economically. All documentation is digitally produced with Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) that can integrate with the engineering analysis and design software. SDA has had Revit BIM modelling documentation capabilities since 2008.
Core Values and Principles
Our workplace strives to continually improve on our company core values of:
Respect – Collaboration – Innovation
Every individual brings their own unique combination of talents and preferences to the design team, and all contributions are worthy of respect. A key skill of a great engineer is gauging the relative importance of all the factors in the design process, both technical and political, and providing advice appropriate to the situation. The ability to think laterally and go beyond the standard answers, where needed, is also critical to a successful project.
Continuing Professional Development is mandated as part of our commitment to our engineering profession and we are active participants in events and seminars by Engineers Australia, The Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) and the Association of Consulting Structural Engineers ACSE NSW of which our Technical Director is a board member.
Waste/Materials Minimisation – this is the unwavering principle of our engineering designs, office culture and commitments to reducing our carbon footprint. We demonstrate this every day.
Specialist Architectural Engineering
SMALL – BIG – SIMPLE – COMPLEX
We are specialists in the structural engineering design of highly detailed architectural residences, public buildings, education, bespoke multi-residential developments, commercial, heritage and unique structural designs.
Sustainability Commitment
We are signatories to ‘Australian Engineers Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency’ and we are constantly striving to minimise the carbon generated by our projects and workplace. We provide end of trip facilities to encourage cycling to work and are proud to have close to 50% of staff cycling to the office and local sites, every day.
Meet the Team
Meet the team of passionate structural engineers
behind our award-winning projects.