Proposed Four-Story Single Family Residence

Project Details

This project involves the comprehensive structural design and analysis of a four-story single-family residence. The scope of work required advanced engineering solutions for all primary structural components, including beams, columns, floor joists, stair stringers, header beams, and both shear and load-bearing walls. The structural assembly utilizes a hybrid system of reinforced masonry (CMU) for the lower levels and wood framing for the upper levels, integrated with a pre-engineered roof truss system. The design process included a rigorous structural analysis to ensure the building could safely withstand extreme environmental loads. All elements were engineered in accordance with the Florida Building Code (FBC 2023), ASCE 7-22, ACI 318-19, and the National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS 2018). Special attention was given to lateral and hydrostatic load resistance; the residence is designed to withstand wind speeds of 147 MPH and includes breakaway walls and flood vents on the ground floor to comply with FEMA requirements for the AE flood zone, maintaining a Design Flood Elevation (DFE) of 15.0′. The foundation system features a deep piling solution consisting of 10-inch diameter timber piles driven to a length of 40 feet. These piles support a network of reinforced concrete pile caps and grade beams constructed with 3000 psi concrete, designed to perform reliably under a soil bearing capacity of 1,500 psf.

Role

Structural Engineer/Designer

Services Provided

The scope of services included the preparation of structural analysis, design calculations, and structural drawings for the proposed structure. Structural analyses were performed for applicable wind, seismic, flood, dead, and live loads in accordance with the governing building code and site-specific design criteria. The work involved the structural analysis and design of all primary and secondary structural components, including foundations, piles and pile caps, grade beams, CMU shear walls, load-bearing walls, timber piles, columns, beams, floor trusses, roof trusses, guardrail posts, headers, connectors, and other supporting elements. The analysis verified that all structural components were capable of safely resisting gravity, lateral, and flood-related forces while maintaining a continuous and code-compliant load path. The services also included the preparation of structural drawings consisting of foundation plans, second through fourth floor framing plans, roof framing plans, first through fourth floor shear wall layout plans, structural building sections in both longitudinal and cross-sectional directions, and typical structural details, notes, and specifications. All documents were prepared to facilitate permitting, coordination, and accurate implementation during construction.