Structural Engineers in the United States are essential to the safety, stability, resilience, and performance of buildings and infrastructure. Every high-rise tower, hospital, airport terminal, stadium, bridge, school, warehouse, laboratory, industrial plant, and residential structure depends on structural engineering decisions that determine how loads are carried, how materials behave, and how buildings respond to wind, gravity, vibration, fire, seismic activity, settlement, and long-term use.
The U.S. structural engineering market is highly specialized. Some firms focus on tall buildings and landmark architecture. Others are known for bridges, stadiums, hospitals, forensic engineering, seismic retrofits, façade systems, industrial structures, mass timber, adaptive reuse, or building investigations. This means buyers should not simply choose the largest engineering firm. They should choose the firm whose experience matches the structure, location, risk profile, and project delivery method.
Demand for structural engineering is being shaped by infrastructure modernization, aging buildings, adaptive reuse, climate resilience, data centers, healthcare expansion, seismic upgrades, sustainability, and high-performance building design. ENR’s 2026 Top 500 Design Firms list includes Thornton Tomasetti among major U.S. design firms, while broader engineering leaders such as AECOM, Jacobs, WSP, HDR, and Arup also remain highly visible in complex structural and infrastructure markets.
This guide profiles leading Structural Engineers in the United States, explains their services, highlights market trends, and gives owners, developers, architects, contractors, public agencies, and homeowners practical guidance on choosing the right structural engineering partner.
Industry Overview: Structural Engineers in the United States
Structural engineering is a core discipline within civil engineering, but it has its own technical focus. Structural engineers design and evaluate load-bearing systems such as foundations, columns, beams, slabs, walls, frames, trusses, towers, shells, bridges, stadium roofs, façades, retaining structures, and temporary works.
In the United States, structural engineering services may include new building design, bridge design, seismic design, wind engineering, structural assessments, forensic investigations, façade engineering, construction engineering, renovation analysis, adaptive reuse, peer review, blast-resistant design, fire engineering coordination, structural rehabilitation, and expert witness work.
Licensing is usually handled through state engineering boards. Many structural engineers are licensed Professional Engineers, while some states also require or recognize a Structural Engineer license for certain complex structures. Buyers should confirm licensing in the state where the project is located.
The market is being shaped by several forces. Older buildings need inspection, repair, and reuse. Cities are converting offices into housing. Hospitals and laboratories require vibration-sensitive structural systems. Coastal and storm-prone regions need resilience. Western states need seismic expertise. High-rise developers need wind and lateral-load expertise. Data centers and industrial facilities need heavy floor loads, redundancy, and fast-track delivery.
The strongest firms combine technical excellence, code knowledge, constructability, digital modeling, material expertise, and strong coordination with architects and contractors.
Ranking Methodology
This directory evaluates firms based on structural engineering reputation, project portfolio, technical specialization, national presence, innovation, sector expertise, public visibility, buyer usefulness, and experience with complex structures.
The list includes dedicated structural engineering firms as well as multidisciplinary engineering companies with major structural practices. Buyers should still verify state licensure, insurance, relevant references, project team qualifications, and experience with the specific building or infrastructure type.
Best Structural Engineers in the United States
Thornton Tomasetti
Overview
Thornton Tomasetti is one of the best-known structural engineering firms in the United States. The firm describes itself as an independent organization of engineers, scientists, architects, and professionals focused on optimizing the design and performance of structures, materials, and systems for projects of every size and complexity.
Services Offered
Structural design, façade engineering, forensic engineering, renewal, protective design, construction engineering, sustainability, mass timber, resilience, computational design, and investigations.
Industries Served
Commercial towers, sports venues, cultural buildings, healthcare, education, aviation, residential, government, industrial, entertainment, and infrastructure.
Notable Projects
Thornton Tomasetti has worked on major structural projects including The Shed in New York and other complex architectural and engineering projects. Its structural design practice emphasizes innovative solutions for iconic and technically demanding spaces.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is deep structural specialization across design, investigation, renewal, and performance-based engineering.
Headquarters
New York City, New York.
Website
thorntontomasetti.com
Why It Stands Out
Thornton Tomasetti stands out for complex buildings, landmark structures, sports venues, forensic work, façade systems, and advanced structural design.
Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Overview
Magnusson Klemencic Associates, commonly known as MKA, is an international structural and civil engineering firm headquartered in Seattle. The firm describes itself as an award-winning structural and civil engineering company.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, civil engineering, high-rise design, seismic design, performance-based engineering, building structures, aviation, hospitality, residential, commercial, sports, and mixed-use engineering.
Industries Served
Commercial real estate, high-rise buildings, residential towers, hospitality, aviation, convention centers, sports, civic, cultural, and mixed-use development.
Notable Projects
MKA has been associated with major towers and complex building projects across the United States and globally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is high-rise and complex building expertise, especially for projects needing advanced lateral systems and creative structural solutions.
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington.
Website
mka.com
Why It Stands Out
MKA stands out for towers, large buildings, performance-based design, and projects requiring elegant structural systems.
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Overview
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, commonly known as SGH, is a leading engineering firm known for structural engineering, building technology, enclosure consulting, investigation, and rehabilitation. It is highly respected for solving difficult building and infrastructure problems.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, building enclosure consulting, forensic engineering, repair design, rehabilitation, materials science, façade consulting, risk assessment, and investigation.
Industries Served
Buildings, bridges, infrastructure, healthcare, education, industrial, energy, commercial, government, and transportation.
Notable Projects
SGH is widely known for structural investigations, building repairs, enclosure consulting, and complex engineering problem-solving.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is technical investigation and repair expertise. It is often valuable when the problem is not just design, but diagnosis.
Headquarters
Waltham, Massachusetts.
Website
sgh.com
Why It Stands Out
SGH stands out for structural diagnostics, rehabilitation, enclosure systems, forensic engineering, and technically challenging repairs.
WSP USA
Overview
WSP USA is one of the largest engineering and professional services firms in the country. Its structural engineering teams support buildings, bridges, transportation systems, tunnels, aviation facilities, rail infrastructure, and complex public projects.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, bridge engineering, transportation engineering, building systems, civil engineering, façade support, program management, sustainability, and infrastructure consulting.
Industries Served
Transportation, buildings, aviation, rail, bridges, water, energy, public infrastructure, commercial real estate, and government.
Notable Projects
WSP has worked on major bridge, transit, aviation, building, and urban infrastructure projects across the United States.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is multidisciplinary scale. Structural engineering can be integrated with transportation, environment, planning, and program delivery.
Headquarters
U.S. headquarters: New York City, New York.
Website
wsp.com
Why It Stands Out
WSP USA stands out for bridges, transportation structures, large buildings, infrastructure, and multidisciplinary engineering programs.
Arup
Overview
Arup is a global engineering and design consultancy with a strong U.S. presence. It is known for structural engineering, façade engineering, sustainability, acoustics, lighting, transport, and integrated building design.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, civil engineering, façade engineering, seismic design, sustainability, building physics, transportation, digital design, and advisory services.
Industries Served
Buildings, cultural projects, transportation, aviation, education, healthcare, commercial, civic, sports, and infrastructure.
Notable Projects
Arup has worked on major cultural, transportation, building, and infrastructure projects across the United States and globally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is integrated design thinking. Arup is often chosen for projects where structural engineering must work closely with architecture, sustainability, and performance.
Headquarters
Global headquarters: London, United Kingdom. U.S. offices operate in major cities.
Website
arup.com
Why It Stands Out
Arup stands out for innovative structures, sustainable engineering, complex buildings, and multidisciplinary design.
Walter P Moore
Overview
Walter P Moore is a major engineering firm known for structural engineering, diagnostics, civil engineering, parking, secure design, and technology-driven project delivery. It is especially visible in sports, commercial, healthcare, aviation, cultural, and public-sector projects.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, diagnostics, civil engineering, parking consulting, enclosure diagnostics, secure design, construction engineering, and digital solutions.
Industries Served
Sports, healthcare, aviation, commercial, education, civic, cultural, residential, hospitality, and infrastructure.
Notable Projects
Walter P Moore has worked on major sports venues, hospitals, airports, commercial buildings, and civic facilities across the United States.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is strong building-structure expertise combined with diagnostics and large public venue experience.
Headquarters
Houston, Texas.
Website
walterpmoore.com
Why It Stands Out
Walter P Moore stands out for stadiums, healthcare, aviation, commercial buildings, diagnostics, and complex building structures.
DeSimone Consulting Engineering
Overview
DeSimone Consulting Engineering is a structural engineering firm known for high-rise buildings, hospitality, residential towers, commercial developments, entertainment, mixed-use projects, and complex urban structures.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, façade consulting, forensic engineering, construction engineering, renovation support, and high-rise building engineering.
Industries Served
Residential towers, hospitality, commercial, mixed-use, entertainment, cultural, retail, and urban development.
Notable Projects
DeSimone has worked on major towers, hotels, residential projects, and mixed-use developments in the United States and internationally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is high-rise and urban building expertise.
Headquarters
New York City, New York.
Website
de-simone.com
Why It Stands Out
DeSimone stands out for high-rise residential, hospitality, commercial, and mixed-use structural engineering.
KPFF Consulting Engineers
Overview
KPFF Consulting Engineers is a major structural and civil engineering firm with offices across the United States. It is known for buildings, bridges, waterfront structures, seismic design, civil infrastructure, and public works.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, civil engineering, bridge engineering, seismic design, waterfront engineering, transportation support, and construction engineering.
Industries Served
Commercial, education, healthcare, civic, transportation, bridges, residential, ports, public works, and infrastructure.
Notable Projects
KPFF has supported major building, bridge, waterfront, and public infrastructure projects across the United States.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is strong regional office coverage combined with structural and civil engineering depth.
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington, with major offices across the U.S.
Website
kpff.com
Why It Stands Out
KPFF stands out for building structures, bridges, seismic work, civil infrastructure, and regional engineering support.
LERA Consulting Structural Engineers
Overview
Leslie E. Robertson Associates, known as LERA, is a respected structural engineering firm with a long history in complex buildings, towers, cultural projects, and infrastructure. The firm is associated with technically demanding architecture and large structural systems.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, high-rise design, long-span structures, seismic design, peer review, forensic support, renovation engineering, and specialty structures.
Industries Served
Commercial towers, cultural buildings, residential, hospitality, education, civic, transportation, and infrastructure.
Notable Projects
LERA has worked on major building and structural projects in the United States and globally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is complex structural design, especially for ambitious architecture and tall buildings.
Headquarters
New York City, New York.
Website
lera.com
Why It Stands Out
LERA stands out for towers, cultural buildings, long-span structures, and technically ambitious design.
AECOM
Overview
AECOM is one of the largest infrastructure and engineering firms in the United States. While it is not only a structural engineering firm, it provides structural engineering within broader transportation, buildings, water, environment, and public infrastructure programs.
Services Offered
Structural engineering, bridge engineering, civil engineering, transportation engineering, water engineering, environmental consulting, construction management, and program management.
Industries Served
Transportation, water, buildings, energy, aviation, ports, government, commercial, and infrastructure.
Notable Projects
AECOM supports major transportation, bridge, airport, water, urban, and infrastructure projects across the United States and globally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is scale and multidisciplinary delivery. Structural services can be integrated into large public and private programs.
Headquarters
Dallas, Texas.
Website
aecom.com
Why It Stands Out
AECOM stands out for infrastructure, bridges, aviation, transportation, and large programs needing integrated engineering services.
Industry Trends Affecting Structural Engineers
Adaptive Reuse and Building Conversions
Cities are converting offices, warehouses, schools, and industrial buildings into housing, hotels, labs, and mixed-use spaces. Structural engineers evaluate whether existing frames, foundations, floor loads, and lateral systems can support new uses.
Seismic and Wind Resilience
Western states, coastal regions, and high-rise markets require advanced seismic and wind design. Structural engineers help buildings withstand regional hazards and comply with modern codes.
Mass Timber and Low-Carbon Materials
Mass timber, low-carbon concrete, recycled steel, and hybrid systems are gaining attention as owners look to reduce embodied carbon while maintaining safety and performance.
Building Investigations and Forensics
Aging buildings, façade failures, water damage, construction defects, and structural distress are increasing demand for investigation, repair, and forensic engineering.
Digital Structural Design
Engineers are using BIM, parametric modeling, performance simulation, digital twins, advanced analysis software, and automated workflows to improve coordination and reduce errors.
Data Centers and Industrial Loads
Data centers, manufacturing plants, laboratories, and logistics facilities require structural systems that support heavy equipment, vibration limits, redundancy, and fast-track construction.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Structural Engineers
Match the Engineer to the Structure
A single-family home, high-rise tower, hospital, bridge, stadium, warehouse, and seismic retrofit all require different expertise. Choose a firm with direct experience in your project type.
Confirm Licensing
Structural engineering is regulated through state engineering boards. Confirm that the engineer is licensed in the project location and qualified for the structure type.
Review Similar Projects
Ask for projects with similar height, span, material, location, code requirements, and complexity.
Ask About Coordination
Structural engineers must coordinate with architects, MEP engineers, civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, contractors, and owners. Poor coordination can create expensive redesigns.
Understand Deliverables
Clarify whether the engineer will provide calculations, drawings, specifications, peer review, site observations, repair recommendations, construction administration, or expert reports.
Watch for Red Flags
Red flags include no state license, limited relevant experience, vague scope, weak communication, poor documentation, unrealistic schedules, and failure to explain structural risks clearly.
Why Structural Engineers Matter in the United States
Structural engineers protect lives, property, public infrastructure, and long-term building value. Their work ensures that structures can safely carry loads, resist hazards, perform over time, and remain usable.
They also help reduce construction waste, improve material efficiency, support adaptive reuse, extend building life, and reduce risk for owners. In infrastructure, they help keep bridges, transit stations, airports, utilities, and public facilities safe and reliable.
As the United States invests in resilient buildings, infrastructure renewal, housing conversions, healthcare modernization, and sustainable construction, structural engineers will remain essential to safe development.
Conclusion
The leading Structural Engineers in the United States include Thornton Tomasetti, Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, WSP USA, Arup, Walter P Moore, DeSimone Consulting Engineering, KPFF, LERA, and AECOM. Each firm has different strengths. Thornton Tomasetti is a leader in complex structures and investigations. MKA is known for towers and advanced building design. SGH is strong in diagnostics and rehabilitation. WSP, AECOM, and Arup offer multidisciplinary scale. Walter P Moore, DeSimone, KPFF, and LERA bring deep building and infrastructure expertise.
For buyers, the best structural engineer is the one with the right license, project experience, communication, technical depth, and ability to coordinate with the full design and construction team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Structural Engineers in the United States?
Some of the best-known Structural Engineers in the United States include Thornton Tomasetti, Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, WSP USA, Arup, Walter P Moore, DeSimone Consulting Engineering, KPFF, LERA, and AECOM. The best choice depends on project type, location, material system, risk, and complexity.
What does a structural engineer do?
A structural engineer designs and evaluates the load-bearing parts of buildings and infrastructure. This includes foundations, beams, columns, slabs, walls, frames, roofs, bridges, towers, retaining walls, and structural connections. They also assess existing structures, investigate damage, design repairs, and support renovations.
When do I need a structural engineer?
You may need a structural engineer when building a new structure, removing a load-bearing wall, adding floors, repairing cracks, assessing foundation problems, converting a building, designing a bridge, checking storm or earthquake damage, or reviewing a complex construction project.
Are structural engineers licensed in the United States?
Yes. Structural engineers are licensed through state engineering boards, usually as Professional Engineers. Some states also use a Structural Engineer license for certain complex structures. Buyers should confirm that the engineer is licensed in the project location.
What is the difference between a civil engineer and a structural engineer?
Civil engineering is a broad field covering infrastructure, transportation, water, land development, and public works. Structural engineering is a specialized branch focused on the strength, stability, and load-bearing systems of buildings, bridges, towers, and other structures.
How do I choose a structural engineering firm?
Choose a firm based on licensing, relevant project experience, technical specialization, references, communication, availability, and coordination ability. A firm that designs high-rise towers may not be best for a residential foundation repair, and a bridge specialist may not be best for a hospital or stadium.
How much does a structural engineer cost?
Costs vary by project type, complexity, location, urgency, and deliverables. A simple residential inspection may cost far less than a full structural design for a commercial building, bridge, tower, hospital, or industrial facility. Always request a written scope and fee proposal.
What are warning signs of a weak structural engineer?
Warning signs include no state license, vague reports, poor communication, limited experience with your structure type, unrealistic timelines, unclear deliverables, and unwillingness to explain risks. Structural work affects safety, so expertise matters.
Which structural engineers are best for high-rise buildings?
Thornton Tomasetti, Magnusson Klemencic Associates, DeSimone, LERA, WSP, Arup, and SOM-related engineering teams are often associated with complex high-rise and tower projects. The best firm depends on location, structural system, wind or seismic demands, and architectural goals.
Why are structural engineers important?
Structural engineers help ensure that buildings and infrastructure are safe, stable, durable, and efficient. Their work protects people, reduces risk, supports resilient communities, and helps owners avoid costly failures, repairs, and construction problems.
Read Also: Interior Designers in the United States
