Structural engineers are one part of a larger design team led by the architect. Because every decision affects other disciplines, structural design is highly coordinated and iterative. Understanding your role in that team — responding to architectural layouts, working with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) and civil engineers, and supporting contractors during construction — is what gives the rest of the process context.
The structural design process takes a project from early concepts to a coordinated, buildable set of construction documents.
ON THIS PAGE:
- Major project phases
- Construction Administration
- Specifications
- Professional guidelines
Major Project Phases
Design iterations continue throughout schematic design, design development, and construction documents. The phases overlap more than this list suggests.
Request for Proposals (RFP)
The owner or architect issues an RFP describing the project and required services. The structural engineer responds with a proposal outlining scope, exclusions, schedule, and fee.
Scoping / Feasibility
An optional phase used to confirm whether the project is viable from a design, code, or cost perspective.
Schematic Design (SD)
The early decision-making phase. The structural system — vertical, lateral, and foundations — is selected and design criteria are established. Deliverables include conceptual layouts, preliminary sizes, and coordination notes.
Design Development (DD)
The refinement phase. Member sizes are updated, details increase, and coordination with all disciplines becomes more intensive.
Construction Documents (CD)
The design is completed and fully coordinated. The CD set includes the drawings, details, notes, and calculations needed for construction.
Permitting
The architect submits drawings and calculations to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). The team responds to plan check comments until the permit is issued.
Bidding
Contractors use the CD set, sometimes including a pricing set, to prepare bids.
Construction
The structural engineer provides construction-phase support: reviewing submittals, responding to requests for information, performing structural observations, and reviewing change orders.
Construction Administration
Construction Administration (CA) is the portion of the project where the engineer makes sure the design intent is followed during construction. CA is not redesign. It is support.
New graduates typically help with:
- Submittal reviews — shop drawings, product data, mix designs, welding procedures
- Requests for information (RFIs) — clarifying design intent when contractors have questions
- Site visits and structural observation — verifying general conformance with the construction documents
- Change order reviews — confirming whether proposed changes affect structural scope
CA is where you find out whether your drawings communicate clearly, whether your details work in the field, and whether coordination actually succeeded. It is the fastest feedback loop you will get on your own work.
Specifications
Specifications are written contract documents that work alongside the drawings to define materials, testing, workmanship, quality, and submittal requirements. For structural engineers they matter as much as the drawings do.
Where they live
Structural specs typically appear in:
• Divisions 03–06 — concrete, masonry, metals, wood
• Division 01 — general administrative requirements including submittals, quality assurance, testing, and closeout
What they do
• Clarify requirements that cannot be shown graphically
• Define quality standards, testing, and special inspections
• Establish contractor responsibilities, submittal requirements, and performance criteria
New engineers should learn how to navigate MasterFormat, understand submittal requirements, coordinate drawings and specifications so they do not conflict, and modify office standard specs with senior guidance. Good specs reduce RFIs, align expectations, and help ensure the structure is built correctly.
Professional Guidelines
The design process describes what happens from RFP through construction. The SEAOC Recommended Guidelines for the Practice of Structural Engineering in California describe how engineers should practice professionally during those phases.
- Defining scope and services during RFP and contracting
- Roles and expectations during design
- Responsibilities during construction — submittals, RFIs, site visits, change orders
- Professional conduct, coordination, and communication
- Understanding standard of care and design responsibility
These guidelines do not define legal requirements, but they are a useful reference for understanding the professional expectations behind each stage of the workflow.