SMW & Associates Inc. has worked on hundreds of residential projects varying in size and budget.  We've worked with many of the award winning residential architects in the Bay Area, and has a reputation for developing creative and cost effective structural solutions for unconventional design challenges. Our innovative thinking enables the architects and owners to explore beyond the boundaries of conventional residential design.

Sheppard Residence, Berkeley, CA

Architect: Anderson Anderson Architecture

This project started as an addition to a Henry Hill designed house.  However, the house was destroyed in a fire prior to the building of the addition..  The owner loved the original design of the house and asked the architect to design the new house in the spirit of the original Henry Hill house. The new house will have a living roof and exposed timber framing supported by steel beams and a combination of wood panel and concrete shear walls.  The entire structure sits on concrete drilled piers and grade beam foundation system.

Brown Residence, San Francisco, CA

Architect: Kuth/Ranieri Architects, LLP

This project is an addition and renovation of an existing building at the edge of the Presidio National Park.  The project consists of a third floor addition, complete renovation of the existing two-story building, a foundation replacement including drilled piers, grade beams and retaining walls, and a full seismic upgrade of the entire structure to the current building code seismic force.  The house is designed with very few walls in order to capture the spectacular views of the Presidio.  We creatively designed the seismic load resisting system to incorporate pre-manufactured shear walls, perforated shear walls, transfer beams, and steel moment frame in order to accommodate the architectural design.

66th Street Infill, Oakland, CA

Architect: [mp-a] mike pitler architecture

This project is a condominium development consisting of four free-standing units.  The units are two or three-stories tall wood frame buildings.  TJI engineered joists were used to span the open floor plan.  The architectural design also included many sliding doors and window openings to connect the indoor space with the semi-private yards.  As a result, the structural design strategically optimized the location and length of the shear walls in order to accommodate this design concept and increase the market value of these units.

Yu-Maverick Residence, San Francisco, CA

Architect: ChrDAUER Architects

This project consists of a horizontal addition and a third floor vertical addition to an existing two-story house.  The structural elements were carefully inserted to support the third floor addition while several existing walls were removed in order to open up the existing spaces.  In addition, a full seismic upgrade brought the building up to the current code requirements.  Our innovative structural design along with careful coordination with the architect, made this modern addition and renovation possible within an old existing building.

Shorstein Residence, Oakland, CA

Architect: Sogno Design Group

This project is a second story addition and total renovation of a single-story house.  The structural system utilized innovative framing design to create the complex roof shape.  The second floor addition is supported by a series of transfer beams since the second floor walls are inboard of the existing first floor walls.  A total seismic upgrade was required for the addition.  Prefabricated shear wall panels were used to maximize door and window openings to the backyard.  The project also includes a foundation replacement.

Reimer Residence, Berkeley, CA

Architect: Jack Backus Architects

The existing single-story house was raised to become the new second floor.  A new first floor was added below the raised house.  This process alloed the existing roof to be saved.  In addition, a new foundation system can be installed without the obstruction of existing house.

Yonago Residence, Oakland, CA

Architect: Andrew Yongsupp Lee Architect

This project is a two-story horizontal addition and renovation of an existing house.  The project also includes a foundation replacement and voluntary seismic strengthening.

Okazaki Residence, San Francisco, CA

Architect: @6 Architecture

This renovation requires an interior bearing wall to be removed in order to open up the interior space.  New beams were installed within the roof plate and new posts were installed to carry the roof beams and transfer the loads down to a new foundation.