Licensed P.E. Owned & Operated
WA: SEATTSL807JL | OR: 253897
Call: (206) 800-6417
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Commercial Seismic Retrofitting in Portland

Oregon-licensed, Professional Engineer-owned, and exclusively focused on commercial seismic retrofits. Serving warehouses, URM buildings, and commercial properties throughout the Portland metro area.
  • Licensed in Washington & Oregon
  • Professional Engineer-Owned & Operated
  • Commercial-Only Seismic Specialists
  • Assessment, Engineering & Construction Under One Team
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100+

Commercial Projects

10+

Years Experience

WA & OR

Licensed & Insured

P.E.

Owned & Operated

Local Risk Factors

Portland's Seismic Risk Is a Property Owner's Problem

Portland sits within the influence of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, one of North America’s most active earthquake zones. For commercial property owners, that risk extends beyond the potential for earthquake damage. Seismic vulnerability can influence insurance underwriting, financing, property value, and long-term asset planning.

Many of Portland’s commercial buildings were constructed before modern seismic design standards were adopted. The city has a large inventory of unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings, which are among the structures most vulnerable during an earthquake. Evaluating and retrofitting these buildings is an important part of protecting commercial properties.

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Common reasons Portland property owners reach out:

Financing

Lender requiring seismic documentation for acquisition or refinancing

Insurance

Insurance carrier mandating retrofit before policy renewal

Leasing

Lease renewal due diligence flagging unaddressed structural risk

Transactions

Proactive risk reduction ahead of a portfolio transaction

What We Do

Commercial Seismic Services for Portland Properties

We provide commercial seismic retrofitting, engineering, and seismic risk assessment services for property owners throughout the Portland area. Every project is led by our licensed Professional Engineers and performed under Oregon contractor license OR 253897. We focus exclusively on commercial and industrial properties.
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Seismic Retrofitting

We design and install seismic retrofit solutions for warehouses, unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings, and other commercial structures. Typical improvements include roof-to-wall anchoring, roof diaphragm strengthening, structural connections, and other load path reinforcements that improve building performance during an earthquake.

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Engineering Plans and Seismic Assessment

Our engineers prepare seismic assessments and retrofit plans for property owners, lenders, insurers, and design teams. For larger or more complex buildings, we may recommend a targeted engineering investigation to fully evaluate existing conditions before developing a retrofit strategy.

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PML Analysis

We prepare Probable Maximum Loss (PML) analyses to help property owners, buyers, lenders, and insurers evaluate seismic risk. These reports are commonly requested during acquisitions, refinancing, insurance underwriting, and portfolio due diligence.

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Additional Commercial Services

We also provide warehouse column replacement, concrete crack repair, spalling repair, and seismically activated gas shutoff valve installation. Each service is scoped for commercial property types, not residential applications.

Seismic Retrofitting Services
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Our Projects

See Our Work in Portland

Our completed Portland warehouse retrofit demonstrates our approach to commercial seismic strengthening, combining engineering expertise with experienced field execution. Explore the project to see how we help commercial property owners reduce seismic risk.

View the Portland Warehouse Project
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How It Works

How the Retrofit Process Works

We manage the entire engagement from first contact through final inspection, including all permitting with local authorities on your behalf.

Step 01

Consultation & Property Assessment

We begin by evaluating your building, identifying seismic vulnerabilities, and determining the scope of work needed to meet your project's goals.

Step 02

Preliminary Estimate

Before any work begins, we provide a complimentary preliminary estimate. For larger or more complex buildings, we may recommend a focused engineering investigation to fully define the retrofit scope and project requirements.

Step 03

Engineering & Permitting

Our engineering team prepares the required plans and coordinates the permitting process with the appropriate local building authority, helping keep your project moving efficiently.

Step 04

Construction & Project Management

Once construction begins, our team manages the retrofit from start to finish while providing regular progress updates to property owners, managers, and other project stakeholders.

Step 05

Final Inspection & Quality Assurance

We complete every project in accordance with the approved engineering plans and applicable building code requirements, coordinating with the local jurisdiction through the inspection process as needed.

Step 06

Project Closeout

At project completion, we provide the final documentation and project records for your files, including any documentation required for permitting or future reference.

Questions about the process? Call (206) 800-6417 or request a free assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Portland require seismic retrofitting for commercial buildings?

Portland has taken steps to address seismic risk in its older commercial building stock, particularly unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings. Seismic retrofit requirements vary depending on the building’s construction, occupancy, and any applicable local regulations. Property owners should review current guidance from the City of Portland and the Oregon Building Codes Division to understand whether their building is subject to any seismic requirements. Regardless of local regulations, many insurance carriers and commercial lenders also evaluate seismic risk during underwriting and may require engineering assessments or mitigation measures before providing coverage or financing.

URM stands for Unreinforced Masonry, referring to brick or concrete block construction that lacks internal steel reinforcement. These buildings perform poorly in seismic events because the masonry cannot flex or redistribute load. Portland has a notable concentration of older URM commercial structures, and URM retrofitting is the flagship service category we focus on.
Yes. Commercial seismic retrofit projects typically require permits from the local building authority. Our team prepares the required plans, coordinates with the permitting agency, and manages the approval process from start to finish, so you have a single point of contact throughout the project.
Retrofit costs vary based on factors such as building type, size, construction, and the scope of work required. We provide a complimentary preliminary estimate before any work begins. For larger or more complex URM and warehouse projects, we may recommend a focused engineering investigation to accurately define the retrofit scope before preparing a detailed proposal. Because every building is different, we do not publish cost ranges that could be misleading without a property-specific assessment
We work exclusively with commercial properties, including warehouses, URM buildings, soft-story commercial structures, and other commercial building types. We do not perform residential retrofit work.

Start with a Free Commercial Assessment

Whether you’re responding to lender requirements, insurance requests, or planning a proactive seismic retrofit, we’re here to help. Every project is led by licensed Professional Engineers who oversee the assessment, engineering, permitting, and construction process from start to finish. As a licensed, bonded, and insured Oregon contractor, we provide a single point of accountability throughout your project.
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Licensed, Bonded & Insured — WA & OR · P.E.-Owned & Operated