CMU Retaining Wall/Foundation Design
Budget: $250 – $750 USD
I need a structural engineer to turn my concept into stamped construction drawings for a U-shaped, 8.5-foot-tall concrete masonry wall that doubles as both the soil-retaining structure and the foundation for a two-story wood-framed building. The legs of the “U” will each be 20 ft long and the base 40 ft long.
Above the wall, steel beams must span the full 40 ft to form the first-floor sub-structure; I don’t have a preset layout, so I’m counting on your recommendations for member sizes, spacing, and connections that keep deflection and vibration within code limits while coordinating with typical wood framing.
A geotechnical report is still pending, so please allow for reasonable assumptions that can later be verified and adjusted. I can supply detailed 3-D renderings of the architecture to speed coordination. Because the wall holds back soil, a reliable waterproofing system will be mandatory; please integrate an exterior waterproofing membrane and any other measures you feel are prudent.
Deliverables I expect:
• Signed structural calculations that satisfy current IBC/ASCE and ACI/TMS requirements
• Fully detailed plan, section, and reinforcement drawings for the CMU wall, footings, and beam pockets
• Sizing, layout, and connection details for the steel beam system, coordinated with the wood super-structure above
• Notes and details covering waterproofing, control joints, and back-drainage provisions
• A short revision cycle once the geotech data arrives
If you have recent experience with CMU retaining walls that support multi-story loads and with long-span steel design, I’d like to work with you.
Above the wall, steel beams must span the full 40 ft to form the first-floor sub-structure; I don’t have a preset layout, so I’m counting on your recommendations for member sizes, spacing, and connections that keep deflection and vibration within code limits while coordinating with typical wood framing.
A geotechnical report is still pending, so please allow for reasonable assumptions that can later be verified and adjusted. I can supply detailed 3-D renderings of the architecture to speed coordination. Because the wall holds back soil, a reliable waterproofing system will be mandatory; please integrate an exterior waterproofing membrane and any other measures you feel are prudent.
Deliverables I expect:
• Signed structural calculations that satisfy current IBC/ASCE and ACI/TMS requirements
• Fully detailed plan, section, and reinforcement drawings for the CMU wall, footings, and beam pockets
• Sizing, layout, and connection details for the steel beam system, coordinated with the wood super-structure above
• Notes and details covering waterproofing, control joints, and back-drainage provisions
• A short revision cycle once the geotech data arrives
If you have recent experience with CMU retaining walls that support multi-story loads and with long-span steel design, I’d like to work with you.