I am looking for a forensic structural engineer to investigate a building collapse.

• Hadley Forensic Engineering Associates, PLLC - 192 Balmoral St, Clayton, NC 27520, United States
• FDR Engineers, PLLC - 13200 Strickland Rd #114, Raleigh, NC 27613, United States
• Envista Forensics - 5565 Centerview Dr Ste 200, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
• FDR Engineers, PLLC - 2012 TW Alexander Dr Ste a-100, Durham, NC 27703, United States
• Walter P Moore - 301 Hillsborough St Ste 930, Raleigh, NC 27603, United States
• Bennett & Pless (Formerly LHC Structural Engineers) - 5430 Wade Park Blvd #400, Raleigh, NC 27607, United States
• Forensic Analysis & Engineering Corporation - 2503 58th St Ste. A, Hampton, VA 23661, United States
• Tyndall Engineering & Design - 250 Shipwash Dr Ste 104, Garner, NC 27529, United States
• Solid Ground Engineering NC - 458 Windchime Dr, Greenville, NC 27834, United States
• Accident Reconstruction Analysis, PLLC - 5801 Lease Ln, Raleigh, NC 27617, United States
• Engineering Design & Testing - 3421 Saint Vardell Ln, Ste A, Charlotte, NC 28217
• Lysaght & Associates - 120 St Marys St, Raleigh, NC 27605, United States
• Origin Cause - 2114 Cosgrove Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405, United States
• Lynch Mykins Structural Engineers, PC - 301 N West St #105, Raleigh, NC 27603, United States
• Triangle Structural Engineering - 6739 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615, United States
• Robinson Gregory A PE - 6512 Six Forks Rd Ste 403A, Raleigh, NC 27615, United States

Yes. Since you’re in eastern North Carolina, I’d prioritize firms with actual collapse/failure-investigation experience, rather than a general structural engineer.

Strong candidates

• Hadley Forensic Engineering Associates, PLLC — Clayton, NC. A dedicated forensic engineering practice investigating what happened, why it happened, and potentially who was responsible. It specifically handles structural damage and ground/foundation issues.
• FDR Engineers, PLLC — Raleigh/Durham. Particularly interesting for a collapse investigation because its published capabilities include forensic structural investigations, failure analysis, expert-witness work, and even progressive-collapse analysis.
• Envista Forensics — Raleigh. A larger multidisciplinary forensic practice with structural, civil, geotechnical, and other specialists, which can be valuable when the cause of collapse isn't obvious.
• FDR Engineers, PLLC — Durham office. Its published scope specifically includes field investigation, structural/damage assessment, forensic studies, expert testimony, and litigation support.
• Walter P Moore — Raleigh. A larger structural engineering organization with forensic engineering and building-failure investigation capabilities.
• Bennett & Pless (Formerly LHC Structural Engineers) — Raleigh. Offers forensic structural services and has the resources of a larger structural engineering practice.

One particularly notable individual is Michael P. Lester, PE, CFEI of Element Analytical in Knightdale. His professional résumé specifically lists investigation and analysis of “structural failure and collapse” among his experience, including foundation failures, material defects, fires/explosions, and construction cases.

What I'd look for

For an actual collapse, I'd ask the engineer whether they have experience with:

• Building-collapse and structural-failure investigations, not merely damage inspections.
• Preserving and documenting physical evidence before debris is moved.
• Determining the sequence and initiating cause of failure.
• Reviewing original structural drawings, calculations, change orders, inspection records, and construction records.
• Material testing and/or coordination with materials laboratories.
• Structural analysis/modeling to reconstruct the failure.
• Building-code and construction-defect analysis.
• Expert-witness reports and testimony, if litigation or an insurance dispute is possible.
• Working independently of the contractor or company that may ultimately perform repairs.

If the collapse is recent, don't have the debris cleaned up or demolished before a forensic engineer has documented it, unless necessary for immediate life-safety reasons. Also restrict access to the collapse area because secondary collapse can be dangerous.

If you tell me where the building is (city/county), what type of building it is, and whether this is for an insurance claim, lawsuit, owner investigation, or something else, I can narrow this to the 3–5 best-qualified engineers for that particular collapse and give you their contact information and websites.

Here are top web results for exploring this topic:

SEAK Experts·https://www.seakexperts.com**Structural Collapse** Expert Witnesses - SEAK, Inc.Nick M Bradford, PhD PE SE SI. Structural Forensic Analysis Expert-PhD PE SE SI. TSG Engineering, Inc. Tampa, Florida. Structural Engineering, Construction Engineering - Structural Failure, Structural CTLGroup·https://www.ctlgroup.com**Structural Collapse Investigation** | Contact An Expert Today CTLGroup's forensic engineers have been involved in the investigation of some of the most disastrous collapses of in-service structures and those under construction. We understand the importance of pr J.S. Held·https://www.jsheld.com**Structural Collapse Investigation** Consultants - J.S. Held We investigate the cause and origin of building failures and collapse, provide 3D finite element modeling, and deliver expert witness services. Applied Technical Services (ATS)·https://atslab.com**Forensic Structural Engineer** - Applied Technical Services ATS's forensic structural engineers specialize in inspecting building foundation and envelope damage, commercial and residential roofing damage, construction defects, storm damage, and water intrusion Envista Forensics·https://www.envistaforensics.com**Structural Engineering** Failure Analysis - Envista Forensics Envista's experienced structural engineers have the ability to sift through the facts to pinpoint the root cause of a structural failure. ... Structural Engineering Failure Analysis. Structural Failur Rimkus·https://rimkus.com What is a Forensic Structural Engineer ? A 2026 Guide - Rimkus Forensic structural engineers investigate building failures, collapses, and structural damage. Learn how expert analysis supports insurance claims, litigation, and risk management decisions. NV5·https://www.nv5.com**Structural Forensic Engineering** - NV5 Expertise. Structural investigations. Cause and origin determinations. Industrial, commercial, and residential structure investigations. Building code compliance. Underpinning design · Structural inve Falkofske Engineering·https://falkofske.com**Forensic Structural Engineering** & Structural Failure Investigations Falkofske Engineering is a valued partner to Southwest Landscaping Services, and we look forward to many future projects together. Read more RSH Engineering and Construction·https://rshengineering.com Top Forensic Engineering Services in San Antonio | RSH Experts Expert Forensic Structural Engineer in San Antonio. Experienced forensic structural engineers in San Antonio have studied minds to assess building failures caused by design flaws, natural disasters, o JurisPro Expert Witness Directory·https://www.jurispro.com**Structural Engineering** Expert Witnesses :: JurisPro Areas of Expertise: Andy Guerra, P.E., S.E. is a Structural Engineer with over 25 years of experience, including 15+ years specializing in forensic investigations of construction defects and building

Investigating a building collapse requires a specialized forensic structural engineer with experience in failure analysis, chain-of-custody protocols for physical evidence, and potential litigation support or expert witness testimony.

Where to Find National Forensic Engineering Firms

For major structural collapses, national multi-disciplinary forensic firms often have the specialized equipment (such as 3D scanners, non-destructive testing tools, and in-house material laboratories) required for comprehensive root-cause analysis:

• J.S. Held provides global and national structural forensic investigations and failure reconstruction.
• Rimkus specializes in building failure analysis, root-cause determinations, and expert witness testimony.
• Applied Technical Services (ATS) handles structural failures, material degradation, and code-compliance evaluations.
• U.S. Forensic operates regional offices across the U.S. with licensed professional engineers specializing in structural damage and collapses.

Professional Organizations & Directories

If you prefer an independent local consultant or need to verify specialized credentials:

• ASCE Forensic Engineering Division : The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and its Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) maintain committees on forensic investigations and host the Forensic Engineering Congress where leading failure-analysis experts collaborate.
• State Licensing Boards : Always verify that any engineer you retain holds a valid Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the specific state where the collapsed building is located. You can cross-check credentials via the NCEES or your state's engineering licensure board.

To help narrow down the best specific firm or expert for your situation, please share:

• The geographic location of the collapse
• The type and size of the building (commercial, residential, industrial, multi-story)
• Whether you need them primarily for an insurance claim, legal/litigation support, or municipal investigation

Yes. If the collapse is in the Portland area, I’d prioritize firms with actual forensic/collapse-investigation experience, rather than a general structural designer.

Strong options near Portland

• Engineering Systems, Inc. (ESi) — Clackamas. This is probably my first call for a serious collapse investigation. ESi has civil/structural forensic capabilities, failure analysis, materials expertise, evidence handling, and expert-witness support.
• Rimkus — Portland. Rimkus has dedicated forensic engineering services, and its Portland-area structural expert Brian Harting, P.E., specifically lists investigations of structural failures, foundations, construction defects, and property damage.
• Miller Consulting Engineers — SW Portland. MCE specifically advertises forensic investigations, including structural investigations, construction defects, property damage, and expert consulting/testimony.
• West Coast Forensics — Portland. A multidisciplinary forensic engineering firm handling construction defects, premise liability, large-loss investigations, structural issues, and building evaluations.
• Erickson Structural Consulting Engineers, PC — Vancouver, WA. They specifically list structural forensic investigations, independent analysis, testing, simulations, document review, and expert-witness services. Their project portfolio includes structural forensic investigation work.
• Talbott Associates Inc — Portland. A multidisciplinary forensic consulting firm with senior structural engineering expertise and experience supporting independent evaluations and expert testimony.

For a collapse, I'd ask for these capabilities

When you call, specifically say “structural collapse forensic investigation” and ask whether the engineer can:

1. Respond to the site promptly and document the remaining structure.
2. Preserve and catalog physical evidence before debris is removed.
3. Determine probable origin, mechanism, and contributing causes of the collapse.
4. Review structural drawings, calculations, RFIs, inspection records, permits, photographs, and construction records.
5. Investigate materials/components through appropriate laboratory testing.
6. Perform structural analysis/modeling to test competing failure hypotheses.
7. Produce a formal, defensible report and, if necessary, provide expert testimony. These are the kinds of capabilities specifically described by ESi and other established forensic-collapse practices.

Important: If the collapse is recent and the site is still unstable, don't allow people to enter or disturb debris merely to facilitate an investigation. Coordinate site access and evidence preservation with the appropriate authorities and the engineer.

If you tell me what type of building collapsed (house, apartment, commercial, industrial, retaining wall, parking structure, etc.), where it is, and whether this is potentially headed toward an insurance claim or lawsuit, I can narrow this to the 2–3 best firms and give you their contact information and official websites.

Investigating a building collapse requires specialized expertise in structural failure analysis , evidence preservation, and often litigation support or expert witness testimony.

Where to Find Qualified Professionals

1. National and Regional Engineering Firms: Large multidisciplinary forensic firms have dedicated structural forensics departments with nationwide or regional coverage. Examples include Rimkus, Robson Forensic, Applied Technical Services (ATS), and J.S. Held.
2. Professional Organizations & Directories:
   • Search through the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) corporate directory or local state structural engineering associations (e.g., SEAOC in California, SEAOG in Georgia).
   • The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Forensic Engineering Division and the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) are primary resources for credentialed experts.

Key Qualifications to Verify

• Licensure: Ensure they hold a valid Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Structural Engineer (S.E.) license in the state where the collapse occurred.
• Specialized Experience: Confirm they have specific, demonstrable experience investigating catastrophic structural collapses (as opposed to standard residential framing or routine code inspections).
• Chain of Custody & Testing Capabilities: Ask about their protocols for handling physical evidence, utilizing destructive/non-destructive testing, and working alongside safety officials or OSHA if a workplace accident is involved.

To help narrow down the search or recommend specific avenues, could you share:

• The city and state where the building is located?
• Whether this involves residential, commercial, or industrial property?
• If you need an expert geared toward insurance claims, legal/litigation support, or immediate safety stabilization?

If the collapse is in the Bakersfield/Kern County area, I’d prioritize firms with actual forensic/failure-investigation experience, not just conventional structural design.

Strong local options

• Inertia Engineers, Inc. — Bakersfield structural engineering firm. Its listed specialty services include forensic investigations and legal/expert-witness support, making it worth contacting for a collapse investigation.
• Agbayani Structural Engineering — Bakersfield firm that explicitly lists forensic investigation of structural failures among its services.
• Smith Structural Group, LLP — Central Valley structural engineering practice with forensic evaluations, seismic assessments, and structural investigation capabilities.
• Salem Engineering Group — Bakersfield multidisciplinary firm that lists structural and forensic engineering, along with geotechnical and materials-testing capabilities.
• Elora Structural — specifically advertises investigation of structural failures and collapses, forensic reports, construction-defect investigations, and expert-witness services in Bakersfield.
• Engineering Specialists, Inc. (ESI) — a larger forensic organization with Bakersfield coverage. It specifically investigates structural failures, including roof/floor/wall framing failures, foundation problems, earthquake damage, and other major losses, and says it provides independent evaluations for owners, attorneys, and insurers.

For a serious or potentially litigated collapse, I'd also consider bringing in a larger forensic specialist such as WJE (Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates) or Applied Science International. The latter specifically performs structural-collapse investigations, accident reconstruction, nonlinear analysis, and expert-witness work. www.appliedscienceint.com Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

What I would ask for

When you call, don't simply ask for a "structural inspection." Tell them you need a forensic structural collapse investigation and ask whether they can:

1. Secure and document the scene/evidence.
2. Determine the cause and sequence of collapse.
3. Review original structural drawings, calculations, permits, inspection records, and construction history.
4. Examine failed members, connections, foundations, and materials.
5. Perform calculations/modeling to test competing failure hypotheses.
6. Coordinate concrete, steel, weld, soil, or other laboratory testing where necessary.
7. Produce a signed engineering report suitable for insurance, litigation, or expert testimony, if that's relevant.
8. Preserve evidence appropriately before demolition or cleanup.

This distinction matters: collapse investigation requires specialized forensic methods and evidence preservation, rather than simply determining whether the remaining structure is safe.

If you tell me where the building is, what type of building it is (warehouse, apartment, commercial, residential, etc.), and whether this is for an insurance claim or potential lawsuit, I can narrow this down to the best 3–5 firms and their contact information, including firms willing to travel to the site.

If the collapse is in or around Central Texas, I found several firms that specifically advertise forensic structural failure/collapse investigations. For a building collapse, I’d prioritize firms with experience in root-cause analysis, evidence preservation, structural failure reconstruction, and expert-witness reports, rather than a general structural inspector.

Strong options to contact

• Pivot Engineers — Austin. Their stated specialty includes forensic structural engineering and collapse investigations/failure-mechanism evaluation. They also work with attorneys, insurers, owners, and contractors.
• Carrasquillo Associates — Austin. Particularly interesting for complex failures involving structural collapses, concrete/material performance, and litigation support.
• Wiss Janney Elstner Associates Inc — Austin. A larger forensic engineering organization with structural assessment, materials expertise, field investigation, and laboratory capabilities.
• WDP & Associates — Austin. Offers forensic structural failure investigation, field testing, analysis, and litigation/claims support.
• BSC Forensic Services, LLC — Texas-based forensic firm that investigates structural failures across commercial, multifamily, industrial, municipal, and other building types; it states that it accepts assignments 24/7.
• Moody Engineering Inc — Austin. Full-service forensic/civil engineering practice with failure investigation experience.
• Arnold Investigative Engineering Inc — Austin/Central Texas. Forensic engineering and structural/building investigations.
• LINEBERGER CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC. — Austin/Central Texas. Provides structural failure analysis and expert-witness/litigation support.

Another Texas specialist worth considering is Dr. Anil K. Garg, a licensed Texas P.E./structural engineer with more than 38 years of experience who specifically lists root-cause investigations of structural collapse and failure and expert-witness work.

For a collapse, I'd ask these questions before hiring

1. Have you investigated an actual building/structural collapse before?
2. Will a Texas-licensed P.E./structural engineer personally lead the investigation?
3. Can you preserve and document evidence before debris is moved or demolished?
4. Can you determine the initiating failure and subsequent collapse mechanism?
5. Do you perform material testing/NDT, weld examination, concrete/rebar testing, or geotechnical investigation when needed?
6. Can you produce a PE-signed forensic report suitable for insurance claims or litigation?
7. Are you available immediately for a site inspection?

For a serious collapse, don't clean up, demolish, cut apart, or discard structural components if you can avoid it until the investigator has documented the scene. Photographs, failed connections, fracture surfaces, fasteners, reinforcing steel, concrete fragments, and the original position of members can be critical evidence.

If you tell me where the building is (city/ZIP), what type of building collapsed, and whether this is for an insurance claim, lawsuit, or private investigation, I can narrow this to the 3–5 best-fit forensic engineers and give you their contact information and websites.

Investigating a structural collapse requires specialized expertise distinct from standard structural design . A qualified forensic engineer will evaluate load paths, material degradation, construction defects, and environmental factors to determine the root cause of the failure.

Steps and resources to find and retain a qualified forensic structural engineer:

1. Look for national multidisciplinary forensic engineering firms with dedicated collapse and failure-analysis divisions. Major firms with national footprints handle complex structural investigations regularly:
   • J.S. Held specializes in structural collapse and failure-analysis investigations.
   • CTLGroup provides failure analysis and material evaluations for structural collapses.
   • Envista Forensics investigates structural claims, building failures, and material degradation.
2. Consult professional directories and associations that vet credentials and maintain active rosters of forensic experts:
   • National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) members are licensed Professional Engineers with verified forensic and courtroom experience.
   • Society of Forensic Engineers and Scientists (SFES) maintains a directory of practitioners specializing in forensic failure analysis.
   • Search expert witness and consultant databases such as SEAK Experts or JurisPro filtered specifically by "Structural Collapse" or "Failure Analysis".
3. Verify critical credentials before retention:
   • Licensure: Ensure they hold a valid Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) license in the state where the incident occurred.
   • Experience: Confirm specific past casework involving full or partial structural collapse , rather than standard residential framing inspections.
   • Litigation Support: If the investigation is tied to legal or insurance disputes, verify their experience providing expert witness testimony and deposition support.

If you share the location of the collapse, the type of structure (commercial, residential, parking garage, etc.), and whether litigation or insurance is involved , I can help narrow down specific regional firms or additional criteria to look for.

If this involves a recent or active building collapse, the first priority is ensuring the site has been declared safe by emergency authorities before any private investigation begins.

Based on your location, here are several firms that appear well-suited for forensic structural investigations:

• Civil Structural Engineering Consultants — Knoxville firm that lists forensic structural analysis, damage assessment, structural investigations, and expert consulting among its services.
• Bennett & Pless, Inc. — Structural engineering firm with forensic assessment services for investigating structural distress and failures.
• Construction Engineering Consultants — Offers forensic engineering, construction failure investigations, and litigation support with experience in structural assessment.
• SJ Engineering — Provides structural inspections, failure analysis, construction defect investigations, and forensic engineering services.
• Nederveld, Inc. — Multi-disciplinary forensic engineering firm with a Knoxville office that investigates building failures, construction defects, and related technical issues.

If your matter may involve litigation, insurance, or significant financial losses, you may also want a national forensic engineering firm with extensive expert witness experience, such as firms specializing in structural failure investigations and courtroom testimony. These firms often respond to major collapse cases across multiple states.

To help narrow the recommendation, could you tell me:

• Is the building residential, commercial, industrial, or public?
• Did the collapse cause injuries or fatalities?
• Is this for insurance, litigation, or determining the cause of the collapse?
• What state did the collapse occur in? (If it's not in Tennessee, I can recommend firms licensed in that jurisdiction.)

Investigating a structural collapse requires immediate action, specialized expertise, and strict adherence to evidence preservation protocols.

What to Look For in a Forensic Engineer

When searching for a qualified expert for a building collapse, verify the following credentials and capabilities:

• Licensure and Certifications: Must hold a valid Professional Engineer (PE) license, and ideally a dedicated Structural Engineer (SE) license or board certifications (such as NAFE).
• Collapse Investigation Experience: General structural design experience is not enough; they must have a proven track record specifically in Structural Collapse Investigation Services via CTLGroup or J.S. Held's Failure & Collapse Analysis.
• Litigation and Defensibility Support: Ensure they have experience handling chain-of-custody, non-destructive/destructive material testing, and providing testimony as Structural Collapse Expert Witnesses via SEAK.

Major National Forensic Firms

If you need an established multi-disciplinary engineering firm with rapid-response teams capable of handling large-scale structural collapses, consider:

• Rimkus Consulting Group : Offers comprehensive forensic structural evaluations, non-destructive testing, and construction forensics.
• Nelson Forensics : Known for rapid response, evidence storage, and advanced finite-element modeling for structural failures.
• Envista Forensics : Specializes in root-cause analysis for structural claims, material science, and environmental load factors.

Immediate Steps to Take

1. Secure the Site: Prioritize life safety and restrict access immediately.
2. Preserve Evidence: Prevent any cleanup or debris removal that might destroy perishable or unstable evidence before the forensic team arrives.
3. Gather Documentation: Collect original architectural/structural drawings, maintenance logs, and local weather history leading up to the collapse.

To help narrow down the right specialist or firm, could you share:

• Where is the site located (city/state)?
• Is it a residential, commercial, or industrial building (and what material: concrete, steel, wood)?
• Are you coordinating on behalf of an insurance claim, legal/litigation matter, or property owner safety review?