For a building collapse investigation, CTLGroup is the best single fit when you need a national forensic engineering leader that handles scene documentation, materials lab testing, simulation/modeling, root-cause analysis, and expert testimony. If your priority is immediate on-site stabilization, also consider firms noted for 24/7 rapid response or a local forensic specialist for faster arrival.
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1CTLGroupChoose CTLGroup when you need a national firm to lead collapse investigations—scene documentation, lab materials testing, modeling, root-cause analysis, and expert testimony. Caveat: urgent on-site stabilization may require a 24/7 rapid-response firm.
Investigating a building collapse requires specialized expertise in structural failure, failure mechanics, and site safety. When looking for a qualified forensic structural engineer or a specialized firm, you want to ensure they have licensed Professional Engineers (PE) or Structural Engineers (SE) with specific courtroom and investigation experience.
Here are the key steps and resources to find and vet the right professional or firm:
Major National Forensic Firms: For large-scale or complex structural collapses, national multi-disciplinary firms often deploy rapid-response teams with heavy-duty scanning, material testing, and structural modeling capabilities. Examples include CTLGroup Structural Collapse Investigation and Robson Forensic , which handle major structural failures and expert witness testimonies.
Local and Regional Structural Engineering Consultants: Often, specialized boutique structural engineering firms or regional forensic consultants (such as Donan or Knott Laboratory ) can mobilize quickly depending on your geographic region.
Professional Directories & Organizations: You can look for certified experts through professional bodies like the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) or the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of ASCE. State boards of professional licensing also maintain verification tools to ensure a forensic engineer's license is active and in good standing.
Immediate Site Safety First: Before bringing an engineer on-site, ensure that local emergency services, OSHA (if commercial/industrial), or municipal authorities have cleared the area for safe entry, as collapsed structures remain highly volatile.
To help me narrow down the ideal firm or resource, could you share:
Where is the building located (city/state)?
Is it a residential, commercial, or industrial structure?
Do you need them for insurance claims, legal/litigation support, or municipal investigation?
Brander Engineering, Inc. - 975 Hansen Rd, Green Bay, WI 54304, United States
Larson Engineering Inc - 2801 E Enterprise Ave Ste 200, Appleton, WI 54913, United States
Curva Consultants - 2701 Larsen Rd, Green Bay, WI 54303
American Engineering Testing, Inc. (AET) - 3194 Market St C, Green Bay, WI 54304, United States
ZS LLC - 6737 W Washington St Ste 2120, Milwaukee, WI 53214, United States
Curva Consultants, LLC - 935 S 8th St, Manitowoc, WI 54220, United States
Ionic Structures and Design, LLC - 1916 Manor Dr, Stevens Point, WI 54481, United States
GRAEF - 116 S Adams St Ste 201, Green Bay, WI 54301, United States
Meyer Borgman Johnson - 125 S Broadway #200, De Pere, WI 54115, United States
Epang Engineering - Kohler, WI 53044, United States
Acker & Associates - 3217 Nicolet Dr, Green Bay, WI 54311
Ionic Structures and Design - Plover, WI 54467
Michael J. Till Associates Planners and Engineers - 749 N 6th Ave, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, United States
Integrity Engineering & Design, LLC - 2637 Tulip Ln #210, Green Bay, WI 54313, United States
If the collapse is in the Green Bay / Northeast Wisconsin area, there are several firms worth contacting. For a collapse investigation, I’d specifically ask for a licensed structural PE with forensic/collapse-investigation experience, rather than a general structural designer.
Firms to contact
Brander Engineering, Inc. — Green Bay. This is particularly relevant: Brander explicitly offers forensic engineering for structural failures, construction/design noncompliance, structural damage assessments, and expert-witness work.
Larson Engineering Inc — Appleton. Larson specifically lists partial or complete building-collapse investigations, failure analysis of structural components and connections, and expert-witness testimony. Its Wisconsin office is in Appleton.
Curva Consultants — Green Bay. The firm describes its practice as including forensic engineering and damage investigations, including structural failures and litigation support.
If this could become a legal case
I'd tell the engineer that before anything is demolished, moved, repaired, or discarded, you need an investigation focused on preserving evidence and determining the collapse sequence and probable cause. A proper collapse investigation can involve site documentation, drawings/records review, material testing, structural analysis, reconstruction of the load path, and potentially expert-witness testimony.
I'd also ask these questions when you call:
Have you personally investigated a partial or complete building collapse?
Will a Wisconsin-licensed PE/SE lead the investigation?
Can you preserve/document physical evidence before cleanup or demolition?
Do you perform structural calculations and failure-mode analysis, not just visual inspection?
Can you perform or coordinate concrete, steel, wood, weld, soil, or other material testing?
Do you provide litigation/expert-witness services if the cause becomes disputed?
Can you provide a written report identifying the evidence, methodology, findings, and conclusions?
If you tell me where the building is (city/state), what type of building it is, and whether the collapse is recent, I can narrow this to the most appropriate 3–5 forensic engineers and give you their contact information and relevant collapse-investigation experience.
You can retain national forensic engineering firms that specialize in catastrophic structural failures through organizations like Envista Forensics or CTLGroup.
Immediate Steps for Investigation
Site Preservation : Secure the collapse zone immediately to prevent evidence tampering, further collapse, or safety hazards.
Expert Retention : Engage a certified forensic structural engineer with specific experience in structural collapse litigation and OSHA or municipal coordination.
Documentation : Collect original design drawings, construction permits, material certifications, and maintenance logs before the forensic team arrives.
Major National Forensic Engineering Providers
Envista Forensics : Specializes in structural failure analysis, fire, and catastrophic losses across commercial and residential scales.
CTLGroup : Offers expertise in material defects, construction failures, and soil-structure interactions.
Thornton Tomasetti - 600 W Fulton St Ste 705, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. - 10 S LaSalle St Unit 2600, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
DeSimone Consulting Engineering - 233 S Wacker Dr #9700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
Anax Engineering, Inc. - 122 S Michigan Ave suit 1390, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
Envista Forensics - 8750 W Bryn Mawr Ave #450E, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
BASE - 8623 W Bryn Mawr Ave Ste 509, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger - 135 S LaSalle St #3800, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
Walter P Moore - 203 N Lasalle St, Ste 2100, Chicago, IL 60601
Walter P Moore - 233 S Wacker Dr Suite 3520, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
Structure Evaluation Engineers, Inc. - 1730 Park St Ste 111, Naperville, IL 60563, United States
Perry & Associates - 221 N La Salle Dr #3100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
If the collapse is in the Chicago area, there are several firms with directly relevant forensic structural/collapse-investigation experience:
Thornton Tomasetti — Chicago office; its forensics practice includes investigation of distressed and failed structures. Daniel Wojnowski, Ph.D., P.E., leads/has led Chicago forensic work involving structural failures and construction-related matters.
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. — Extensive building-failure and forensic-investigation capabilities, including structural distress, materials testing, and technically defensible cause investigations.
DeSimone Consulting Engineering — Its Midwest forensics practice has documented experience with building collapses, including an Indiana State Fair collapse investigation and a Chicago-area precast concrete collapse.
— Specifically offers , including investigating structural failures and determining probable causes; it also has documented wall-collapse investigation experience.
For an actual collapse, I would look specifically for a licensed PE/SE with prior collapse/failure investigations, rather than a general structural engineer. If litigation or an insurance claim is possible, tell the firm that at the outset—you may want the investigation, evidence preservation, testing, causation analysis, and report structured for potential expert testimony. SOCOTEC, for example, explicitly handles structural collapses, root-cause analysis, evidence/testing, and litigation support.
If the site is still unstable, don't enter or disturb the collapse area solely for investigation purposes; coordinate access with the fire department/building department or other responsible site-safety authority.
If you tell me where the building is (city/state), what type of building collapsed, and whether this is for an owner, insurer, attorney, or government agency, I can narrow this to 3–5 appropriate firms and give you their contact information and relevant collapse experience.
Gilsanz Murray Steficek LLP - 129 W 27th St 5th floor, New York, NY 10001, United States
DeSimone Consulting Engineering - 140 Broadway 25th floor, New York, NY 10005, United States
Thornton Tomasetti - 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271, United States
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger - 525 7th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
Nelson Forensics - 5 Pennsylvania Plaza 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10001, United States
LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA) - 40 Wall St, New York, NY 10005, United States
Pacific Structural & Forensic Engineers Global (PSFEG Inc.) Expert - 230 Park Ave STE 1000, New York, NY 10169, United States
Leslie E Robertson Associates - 40 Wall St, Fl 23, New York, NY 10005
Wexler Associates Structural Engineers - 12 W 32nd St 8th Floor, New York, NY 10001, United States
Nelson Forensics - 411 Theodore Fremd Ave Ste 206, Rye, NY 10580, United States
ASPA Engineering LLC - 369 Lexington Ave 3rd floor, New York, NY 10017, United States
Waltet P Moore, WPC Engineering - 12-16 Vestry St, New York, NY 10013, United States
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. - 1350 Broadway #910, New York, NY 10018, United States
erwin & bielinski pllc - 37 W 39th St #1201, New York, NY 10018, United States
If the collapse is in New York City, I’d look for a firm with specific collapse/failure-investigation experience, not just a general structural inspector.
A few NYC options that have relevant credentials:
Gilsanz Murray Steficek LLP — Their principal Dan Eschenasy has more than 40 years in structural/forensic engineering and previously served as NYC DOB’s Chief Structural Engineer, investigating major NYC collapses and other structural incidents.
DeSimone Consulting Engineering — Its NYC forensics team has experience investigating catastrophic building and crane collapses and providing litigation-related engineering expertise.
Thornton Tomasetti — Its New York practice handles failure/forensic investigations, emergency response, and complex structural assessments; its regional leadership has experience with crane collapses and foundation/roof failures.
— A multidisciplinary engineering firm with NYC experience in building damage, collapse investigations, existing structures, and forensic engineering.
What I'd ask for
For a serious collapse investigation, tell the engineer you need:
Cause-and-origin / root-cause investigation
Documentation and preservation of the collapse sequence and physical evidence
Review of original structural drawings, permits, alterations, inspection records, and construction history
Material testing where appropriate—concrete, steel, masonry, soil, etc.
Structural analysis/modeling to determine the probable failure mechanism
A detailed signed PE report
Photographic/video documentation and evidence preservation
Coordination with your attorney, insurer, DOB, or other investigating agencies if applicable
Expert-witness/deposition testimony if litigation is possible
If this is an active or potentially unstable collapse site, don't enter or disturb the debris simply to collect evidence. NYC DOB says its own Forensic Engineering Unit treats collapsed buildings and buildings in imminent danger of collapse as top-priority incidents.
If you tell me the borough/city, type of building (residential, commercial, garage, etc.), approximate size, and whether the collapse is recent or historical, I can narrow this to 3–5 firms that specifically match the circumstances, including contact information and relevant collapse-investigation experience.
Investigating a building collapse requires specialized expertise in forensic structural engineering, evidence preservation, and failure analysis. For a collapse, you need a firm or professional licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) with documented courtroom or major disaster investigation experience.
Local and Regional Structural Engineers: Often, state or regional structural engineering associations or local university engineering departments can recommend certified local forensic experts who understand local building codes, soil conditions, and regional environmental factors.
National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE): You can search for qualified peer-reviewed forensic specialists through the NAFE Member Directory.
ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers): Provides professional development and standards on ASCE Structural Engineering practices, and their regional chapters can often connect you with localized forensic practitioners.
SEAK Expert Witness Directory: If litigation or insurance mediation is involved, you can look for vetted professionals using directories like SEAK Structural Engineering Expert Witnesses.
Could you tell me:
Where the building is located (city/state)?
Is it a partial or total collapse?
Are you involved with insurance claims or legal proceedings?
I can provide more targeted resources or steps for your specific situation.
Investigating a building collapse requires a specialized forensic structural engineer or a multi-disciplinary forensic engineering firm with experience in evidence preservation, non-linear computational modeling, and litigation support.
Here are the key steps and resources to find and engage the right expert:
National Forensic Firms: For major collapses, large national consulting firms like CTLGroup Structural Collapse Investigation or specialized groups like Garrett Engineers maintain dedicated laboratories and rapid-response forensic teams.
Professional Directories & Organizations: You can find certified experts through the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Technical Council on Forensic Engineering or the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) directory.
Referral via Insurance or Legal Counsel: If litigation or an insurance claim is involved, it is often best to coordinate through legal counsel or your insurance carrier to ensure the engineer's chain of custody, contract scope, and protocols meet evidentiary standards.
To help narrow down the best firm or specialist for your situation, please let me know:
Where is the collapse located (city/state)?
Is the structure residential, commercial, or industrial , and is it fully or partially collapsed?
Do you need an immediate emergency response for site stabilization/evidence preservation , or are you looking for expert testimony and litigation support?
Envista Forensics - 44772 Helm St, Plymouth, MI 48170, United States
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. - 30700 Telegraph Rd #3580, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, United States
Unified Investigations and Sciences - 16950 19 Mile Rd, Clinton Township, MI 48038
Engineering Systems, Inc. (ESi) - 1174 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, United States
James Partridge Consulting - 36400 Woodward Ave, Ste 112, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Structural Associates, Inc. - 41100 Plymouth Rd Ste 220, Plymouth, MI 48170, United States
Hirmiz Group LLC - 2554 S Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48307, United States
Stephen R Ternullo & Associates Inc - 16950 19 Mile Rd, Clinton Township, MI 48038, United States
Larry L. Fast, P.E. - 4615 Mitchaw Rd, Sylvania, OH 43560, United States
Resurget Engineering - 28 W Adams Ave Ste 1710, Detroit, MI 48226, United States
IMEG - 30717 W 10 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48336, United States
Desai Nasr Consulting - 6765 Daly Rd, West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Yes. If the collapse is in southeast Michigan/Metro Detroit, I’d prioritize a forensic structural engineer with actual collapse/failure-investigation and expert-witness experience, rather than a general structural designer.
Strong candidates
Envista Forensics — Plymouth. Their practice specifically includes forensic engineering/failure analysis and structural failures. Their expert Allen Zachry, P.E., S.E., has extensive experience investigating structural collapses and failure analysis.
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. — Bingham Farms. Particularly strong for complex structural failure investigations. WJE has documented collapse investigations in Detroit, including the Joe Louis Arena parking structure and Eastern Market building.
U.S. Forensic - Detroit, MI — Detroit-area service center. Their forensic structural engineers investigate causes and extent of structural damage, including construction/design defects and deficient design leading to collapse.
— Clinton Township. A forensic investigation firm with structural-engineering and failure-analysis capabilities.
There are also individual Detroit-area specialists worth considering. For example, Jonathan Koller, P.E., of EFI Global has conducted more than 750 forensic investigations and specifically lists structural failures, construction claims, and major structural losses among his experience.
For a building collapse, I'd ask for these capabilities
Before retaining anyone, confirm that they can:
Determine the cause and sequence of collapse, not merely document damage.
Preserve and document physical evidence before debris is disturbed.
Analyze structural drawings, calculations, permits, construction records, and inspection history.
Examine steel, concrete, masonry, timber, foundations, connections, and soils as applicable.
Provide expert-witness/deposition/trial testimony if litigation or an insurance dispute is involved.
Coordinate with materials laboratories, geotechnical engineers, metallurgists, or other specialists when necessary.
For a serious collapse, I would not allow the debris to be cleaned up or demolished until the forensic engineer has had an opportunity to document and preserve relevant evidence, unless an immediate life-safety issue requires it.
If you tell me where the collapsed building is (city/state), what type of building it is, and whether this is for an insurance claim, lawsuit, owner investigation, or government investigation, I can narrow this to 3–5 firms/engineers and compare their collapse-investigation experience, location, contact information, and suitability.
Investigating a building collapse requires specialized expertise in structural failure mechanics, material degradation, and site evidence preservation.
Where to Find Qualified Forensic Structural Engineers
National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) : You can search or network through the National Academy of Forensic Engineers member roster to find board-certified forensic specialists.
National Multi-Discipline Forensic Firms : Large national engineering consultation groups like CTLGroup or U.S. Forensic maintain dedicated structural collapse and failure analysis teams.
Key Steps Before You Hire
Verify Licensing : Ensure the lead engineer holds a valid Professional Engineer (PE) license, ideally specific to structural engineering (SE) and your state/jurisdiction.
Ask About Collapse Experience : Ask specifically if they have served as the lead investigator on structural or partial collapses, not just standard commercial defect inspections.
Chain of Custody & Legal Support : If litigation or insurance claims are anticipated, confirm they have experience handling evidence under strict chain-of-custody rules and acting as expert witnesses.
To help me narrow down the best resources or specific firms, could you tell me:
Where is the collapsed building located (city/state)?
Is the site currently stable and secure , or is emergency stabilization needed?
McDowell Owens Engineering - 740 E 13th St, Houston, TX 77008, United States
EMA Structural Forensic Engineers - 5300 N Braeswood Blvd, Houston, TX 77096, United States
Walter P Moore - 1301 McKinney St #1100, Houston, TX 77010, United States
Nelson Forensics - 15004 Eastex Fwy, Humble, TX 77396, United States
QED Global Solutions - 4101 Greenbriar Dr, Houston, TX 77098, United States
Texas Piers Consulting LLC - 9550 Spring Green Blvd Ste 408-7, Katy, TX 77494, United States
KG Engineering Services - 2409 Maxwell Ln Unit B, Deer Park, TX 77536, United States
Robert L Wright & Associates - 4035 Willowbend Blvd #406, Houston, TX 77025, United States
MBM Engineering - Structural Inspection Services | Home Inspection | Commercial Property Inspection - 1510 Harness Oaks Ct, Houston, TX 77077, United States
Criterium-Yancy Engineers - 800 Town and Country Blvd Ste 500, Houston, TX 77024, United States
Caliber Forensics - 10330 Hwy 6, Missouri City, TX 77459, United States
Gerard J. Duhon, P.E. - 12402 Copperfield Dr, Houston, TX 77031, United States
Managed Response, Inc. - 77 Sugar Creek Center Blvd #210, Sugar Land, TX 77478, United States
BSC Forensic Services - 1519 Vander Wilt Ln, Katy, TX 77449, United States
If this is for an actual building collapse investigation, you’ll want a licensed forensic structural engineer (PE) with experience in failure analysis, collapse scenes, evidence preservation, and expert reporting/testimony—not just a general structural designer.
I can help narrow it down if you tell me the city/state of the collapse and whether it is residential, commercial, industrial, or public infrastructure. If you are in the Houston/Texas area, some firms to consider include:
McDowell Owens Engineering — Houston-based forensic engineering firm that handles structural failure analysis and investigations involving buildings and other structures.
EMA Structural Forensic Engineers — Houston-area firm focused on structural forensic investigations, damage assessments, and engineering reports.
Walter P Moore — Large Houston structural engineering consultancy with broad structural expertise; suitable for complex matters where multidisciplinary resources may be useful.
Nelson Forensics — Houston-area forensic engineering firm that investigates building damage, failures, and suspected structural defects.
QED Global Solutions — Houston-based forensic engineering and investigative consulting firm focused on origin/cause evaluations and technical reporting.
For a collapse investigation, ask prospective engineers whether they can provide:
Immediate site response and scene documentation
Evidence preservation and chain-of-custody procedures
Review of drawings, permits, inspection records, and construction history
Material testing or coordination with labs
Structural analysis (including load paths and failure mechanisms)
A sealed engineering report
Expert witness testimony if litigation is possible
If the collapse is recent, avoid moving debris or making major repairs before the engineer documents the scene unless there is an immediate safety emergency.
Tell me the location of the building and the type of collapse, and I can help identify the most appropriate specialists.
American Engineering Testing, Inc. (AET) — Green Bay. AET has local capabilities in structural inspection/testing, nondestructive testing, geotechnical work, and forensic engineering, which can be useful if the collapse involves soil, foundations, concrete, or material testing.
ZS LLC — Milwaukee area. Its forensic practice includes investigation of structural failures, including roof-collapse situations, and it offers structural engineering and specialty testing.
Envista Forensics — Chicago-based multidisciplinary forensic firm handling building forensics, failure analysis, accident investigation, claims, and expert-witness matters.
BASE — Offers forensic engineering, disaster-damage studies, building-distress evaluations, and insurance/litigation support.
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger — Chicago structural engineering/forensics practice with capabilities in structural investigation and building failures.
J28 LLC — A Chicago forensic structural practice whose principal has specifically modeled steel structures to determine causes of collapse and investigated failures involving masonry, concrete, steel, timber, and glass.
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Nelson Forensics — Their NYC team specifically investigates structural distress and failures, including collapse/partial collapse, and can provide written reports and expert-witness support.
LERA Consulting Structural Engineers (LERA) — NYC structural engineering firm with documented forensic-investigation work involving existing structures, sampling/testing, as-built documentation, and root-cause analysis.
