Business Details
23 Years
experience
Your Trusted Structural Engineering Partner in Chicago
K.ENG LLC is a structural engineering consulting firm founded in 2003 by Ken Karston, a licensed structural engineer with over 30 years of experience. Our firm specializes in providing comprehensive structural solutions for residential, commercial, and institutional clients across Illinois and 14 additional states. We offer a wide range of services including structural design, condition assessments, peer review, and repair projects, with a focus on precision, code compliance, and client education. Our expertise spans new construction, renovations, and specialty projects involving steel, concrete, masonry, and wood materials.We maintain high standards for structural calculations and drawings, ensuring clarity for contractors and minimizing construction errors. Our commitment to quality extends to construction administration services, including shop drawing reviews and site visits, to guarantee projects meet design intent. We pride ourselves on educating clients about engineering specifics, permitting requirements, and project complexities while maintaining open communication throughout the process.
Services
Structural Design
Condition Assessments
Structural Peer Review
Structural Repair
Specialty Projects
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of structural engineering experience.
- Our services cover all project types from single-family homes to mid-rise buildings.
- We provide construction administration services including shop drawing reviews.
- Our detailed structural drawings minimize construction errors.
- We educate clients on engineering specifics and permitting requirements.
Services
Structural Design
K.ENG LLC provides comprehensive structural design services for new construction and renovation projects. Our expertise covers commercial, residential, and institutional buildings using steel, concrete, masonry, and wood materials. We optimize structural systems during early planning stages to ensure cost-effectiveness and code compliance while coordinating with architects and contractors throughout the process.
Condition Assessments
Our condition assessment services identify structural defects and code compliance issues in existing buildings. We conduct on-site inspections of framing, foundations, and walls, then provide detailed reports with photographic documentation and repair recommendations. This includes specialized engineer's reports for building departments and critical examinations for structures under 80 feet tall.
Structural Peer Review
As a registered structural peer reviewer for Chicago, we offer independent verification of structural designs. Our services expedite permit processes through code compliance checks for buildings under 80 feet tall, covering all materials except post-tensioned concrete. We specialize in renovation, foundation, and earth retention projects according to city requirements.
Structural Repair
We design repair solutions for damaged structural elements including concrete, steel, masonry, and wood components. Our services address bowing walls, foundation issues, fire-damaged systems, and collapsed structures. We provide detailed drawings for repairs to parking garages, walkways, balconies, and specialty structural elements across various building types.
Specialty Projects
Our specialty services include temporary shoring systems, earth retention structures, and unique structural designs. We handle historic building retrofits, building envelope investigations, and support systems for art installations. Additional expertise covers stage/set design verification, canopy structures, and delegated design elements for contractor submissions.
People
Ken Karston
Owner/Structural Engineer
Ken Karston, S.E., P.E., founded K.ENG LLC in 2003 with 30+ years of structural engineering experience. Licensed in 15 states, he specializes in structural design, peer review, and forensic analysis. He provides expert witness testimony and directs all engineering calculations and drawings for the firm.
Questions
What structural engineering services do you offer?
We provide structural design, condition assessments, peer review, repair solutions, and specialty projects including temporary structures and historic building retrofits.
In which states are you licensed to work?
Our services cover Illinois and 14 additional states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
Do you handle both new construction and repair projects?
Yes, we specialize in new construction, renovations, adaptive reuse, and structural repair projects for residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.
Can you assist with Chicago's structural peer review program?
Yes, we are registered structural peer reviewers for Chicago, providing independent verification to expedite permit processes for buildings under 80 feet tall.
How do you ensure construction quality during projects?
We offer construction administration services including shop drawing reviews, site visits, and field observations to verify compliance with structural design intent.
