Beam & Column Installation
Steel and timber structural support
Open Floor Plans Start Here
Removing walls to create open living spaces requires something to carry the load those walls once supported. Steel beams and columns do exactly that—transferring weight from floors and roof above down to the foundation through engineered load paths. It's how Chicago's 100-year-old homes get modern layouts without compromising structural integrity.
Every installation starts with structural engineering to determine beam size, column placement, and connection details. We cut precise bearing pockets into masonry walls, install concrete pad stones or steel plates to distribute loads, and position beams using temporary shoring that keeps your building stable throughout the process. Steel columns get bolted or welded to beams above and anchored to footings below.
The result is hidden strength—a steel skeleton that makes your new open kitchen or combined living space possible. Most residential installations use 4 to 8 inch steel sections spanning 10 to 20 feet, sized by our engineer for your specific loads. When the drywall goes up, you see open space. What you don't see is the engineering that makes it safe.
Your Project
Team
David Petlicki
“David is a Chicago native who earned both his BS and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He brings over 10 years of structural engineering experience across a wide variety of residential, educational, commercial, medical, industrial, and military projects, including both adaptive reuse and new construction. He demonstrates a strong commitment to client collaboration and takes satisfaction in developing optimal structural solutions for his projects.”
Tom Bartosiewicz
“Tom has extensive experience building roof decks, having completed over 3,000 projects. He leverages his background as a road and bridge engineer to guide his construction team in delivering quality work. If an answer needs to be found, Tom will find it.”
Kevin Wojtas
“Kevin is a skilled Production Coordinator with extensive experience in the architecture and planning industry. He demonstrates competency across AutoCAD, landscaping, InDesign, public speaking, and sustainable design. He also serves as a media and communications specialist and holds a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.”