Business Details
7 Years
experience
Your Trusted Structural Engineering Partner in the Pacific Northwest
Framework Engineering is a structural design firm founded by licensed Professional Engineers Dustin Muhn and John Voekel. Our team combines decades of hands-on construction experience with advanced degrees in architecture and structural engineering to deliver practical, elegant solutions for residential and commercial projects. We specialize in woodframe buildings, heavy timber framing, steel, and concrete design, with expertise in seismic regions across California, Oregon, and Washington. Our approach prioritizes collaboration, constructability, and maintaining architectural intent while addressing life-safety concerns and code requirements.With over a thousand projects completed, we offer direct client engagement, avoiding junior staff delegation to ensure precision in every detail. Our founders' backgrounds in materials testing, teaching, and fieldwork inform a unique perspective that bridges engineering rigor with real-world building challenges. We emphasize transparency, client education, and problem-solving through site visits, feasibility studies, and early-stage engineering support tailored to project complexity.
Services
Structural Design
Feasibility Studies
Building Evaluations
Construction Management
Peer Review
Details
- Year established: 2019
Highlights and features
- We combine 20+ years of hands-on construction experience with advanced engineering degrees.
- Our engineers maintain direct involvement in every project, regardless of size.
- We specialize in seismic design for the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest.
- We offer ASCE-41 evaluations and feasibility studies to address complex structural challenges.
- Our founders have taught structural engineering at UC Berkeley and developed patented connectors.
Services
Structural Design
We specialize in structural engineering for woodframe buildings, steel framing, and concrete construction. Our services include custom home design, large remodels, and seismic retrofitting across residential and commercial sectors. With expertise in high-end wood-frame structures, we ensure code compliance while preserving architectural intent through detailed coordination with architects and contractors.
Feasibility Studies
Our feasibility studies assess structural options, cost estimates, and regulatory requirements for conceptual projects. We provide early-stage engineering support to identify design obstacles, recommend professionals, and establish realistic timelines for residential and commercial developments in seismic zones.
Building Evaluations
We conduct formal structural evaluations for property purchases or renovations, including ASCE-41 seismic assessments. Our services address life-safety concerns, code compliance, and repair recommendations for existing buildings, supporting informed decision-making for homeowners and investors.
Construction Management
Our hands-on approach includes on-site conflict resolution, constructability reviews, and field verification of built conditions. We ensure alignment between design intent and actual construction through direct collaboration with contractors and architects during all project phases.
Peer Review
We provide third-party review of structural drawings to validate safety, code compliance, and detailing accuracy. Our peer review process identifies potential issues in projects ranging from residential renovations to large commercial developments across the West Coast.
People
Dustin Muhn
Principal Engineer
Dustin Muhn, a licensed PE in California, founded Framework Engineering after 15 years of experience in structural design, materials testing, and construction. He holds MS and BA degrees from UC Berkeley and specializes in seismic-resistant woodframe structures.
John Voekel
Principal Engineer
John Voekel, licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, co-founded Framework Engineering with expertise in architectural integration and sustainable structural systems. He holds dual MS degrees from UC Berkeley and has taught structural engineering at the university level.
Questions
What types of projects does Framework Engineering handle?
We specialize in residential and commercial woodframe buildings, steel structures, and concrete designs across California, Oregon, and Washington, including seismic retrofitting and custom home projects.
Are your engineers licensed in multiple states?
Yes, our principals hold Professional Engineer licenses in California, Oregon, and Washington, allowing us to serve the entire West Coast region.
Do you provide structural evaluations for home buyers?
Yes, we offer ASCE-41-compliant assessments and structural evaluations to help home buyers understand existing conditions and renovation feasibility.
How do you ensure constructability of your designs?
Our team combines hands-on construction experience with direct site involvement to resolve detailing conflicts and ensure practical, buildable solutions.
Can you assist with early-stage project planning?
Yes, we provide feasibility studies, schematic design support, and order-of-magnitude cost estimates for conceptual projects to guide decision-making.
What sets Framework Engineering apart from competitors?
Our unique combination of construction experience, advanced engineering degrees, and direct principal involvement ensures tailored, code-compliant solutions for complex structural challenges.
