Business Details
Award-Winning Structural Engineering Services for Building Construction
Needham DBS is a structural engineering firm dedicated to delivering innovative solutions for building construction projects. With decades of experience in steel fabrication and design, we specialize in serving architects, contractors, developers, and manufacturing companies across North America and the Caribbean. Our expertise in the design-build delivery method through the DBS division has positioned us as industry leaders, combining BIM technology with proprietary processes to streamline project timelines. We pioneered Concurrent Design and Detailing (CD2), which integrates structural engineering with shop drawing production to accelerate construction schedules.Our team's deep industry knowledge and commitment to excellence have earned us recognition as an award-winning firm. We maintain offices in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Lenexa, Kansas, serving diverse project types including power plants, university facilities, and industrial complexes. Our engineers actively contribute to professional organizations like the Structural Engineers Association of Indiana and the Tilt-Up Concrete Association. Through continuous innovation and client-focused solutions, we strive to set new standards in structural engineering efficiency and reliability.
Services
Structural Steel
Pre-Engineered Buildings
Concrete
Hybrid Buildings
Steel Joists and Deck
Highlights and features
- We offer 25+ years of steel fabrication experience integrated with engineering design
- Our proprietary CD2 process reduces delivery schedules by weeks
- We provide fixed-price DBS solutions for design-build contractors
- Our team actively contributes to industry standards through SEAKM and ACI
- We deliver projects across North America and the Caribbean
Associations and certifications
- AISC Certified Steel Fabricators
Services
Structural Steel
Needham DBS provides fabricated structural steel products using proprietary designs and CD2 processes. Our engineers create fixed-cost solutions through AISC-certified fabricators, reducing delivery schedules by weeks. Services include wide-flange columns, crane beams, composite floor systems, and custom steel trusses for industrial and commercial applications.
Pre-Engineered Buildings
We integrate pre-engineered building systems with conventional products for hybrid solutions. Our expertise covers complete building systems, wall panels, and energy-efficient roofing. We partner with major manufacturers like American Buildings Company and Varco-Pruden to deliver optimized structures for design-build projects.
Concrete Products
Our concrete engineering services combine proprietary designs with CD2 methodology. We deliver tilt-up wall panels, precast components, and composite systems using 3D BIM modeling. Solutions include custom embedments, wall connectors, and bracing systems for complex construction projects.
Hybrid Buildings
We create optimized building systems by combining conventional steel with pre-engineered components. This approach enables efficient solutions ranging from simple mezzanines to complex steel mills. Our hybrid systems provide cost savings and schedule reductions while maintaining structural integrity.
Steel Joists and Deck
Needham DBS designs and specifies SJI and SDI products including roof and floor joists, composite systems, and steel deck solutions. Our long-term relationships with suppliers ensure expert implementation of specialized products for safe, efficient building systems.
People
Jeff Needham
Founder
Jeff Needham founded Needham DBS after a successful career in the steel industry. He pioneered early 3D modeling software and co-founded the Structural Engineers Association of Kansas and Missouri. His leadership continues to drive innovation in structural engineering and design-build methodologies.
Questions
What types of projects does Needham DBS handle?
We handle diverse projects including power plants, university facilities, office buildings, aircraft hangars, and steel mills across North America and the Caribbean.
What is Needham DBS's CD2 process?
CD2 (Concurrent Design and Detailing) integrates structural engineering with shop drawing production to accelerate construction schedules and reduce delivery times by weeks.
Do you work with international clients?
Yes, we serve clients throughout North America and the Caribbean, delivering projects in multiple countries including Canada and the United States.
What makes Needham DBS different from other engineering firms?
Our proprietary DBS system provides fixed-price design-build solutions, combining steel and concrete systems with BIM technology for optimized project delivery.
Are your engineers involved in industry organizations?
Our team actively participates in organizations like the Structural Engineers Association of Indiana and the Tilt-Up Concrete Association to advance industry standards.
