Berkeley, California
Claremont Cottages is a collection of one house, three cottages, and two stand-alone garages in Berkeley, CA. The house and cottages were all rehabilited with designs ranging from replacement roofs and voluntary seismic retrofits to more substantial designs involving new gravity and lateral systems. The two garages were completely new construction and feature four hip beams framing into a king post at the ceiling.
Structural Designer
Raul Bustamante joined Tuan and Robinson Structural Engineers, Inc. in 2024, bringing with him valuable experience from his previous role at a structural engineering firm specializing in residential projects. A graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering from San Jose State University, Raul is a member of the Structural Engineer’s Association of Northern California (SEAONC). He actively participates in initiatives and seminars aimed at expanding his knowledge and staying abreast of the latest developments and best practices in civil engineering.
Structural Designer
Juan Ferro graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UC Davis and has worked at Tuan and Robinson Structural Engineers, Inc. since 2021. He has previous construction experience working as a field engineer for a large geotechnical contractor and has worked on various drilled shafts, earth retention systems and ground improvement projects. In his free time Juan enjoys running and going to the gym.
Emeritus
Timothy Mathison, Vice President Emeritus, was with Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. from 2002 to 2019. Mr. Mathison specialized in the design of deep excavation shoring, building underpinning, building shoring specialty foundation systems, and landscape repair projects. He demonstrated broad experience covering a wide range of geotechnical engineering and foundation engineering. Mr. Mathison retired in 2019.
Structural Designer
Blake Olson began working at Tuan and Robinson Structural Engineers, Inc. in 2022 after graduating from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Blake has previous experience working on municipal projects and conducting structural bridge inspections. Blake is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Structural Engineer’s Association of Northern California (SEAONC). In his free time Blake enjoys spending time outdoors and learning more about structural engineering.
Structural Designer
Nick Lyon began working at Tuan and Robinson Structural Engineers, Inc. in 2021 after graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Nick has previous experience working on projects in the commercial and education sectors. He has a strong desire to be great at what he does, and he looks forward to learning and developing every single day at TRSE. Nick is also a member of the Structural Engineer’s Association of Northern California (SEAONC).
Engineer
Eddie Gonzalez joined Tuan and Robinson in 2019 after graduating from UCLA with a M.S in Civil Engineering. He has enjoyed the transition to the work force and strives to learn each day. A native of Southern California, Eddie has had fun exploring the bay area and everything it has to offer.
Associate
Tim Wilson has been with Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. full time since 2016, but first started as an intern in the summer of 2015. Tim graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with both a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering. He has completed a wide variety of projects with the company including excavation shoring, building shoring, seismic retrofits, and historic renovations. Tim is a member of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California and can be found frequently attending their seminars.
Associate
Mike Stults has been with Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. since 2011. Mike is a licensed Civil and Structural Engineer and has worked at Tuan and Robinson as both lead design engineer and project manager on a wide range of projects including new structural design, performance-based seismic retrofit of historic structures, excavation shoring and underpinning, temporary construction support structures, and design-build foundations. Mike enjoys a good challenge and finding creative solutions to the unique problems he encounters while helping his clients’ realize their vision. He strives to work with clients, whether developers, architects, or contractors, to ensure that their interests are well served while providing quality engineering design and consultation throughout the course of each project. Beyond the work done for clients, Mike also enjoys mentoring within the office and helping others achieve their potential as structural engineers. Mike has an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Physics from Azusa Pacific University. He is also a member of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California.
Structural Designer
Weijian Zhang graduated from UC Berkeley with both a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering. He started working with Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. in 2020 and has experience on renovation projects with the company. He is a member of the Structural Engineer’s Association of Northern California (SEAONC) and actively participates in webinars for growing the knowledge of best practices about civil and structural engineering.
Structural Designer
Jiamin Chen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2018. Jiamin has worked at a structural engineering firm that specializes in concrete podiums before joining Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. in 2021. She has been passionate about structural engineering since when she was young and is always looking forward to working on new projects. In her free time, she enjoys learning different recipes and cooking delicious meals.
Project Engineer
Simon Ng has been with Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. since 2017 after graduating with an architectural engineering degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Simon is a licensed Civil Engineer and has been involved in a wide range of projects including new structural design, seismic retrofits, excavation shoring and underpinning, and temporary building shoring structures. Simon is also the current Vice President of Technology for the Engineers Alliance for the Arts, a non-profit volunteering program that pairs practicing engineers and architects with local high school students for a 10-week long bridge building competition.
Structural Designer
Priyal Shah began working at Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. in 2019 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from University of California, Davis. She has previous experience working in the construction industry and since starting at TRSE, she has worked on building design and renovation projects. She has also recently become a member of the Structural Engineer’s Association of Northern California (SEAONC).
Principal
Eugene Tuan is the President of the firm and founding partner of Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. He has designed a variety of new buildings and structures. He has had extensive experience in the seismic rehabilitation systems for existing structures, and he has specialized in the renovation and seismic retrofit of historic buildings. He has extensive knowledge of the design of wood, steel, concrete, and masonry structures. Mr. Tuan is a member of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Asian American Architects and Engineers.
Principal
Alan Robinson is the firm’s other founding partner and Vice President of Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. He has designed a variety of new buildings and seismic rehabilitation systems for existing structures. He has extensive knowledge of the design of wood, steel, concrete and masonry structures. Mr. Robinson has also taught courses in masonry and wood design. He has worked as a strucural plan check consultant to the San Francisco International Airport Building Inspection and Code Enforcement Office. He has been deeply involved with the development of building codes, particularly as a member of the Structural Engineers Association of California, Building Code Committee and a member of the main committee and two subcommittees of the Masonry Society for the development of the Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures, TMS 402. He is the author of CMD18 computer program for the design of masonry elements for the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada. Mr. Robinson has also served on the Board of Directors for the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California.
Principal
Steven Lew, Vice President, has been with Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. since 2005. He has designed a variety of new buildings and seismic rehabilitation systems for existing structures. He has extensive knowledge of the design of wood, steel, concrete and masonry structures. Mr. Lew has also been active in various technical committees within the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC). He has previously served as Chair of the Chapter’s Disaster Emergency Services Committee and the Continuing Education Committee. He has regularly presented at SEAONC’s ATC-20 Post-Earthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings, a seminar for training structural engineers to serve as volunteer disaster service personnel.
Engineer
Nate started at Tuan and Robinson, Structural Engineers, Inc. in 2016 after graduating from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo with an Architectural Engineering Degree. He enjoys how every day is different at TRSE because of the lively office culture, interesting projects and collaborative environment. He continues to serve on the Structural Engineer’s Association of Northern California Young Member Forum committee, thriving to bolster young engineers’ professional networks throughout the Bay Area.
Project Engineer
Laura Hagan, P.E., has over six years of structural engineering experience in both the public and private sectors. She has a B.S. in civil engineering and a B.A. in German, both attained from the University of Vermont, and joined TRSE, Inc., in 2015, after relocating back to the Bay Area.
Laura has experience in structural engineering, designing, modeling, and drafting a wide range of projects, from custom homes to both temporary and permanent shoring systems, as well as building renovations and institutional additions. She enjoys providing quality design services and providing continuous structural design support from the bid phase through permits and construction. She is a member of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California and finds gratification in seeing the structures she has designed come to life when they are constructed.