Capabilities
As a global, full-service consulting architecture and engineering network of firms, Stratus provides a vast array of services to meet our clients needs from one team. With the evolution of technology, we strive to be at the forefront of design and consulting. Our professionals work closely with clients to develop all aspects of projects, from conception through grant writing, funding, design, and construction. From initial planning and feasibility studies to final construction oversight, Stratus has the skilled, licensed professionals to bring your plans to life.
Learn more about each of our capabilities below.
Architecture
Architecture work doesn’t start with a sketch and end with a blueprint. We offer fully integrated planning, surveying, engineering, architecture, procurement, and construction solutions, and we work diligently to understand the visual and business objectives at the outset of every project. We do our research to stay grounded. Once our work begins, we handle every phase of each project: programming, schematic design, space planning, interior design and furnishings, construction document production, contract administration, and furniture installation supervision. We keep our partners and clients informed every step of the way until the ribbon is cut and the structure is fully operational. We also work tirelessly to ensure that we meet the timeline and budget parameters.
Urban Design extends past the layout of cities; it encompasses the study and understanding of a community to translate that understanding into a solution that serves residents and visitors for generations. We approach planning and design projects by identifying opportunities to create a sense of place that supports sustainable development by understanding how a city or neighborhood came to be and considers past and present development patterns, local needs for better communities, and economic obstacles and opportunities.
Our broad range of experience includes large-scale mixed-use, transportation, educational, federal, commercial, retail, civic, multi-family residential, and hospitality projects.
Civil
We have specialists in site development, transportation, and utility systems. The civil engineering team navigates through complex environmental and regulatory challenges as well as apply the latest “green” technologies within these areas of expertise.
We take pride in solving clients’ site development needs with civil engineers who are experts in all aspects of site design. Critical components include determining potential environmental impacts and designing efficient and economical site layouts that give full consideration of grading, drainage, erosion control, stormwater management, and utility services requirements. From simple drainage improvement projects to full design of large sites, our engineers have the experience and expertise to help clients reach their goals.
We offer design services for water systems, wastewater facilities, and utilities. For water systems this includes transmission, storage, and treatment; for wastewater facilities this includes collection, handling and treatment; and for utilities this includes water, sewer, and gas lines as well as underground electrical duct bank, telecommunications, and cable television installations. Our Engineers have the skills to meet any challenge that may occur during the design and construction process.
Commissioning
Stratus’ commissioning services, including retro-commissioning, offer our clients confidence in knowing their building systems are functioning properly and as designed, which means they are operating as efficiently as possible and achieving substantial savings. The commissioning process begins by analyzing strengths and weaknesses of the building systems and then guides clients in choosing the best way to optimize efficiency and realize monetary savings. Retro-commissioning, which is performed on an existing building that has never been through the commissioning process, also provides a fantastic opportunity to maximize these same energy and monetary savings. Stratus is uniquely qualified for LEED commissioning, led by Professional Engineers experienced in the design, construction administration, and commissioning of numerous LEED Certified Buildings.
Design-Build
Stratus has global expertise in overseeing single-source design-build projects. In today’s dynamic and competitive marketplace, the design-build approach holds several important advantages. Our expertise helps our clients reduce costs by minimizing personnel while maintaining control of scope, budget, and schedule. Because all members of the design-build team work as an integrated unit, construction proceeds simultaneously with design, shortening the project schedule.
Due to our experience in working under multiple delivery models, Stratus can advise clients on whether a design-build, progressive-design-build, engineering/procurement/construction, public-private partnership, CMAR, or other option is ideal for a given project.
Design-build doesn’t fit every scenario, but it has real advantages for the agency/owner and the contractor. It ensures that the owner has a single point of responsibility; has the potential to reduce change orders and shrink project schedules; and creates a more flexible and collaborative approach to important, complex projects.
Electrical
Stratus employs a roster of experienced electrical engineers who design and specify complete power distribution systems from the power company’s service entrance down to each individual branch circuit including all distribution equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, transformers, etc. We also have proficiency in grounding and protection systems including surge protective devices (SPDs) and lightning protection systems. Emergency/standby power distribution is a specialty as well from engine generator sets and automatic transfer switches (ATS) to central battery inverter systems and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
We bring a thorough knowledge of all applicable codes and standards such as the National Electrical Code, International Building Code, International Energy Conservation Code, ASHRAE, IESNA Lighting Handbook, ADA, etc., to everything we do. All parts of the electrical design are performed with the core principle of meeting and exceeding the operational, maintenance, energy usage and budget goals of our clients.
Our electrical engineering experience spans all types of industrial and commercial construction. Specialties include arc flash studies, lightning protection, power coordination, lighting/photometric analysis, low- and medium- voltage power design, instrumentation and controls design and specification, PLC design, grounding and bonding design, HAZLOC analysis/studies, communication systems, and P&ID development.
Fire Protection
Safeguarding facilities against fire hazards is a critical component of industrial design. Stratus’ Certified Fire Protection Specialists are skilled at performing risk analyses and third-party review of facility designs. We are familiar with the latest in active and passive fire protection systems and know how to engineer these systems into an integrated whole. We guide clients to the safest, most risk-free solution while keeping costs down.
We integrate active (suppression systems, fire alarms) and passive (fire and smoke barriers, space separation) fire protection features into our petrochemical facilities designs. Our specialists know the proper materials, piping, insulation, hydraulic calculations, and connective strategies to safeguard and transmit even highly flammable materials.
We keep ourselves apprised of all pertinent permitting issues in regard to fire protection. We know how to incorporate fire safety measures into our designs in the earliest phases, ensuring speedy permit review and approval.
Interiors
When planning and designing a building, we don’t stop with the exterior. Our Interior Design practice works with clients to offer space planning, FF&E selection and specification, interior details, branding, signage, and wayfinding for projects in all our market sectors. Our collaborative approach to design also allows us to gain a deep understanding of our clients’ brands so that we can determine the appropriate design elements to communicate that image. We are committed to the incorporation of sustainable design and health focused principles to create spaces that are responsive to their environment, conserve resources, and reduce overall maintenance and operational costs.
M/E/P
M/E/P design begins with a collaborative effort to determine the most appropriate system for each project. We begin the design process with the understanding that every project is different, and each client has a unique set of priorities. Our specialties include building design, building renovations, central plant systems (steam, chilled water, and heating water), industrial ventilation, indoor air quality, engineering analysis of existing systems, energy studies and analysis, energy modeling, building automation systems/energy management systems, geothermal systems, thermal storage, sustainable design, LEED certification, lifecycle cost analysis, code analysis, and cost estimating.
Our engineers bring years of experience to the design of every aspect of building systems. We design and specify complete building systems including HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, lighting, power distribution, emergency generation, information technology, safety and security systems, and more. We focus heavily on energy efficiency, maintenance, and lifecycle cost when making system selections and equipment selections, ensuring that the selected systems align perfectly with owners’ desires in all circumstances.
Planning
We know that successful design begins before we draft the first schematic. Our planning professionals produce capital plans, feasibility studies, economic forecasts, population growth models, and short- and long-term master plans. Whether a master plan for an airport, a master plan for a town or city, growth and population projections to forecast future water demands, an educational or corporate campus master plan, a throughput study for a fuel farm, or an economic feasibility study, Stratus deliverables ensure client peace of mind and Return on Investment before a design project begins.
Process Mechanical
Our team develops design solutions for manufacturing and distribution facilities in coordination with client goals for cost, schedule, and constructability. Our mechanical and process engineering specialties include, but are not limited to, production and distribution infrastructure, water treatment and reuse, bulk solids and powdered products processing and packaging, chemical feed systems, and control systems.
We learn clients’ business objectives, allowing us to provide solutions that contribute directly to bottom-line profits. We bring our technical knowledge and industry perspective directly into the project planning, funding, and decision-making process. Our team provides process engineering and design, process development and scale-up, mass and energy balances, PFD and P&ID development, detail process piping and equipment design, thermal stress analysis, steam and utilities, and API650 petroleum storage tanks.
Structural
Wise and well-informed decision-making from start to finish is paramount to excellent structural engineering. Stratus expects sensible, economical, and valuable structural solutions to emerge as we listen to all stakeholders, gather our teamwide expertise, and continuously consider project goals.
Stratus has broad technical expertise in the design of buildings and infrastructure in a variety of market sectors. This includes industrial, federal, local, and municipal government, local and state parks, food and beverage, commercial, petroleum/fueling facilities, aviation facilities, and utility infrastructure. Design project types include new facilities, expansions, and a wide range of renovations. Structural solutions often must be chosen to prioritize overall project goals such as maintaining facility operations, meeting outage windows, and construction sequencing. We also provide focused structural inspection and condition assessment services on a variety of structure types and historical importance to determine repair action plans, minimally disrupted operations, and historical preservation.
Each project comes with a unique set of constraints, and Stratus is well-equipped to develop structural solutions and assistance from the concept phase through construction completion. We internally collaborate with the design team throughout the project timeline, use an extensive library of software, and prioritize cross-discipline mindfulness to develop creative and efficient solutions to projects.
Surveying
Accuracy, responsiveness, and experience are Stratus trademarks. We bring years of experience to the industry, and our state-of-the-art robotic and GIS technology ensures both speed and accuracy. Tasks that used to take days can now be accomplished in hours, as our surveyors access information more quickly and accurately than ever before. Our surveying capabilities ensure seamless transition and continuity throughout the design and construction process.
Stratus’ surveyors are skilled and experienced in the following types of services: boundary and topographic surveys; construction services; as-built surveys; utility mapping; control surveys; and GIS services. Stratus provides digital output in various formats (MicroStation, CaiCE, AutoCAD, TerraModel, ArcView, and digital county tax maps), utilizing the latest technologies.
As a full-service survey team, we also provide utility mapping services, both horizontal and vertical utility locations, and capabilities to locate underground utilities in utility route surveys as well as large, concentrated site utility surveys. Senior surveyors are specially trained in Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), able to oversee utility mapping, coordination, and relocation projects using ground-penetrating radar. We can provide clients an SUE adhering to any desired Quality Level from A through D.
Additionally, our surveyors have the expertise and technology to generate three-dimensional laser maps of complex or obstructed terrain. Using our state-of-the-art Faro Focus 3D laser scanners, we capture fast, straightforward and highly accurate measurements of complex objects and infrastructure. The scanner’s built-in eight-megapixel, HDR camera captures detailed imagery easily while providing a natural color overlay to the scan data, allowing work to continue regardless of lighting conditions. We then import the scan into our AutoCAD software to generate an exact image of the site. This technology saves time and money on both engineering and construction surveys.