Rutherford + Chekene
Rutherford + Chekene is a privately held, 50-person structural and geotechnical engineering consultancy headquartered in San Francisco with a Sacramento office, serving California institutional clients in higher education, healthcare, judicial/civic, and science/technology sectors on new construction, seismic retrofit, and performance-based design projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rutherford + Chekene does
Rutherford + Chekene (R+C) is a privately held structural and geotechnical engineering consultancy headquartered in San Francisco, with a second office in Sacramento, California. Founded in 1960 by John Rutherford and Constantine Chekene, the firm operates as a 50-person practice serving institutional clients across California, with primary emphasis on higher education, healthcare, judicial/civic, and science/technology facilities. The firm delivers three integrated service lines: Structural Engineering (new design, seismic rehabilitation, performance-based design, and BIM coordination), Geotechnical Engineering (subsurface exploration, seismic hazard evaluation, ground motion analysis, and foundation recommendations), and the in-house Building Systems Group (anchorage and bracing design for MEP systems, equipment, and furniture in hospitals and laboratories).
R+C's technical differentiation is concentrated in seismic engineering for California's most demanding contexts: base isolation systems (Pixar Animation Studios Steve Jobs Building, UC Berkeley Hearst Memorial Mining Building, New Stanford Hospital), performance-based design using nonlinear response history analysis, full-scale dynamic testing of retrofitted wood walls, and soil-cement column foundation systems for difficult soil conditions. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise engagement with institutional owners through professional relationships and project-based fee work; the firm reports more than 35 completed Design-Build / Integrated Delivery projects and assessments spanning roughly 550 individual courthouse structures for the Judicial Council of California. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; all services are sold on a project-fee basis as professional engineering services, with no software, subscription, or productized revenue lines.
Rutherford + Chekene firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rutherford + Chekene
- Legal name
- Rutherford + Chekene
- Website
- https://ruthchek.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Rutherford + Chekene is a privately held, 50-person structural and geotechnical engineering consultancy headquartered in San Francisco with a Sacramento office, serving California institutional clients in higher education, healthcare, judicial/civic, and science/technology sectors on new construction, seismic retrofit, and performance-based design projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rutherford + Chekene industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Structural and Geotechnical Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (54133), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)
Keywords
Where Rutherford + Chekene is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rutherford + Chekene business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Structural Engineering Services: Fee-based professional engineering services for structural design of new buildings and seismic retrofit/renovation of existing structures, including base isolation, performance-based design, and seismic evaluations.
- Geotechnical Engineering Services: Fee-based geotechnical engineering including subsurface exploration, laboratory testing, seismic hazard evaluation, and foundation recommendations for building projects throughout California.
- Building Systems Engineering Services: Anchorage and bracing design services for MEP systems, equipment, and furniture in new and existing facilities, particularly in complex laboratory and hospital environments.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Rutherford + Chekene product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rutherford + Chekene is a structural and geotechnical engineering consultancy providing integrated engineering services across three core practice areas: Structural Engineering Services, Geotechnical Engineering Services, and Building Systems Engineering Services. The firm designs and engineers new buildings, performs seismic retrofit and rehabilitation of existing structures, and delivers base-isolated, performance-based seismic designs for healthcare, higher education, civic, judicial, research, and cultural facilities throughout California. Engagements are delivered as project-fee professional services directly to institutional owners and architectural teams.
Product overview
Rutherford + Chekene (R+C) is a structural and geotechnical engineering firm offering three integrated engineering services: Structural Engineering Services, Geotechnical Engineering Services, and Building Systems Engineering Services (Building Systems Group/BSG). The firm collaborates with architectural firms to deliver new construction, seismic retrofit, and renovation projects across California, specializing in healthcare, higher education, civic/justice, science/technology, and commercial sectors. The three service lines work together to provide comprehensive engineering solutions—from foundation to building systems—with particular expertise in seismic design, base isolation, and complex existing conditions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Structural Engineering Services Comprehensive structural engineering services for new building design, seismic rehabilitation, BIM modeling and coordination, performance-based design, and nonstructural seismic services across a diverse range of building types including healthcare, higher education, justice, civic, research, and cultural facilities.
- Geotechnical Engineering Services Geotechnical engineering services for projects throughout California, including subsurface exploration, detailed laboratory testing, seismic and geologic hazard evaluation, ground motions analysis, foundation recommendations for challenging soil conditions, and construction observation.
- Building Systems Engineering Services (Building Systems Group) In-house Building Systems Group (BSG) providing anchorage and bracing design for MEP distribution systems, equipment, and furniture in new and existing facilities, with extensive experience in complex laboratory and hospital environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Base isolation systems enabling resume of operations within 48 hours of major seismic event (Pixar Animation Studios)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rutherford + Chekene
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Rutherford + Chekene technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Rutherford + Chekene partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rutherford + Chekene competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Degenkolb Engineers: San Francisco-based structural engineering firm with similar focus on healthcare, education, and seismic retrofit projects in California. Comparable in size, client base, and technical specialization, making them the most direct peer in the regional market.
- Forell/Elsesser Engineers: San Francisco-based structural engineering firm specializing in seismic design, base isolation, and historic rehabilitation. Very comparable service offering and California institutional client base to R+C.
- Tipping Structural Engineers: Berkeley-based structural engineering firm recognized for performance-based seismic design and innovative structural solutions. Directly comparable on seismic specialization and California Bay Area institutional clientele.
- KPFF Consulting Engineers: Large structural engineering consultancy with strong California presence serving institutional and public-sector clients. Comparable core service offering but materially larger scale than R+C.
- Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH): National structural engineering firm specializing in complex structures, building enclosure, and structural investigations. Comparable technical depth in structural and geotechnical work for institutional clients, though broader geographic reach.
- Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE): National engineering firm specializing in structural investigation, rehabilitation, and failure analysis. Comparable expertise in seismic retrofit and historic preservation work for institutional clients.
- ENGEO: California-based geotechnical engineering firm with similar regional focus and client base. Directly comparable on the geotechnical side of R+C's service offering, with overlap on many California building projects.
Regional players
- Buehler & Buehler Structural Engineers: Sacramento-based structural engineering firm serving Northern California institutional and civic clients. Comparable in service scope and California public-sector focus, with overlap in Sacramento market where R+C also operates.
Broad incumbents
- Arup: Global engineering consultancy with strong structural and geotechnical practices serving California institutional clients. Comparable technical capability but broader portfolio and far greater scale than R+C.
- WSP: Global professional services firm with major structural and geotechnical engineering practices serving California institutional and public-sector clients. Competes for similar institutional engagements but at much larger scale and broader scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rutherford + Chekene social profiles
Digital presenceRutherford + Chekene financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rutherford + Chekene leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Rutherford + Chekene funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rutherford + Chekene M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rutherford + Chekene
What does Rutherford + Chekene do?
Rutherford + Chekene is a structural and geotechnical engineering consultancy providing integrated engineering services across three core practice areas: Structural Engineering Services, Geotechnical Engineering Services, and Building Systems Engineering Services. The firm designs and engineers new buildings, performs seismic retrofit and rehabilitation of existing structures, and delivers base-isolated, performance-based seismic designs for healthcare, higher education, civic, judicial, research, and cultural facilities throughout California. Engagements are delivered as project-fee professional services directly to institutional owners and architectural teams.
Is Rutherford + Chekene a public or private company?
Rutherford + Chekene is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rutherford + Chekene founded?
Rutherford + Chekene was founded in 1960. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Rutherford + Chekene based?
Rutherford + Chekene is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rutherford + Chekene make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Structural Engineering Services are the primary driver. The others are geotechnical Engineering Services and building Systems Engineering Services.
Who are Rutherford + Chekene's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Degenkolb Engineers, Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Tipping Structural Engineers, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) and ENGEO. Buehler & Buehler Structural Engineers is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Arup and WSP.
Does Rutherford + Chekene have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rutherford + Chekene.
What industry is Rutherford + Chekene in?
Rutherford + Chekene's product category is Structural and Geotechnical Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAA, Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAG, Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54133 and its SIC code is 8711.