Murphy Burr Curry
Murphy Burr Curry is an independently owned San Francisco structural engineering consultancy founded in 1997, providing seismic retrofit, historic renovation, new building design, and facade inspection services to architects, developers, institutions, and luxury retail clients across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Murphy Burr Curry does
Murphy Burr Curry, Inc. (MBC) is an independently owned consulting structural engineering firm founded in 1997 in San Francisco by David Murphy, Alan Burr, and Steve Curry, formerly of Peter Culley & Associates (now Holmes Culley). The firm provides the full scope of structural engineering services across four core practice areas: Historical Renovations and Seismic Retrofits, New Construction and Building Design, Non-Ductile Concrete Ordinance Compliance, and Façade Inspection Services. Its engineering work spans wood, steel, concrete, masonry, and light-gauge steel systems, with specialized capabilities in seismic design, performance-based design (PBD), non-destructive testing, and proprietary damping systems such as the Viscous Wall Damper (VWD).
MBC serves architects, developers, property owners, contractors, educational institutions, and government clients, with a marquee project portfolio that includes Chanel's Rodeo Drive flagship, Burberry, Tiffany & Co., Nespresso, Mercedes-Benz, Uber's Oakland headquarters in the historic H.C. Capwell building, X (formerly Twitter), Workday, Bridge Housing, and K-12 facilities. The firm has completed more than 1,000 projects across California, Hawaii, and other U.S. states, earning recognition from AIA, SEAONC, the California Preservation Foundation, Gold Nugget, and Architecture Masterprize. Nearly 30 years in operation and a referral-driven sales motion have produced a brand anchored in client trust and engineering reputation rather than paid marketing.
The business operates as a professional services firm on project-based fees with no publicly disclosed pricing. Compensation structure for its 11-50 employees is transparent in recruitment, with salaries ranging from $75,000 for junior engineers to $175,000 for licensed California S.E. project managers with 10+ years of experience. Revenue is generated entirely from consulting engagements delivered through direct enterprise sales, with no software, subscription, or product revenue. The firm is led by Alan Burr (President), Steve Curry (Vice President), and Principals Zack Kardon and Alex Filatov, with founder David Murphy serving as a Consultant.
Murphy Burr Curry firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Murphy Burr Curry
- Legal name
- Murphy Burr Curry Inc.
- Website
- https://mbcse.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Murphy Burr Curry is an independently owned San Francisco structural engineering consultancy founded in 1997, providing seismic retrofit, historic renovation, new building design, and facade inspection services to architects, developers, institutions, and luxury retail clients across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Murphy Burr Curry industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Structural Engineering Consulting
- NAICS
- Building Inspection Services (54135)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Structural & Seismic Retrofit Services (EDAEABAF)
Keywords
Where Murphy Burr Curry is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Murphy Burr Curry business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Structural Engineering Consulting Services: Professional services revenue generated from providing structural engineering consultation for new building design, historical renovations, seismic retrofits, and compliance with structural ordinances. Revenue is project-based with fees determined by project scope and complexity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Junior Engineer: $75,000 - $100,000 annual compensation |
| Other | Annual | CAD/Revit Specialist: $85,000 - $105,000 annual compensation |
| Other | Annual | Project Engineer: $100,000 - $125,000 annual compensation |
| Other | Annual | Senior Project Engineer/Structural Engineer: $120,000 - $165,000 annual compensation |
| Other | Annual | Project Manager/Structural Engineer: $135,000 - $175,000 annual compensation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Murphy Burr Curry product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Murphy Burr Curry provides consulting structural engineering services for new building design, historical renovations, seismic retrofits, and compliance with structural ordinances. Service scope covers planning and feasibility through construction administration for commercial, residential, educational, retail, and mixed-use projects, including forensic structural investigation, performance-based seismic design, non-ductile concrete evaluations under San Francisco's Concrete Building Safety Program, and facade inspections under SF Building Code Chapter 5F.
Product overview
Murphy Burr Curry, Inc. (MBC) is a consulting structural engineering firm offering a unified portfolio of engineering services rather than a software product platform. The firm provides four interconnected core service areas: Historical Renovations & Seismic Retrofits, New Construction & Building Design, Non-Ductile Concrete Ordinance Compliance Services, and Façade Inspection Services. These services collectively address the full lifecycle of structural engineering needs—from evaluating existing buildings and designing retrofits to new construction support and regulatory compliance inspections.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Historical Renovations & Seismic Retrofits Specialized structural engineering services for seismic retrofit and renovation of historic buildings, including forensic structural investigation, non-destructive testing, performance-based design, and minimally intrusive retrofit solutions such as discreet shear walls, braced frames, and supplemental damping devices. Delivered for property owners, developers, and architects on heritage and existing structures.
- New Construction & Building Design Comprehensive structural engineering services for new construction projects spanning from planning and feasibility studies through construction administration, with expertise in multi-family housing, educational facilities, retail environments, and seismic design for complex institutional projects. Intended for developers, architects, and property owners.
- Non-Ductile Concrete Ordinance Compliance Services Specialized evaluation services for non-ductile concrete buildings under San Francisco's Concrete Building Safety Program, including property screening, Building Inventory Assessment, comprehensive structural evaluation, forensic analysis, and actionable retrofit roadmaps. Targeted at San Francisco property owners and developers subject to the ordinance.
- Façade Inspection Services Façade inspection services per San Francisco Building Code Chapter 5F and Administrative Bulletin AB 110, including document review, interior leak surveys, general and detailed façade inspections (minimum 25% of each façade), non-destructive evaluation, and written reports for DBI submission. Provided to property owners subject to San Francisco façade inspection requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 successful projects completed in locations throughout the United States
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Murphy Burr Curry
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Murphy Burr Curry technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Murphy Burr Curry partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Murphy Burr Curry competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Simpson Gumpertz & Heger: National engineering firm with structural, building envelope, and historic preservation practices — overlapping with MBC in seismic evaluation, façade inspection, and forensic work.
- Arup: Global engineering consultancy with major structural and seismic practices including advanced performance-based design; competes for premium institutional and developer clients in California.
- Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates: Large engineering consultancy specializing in structural investigation, failure analysis, and building enclosure — directly comparable in forensic/retrofit work though at materially greater scale.
- KPFF Consulting Engineers: Large U.S. structural and civil engineering firm with deep West Coast presence; broader portfolio but overlapping service lines in seismic design, new construction, and building renovation.
- Buro Happold: International engineering firm with structural engineering and seismic design practices serving high-end commercial, cultural, and education clients — comparable on premium project types.
Direct peers
- Tipping Structural Engineers: Boutique Bay Area structural engineering firm specializing in performance-based seismic design and historic preservation — directly overlapping with MBC's PBD and renovation expertise.
- Rutherford + Chekene: San Francisco structural engineering consultancy with comparable seismic retrofit, historic renovation, and new construction practice serving architects and institutions.
- Forell/Elsesser Engineers: Bay Area structural engineering firm with deep seismic base isolation and retrofit experience — a direct peer in the same regional market with overlapping technical specializations.
- Degenkolb Engineers: San Francisco-based structural engineering firm with a strong focus on seismic design, healthcare, and education — directly comparable to MBC in service mix, client base, and Bay Area market focus.
- Holmes Culley: San Francisco structural engineering firm where MBC's founders previously worked; directly comparable boutique practice serving similar architects and developers in seismic retrofit and new design.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Murphy Burr Curry social profiles
Digital presenceMurphy Burr Curry financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Murphy Burr Curry leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Murphy Burr Curry funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Murphy Burr Curry 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 Murphy Burr Curry
What does Murphy Burr Curry do?
Murphy Burr Curry provides consulting structural engineering services for new building design, historical renovations, seismic retrofits, and compliance with structural ordinances. Service scope covers planning and feasibility through construction administration for commercial, residential, educational, retail, and mixed-use projects, including forensic structural investigation, performance-based seismic design, non-ductile concrete evaluations under San Francisco's Concrete Building Safety Program, and facade inspections under SF Building Code Chapter 5F.
Is Murphy Burr Curry a public or private company?
Murphy Burr Curry is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Murphy Burr Curry founded?
Murphy Burr Curry was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Murphy Burr Curry based?
Murphy Burr Curry is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Murphy Burr Curry make money?
One revenue line is on record: structural Engineering Consulting Services.
Who are Murphy Burr Curry's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Arup, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, KPFF Consulting Engineers and Buro Happold. Direct peers are Tipping Structural Engineers, Rutherford + Chekene, Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Degenkolb Engineers and Holmes Culley.
Does Murphy Burr Curry have an API?
No public API is recorded for Murphy Burr Curry.
What industry is Murphy Burr Curry in?
Murphy Burr Curry's product category is Structural Engineering Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAA, Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting, with a secondary code of EDAEABAF, Structural & Seismic Retrofit Services. Its NAICS code is 54135 and its SIC code is 8711.