Linchpin Structural Engineering, Inc.

What Linchpin Structural Engineering, Inc. does

Linchpin Structural Engineering, Inc. is a privately held structural engineering consulting firm founded in Truckee, California in 2013 by Doug Gadow. The firm delivers full structural design services — including seismic evaluation, snow load engineering, historic preservation consulting, structural rehabilitation, demolition and shoring design, inspections/forensics, and BIM-based design coordination — across residential, commercial, medical, educational, industrial, and public-structural verticals. Underlying technology centers on BIM modeling in Revit Structure with multi-discipline clash detection, supplemented by industry-standard structural analysis software (RISA, ETABS) for code-compliant calculations across steel, concrete, masonry, timber, and light-gage steel systems.

Linchpin operates primarily through principal-led relationships with architects, developers, and owners; engagements are scoped project-by-project with billable-hour estimates and frequent change orders, and construction administration is typically priced at 15%-20% of the design fee. The firm is licensed across nine US states with NCEES reciprocity, holds demonstrated agency-procurement credentials (DSA, OSHPD/HCAI, public works), and maintains an on-call structural engineering relationship with California State Parks for historic-structure preservation. Senior Principal Doug Gadow sits on the ASCE 7 Snow & Rain Load Committee, lending the firm direct influence over the national load standards used in its core Sierra/Tahoe practice area.

Since 2017, when Linchpin merged with Forbes Engineering, the firm has operated from two offices (Truckee, CA and Reno, NV) under a unified Linchpin brand, with a partner-led ownership structure and a project portfolio spanning 3,588 cumulative designs and 200+ nationally registered historic structures. Revenue is professional-services based with hourly and project-fee pricing; the firm is privately financed with no external institutional capital and grows through referrals and repeat architect-developer relationships rather than paid marketing.

Name

Linchpin Structural Engineering, Inc.

Legal name

Linchpin Structural Engineering, Inc.

Website

https://linchpinse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Linchpin Structural Engineering is a privately held US structural engineering consulting firm delivering structural design, BIM-Revit modeling, seismic evaluation, snow load engineering, and historic preservation services across residential, commercial, medical, educational, public, and industrial projects from offices in Truckee, CA and Reno, NV, licensed across nine states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK), Bridge Rehabilitation & Structural Strengthening (Deck Replacement, Seismic Retrofit) (IMAFAEAK)

Keywords

• Structural engineering services
• Building information modeling
• Seismic retrofit consulting
• Historic preservation engineering
• Snow load engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Truckee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Structural Engineering Design Services: Full structural design services for commercial, residential, medical, educational, industrial, and public projects. Some services are quoted Hourly as design revisions and change orders are common and may exceed original time estimates.
2. Construction Administration: Observations, inspections, review of designs and submittals, and RFIs responses. Typically recommend budgeting 15%-20% of the total project design fee for Construction Administration services.
3. Roof Snow Load Consultation: Stand-alone consultation services including roof snow load estimation for existing buildings, additions, and proposed designs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Linchpin Structural Engineering provides full structural engineering design and consulting for buildings and related structures across residential, commercial, medical, educational, industrial, public, and historic preservation sectors. Services include structural design, BIM-Revit modeling with clash detection, snow load and seismic engineering, historic preservation consulting, structural rehabilitation, demolition and shoring design, and inspections and peer review, delivered through a three-phase process of project discussion, design and development, and construction administration.

Product overview

Linchpin Structural Engineering is a structural engineering consulting firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of engineering services rather than a software product platform. The company provides structural design and analysis across multiple service verticals (Residential, Commercial, Medical, Education, Industrial, Public Structures) and specialty practices (Snow Load Engineering, Seismic Evaluation, Historic Preservation, Structural Rehabilitation, Demolition and Shoring, Piers/Docks/Bridges, Treehouse Engineering, and Inspections/Consultation). Their core methodology leverages BIM-Revit building modeling with clash detection. Services are delivered through their design process covering project discussion, design and development, and construction administration phases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Structural Design Services Full structural design for commercial, public, medical, educational, industrial, and residential projects of any scale and material, including new builds, remodels, and additions, delivered through a three-phase process (discuss, design/develop, construction administration).
• Building Modeling (BIM-Revit) Data-rich Revit BIM models coordinated across disciplines with clash detection for seamless design team integration, including complete 3D modeling for prefabrication planning.
• Snow Load Engineering Region-tested snow and seismic load design, led by an ASCE 7 Committee member who helps write national standards, including roof snow load estimation for existing buildings, additions, and proposed designs.
• Seismic Evaluation Performance-based seismic evaluations and structural retrofits that restore damaged and aging structures to current code, including hundreds of seismic evaluations using modern performance-based methods.
• Historic Preservation Consulting on nationally registered historic structures to preserve historic character while meeting current code for safe, lasting use; includes peer review and rehabilitation engineering collaboration.
• Structural Rehabilitation Structural rehabilitation of existing buildings addressing failures, inadequate designs, and structural upgrades with cost-effective solutions to restore structures to original design capacity.
• Demolition and Shoring Design Safe and efficient demolition and shoring plans including analysis of existing structures for sequencing and equipment loading support, and shoring for structures being retained.
• Piers, Docks, Bridges Design of piers, docks, pedestrian and vehicle bridges within the Tahoe region, including consulting on existing structures for maintenance vs. replacement guidance.
• Treehouse Engineering Structural engineering design, consultation, and investigation for tree and pole mounted structures including treehouses, challenge courses, and ziplines with minimal impact on trees.
• Inspections and Consultation Expertise in due diligence assessments, forensics, peer review, damage investigation, and expert witness testimony for attorneys and insurance companies.
• Residential Structural Engineering Engineering services for homes from small remodels and additions to new 12,000-square-foot estates, including custom designs in Martis Camp Tahoe hillsides development and award-winning A-frame cabins.
• Commercial Structural Engineering Commercial structural engineering for ski lodges, shopping and retail centers, hospitality, office buildings, mixed-use developments, multifamily housing, and tenant improvements.
• Medical Structural Engineering Design of medical structures including hospitals, in-patient and out-patient facilities, doctors' office complexes, care facilities, medical research labs, and clean-room structures, with OSHPD/HCAI approval experience.
• Education Structural Engineering Structural engineering for K-12 schools, universities, and student facilities with Division of State Architect (DSA) experience.
• Industrial Structural Engineering Industrial structures from warehouses and manufacturing facilities to power plants and refineries, including tilt-up facilities and Due Diligence investigation work.
• Public Structures Engineering Structural engineering for fire stations, city and government buildings, pump and utility stations, river crossings, and public agencies, with familiarity with public procurement processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,588 designs delivered meeting or exceeding local code
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Dale Cox ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Linchpin teamed with Dale Cox Architects for the Alder Creek Adventure Center Nordic Ski Lodge project at Tahoe Donner. The project required liquefiable soil foundations using geopiers and complete 3D BIM-Revit modeling for prefabrication. Linchpin also worked with Dale Cox on the Truckee Downtown 76 Station project.
• Kelly and Stone ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinchpin teamed with Kelly and Stone Architects for the Martis Camp Lot 308 custom mountain residence and Lahontan Lot 307 residence. The partnership involves complex exposed timber framing, discontinuous wood and steel interior framing, and careful coordination of structural and architectural components.
• Todd Gordon Mather ArchitectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinchpin worked with Todd Gordon Mather Architect on the award-winning Phoenix Rising A-frame residence and West Shore Residence. The collaboration involved creative structural steel frames for high snow loads while maintaining minimalist architectural aesthetics with large full-height windows.
• GLA Morris (General Contractor)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGLA Morris constructed the Truckee Downtown 76 Station which won Revitalization Project of the Year 2015. Linchpin designed seismic bracing for existing masonry walls while new construction proceeded.
• United ConstructionsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUnited Construction built the Cheyenne Logisticenter, a 381,804 sq ft tilt-up facility where Linchpin was the leading structural engineer. Also involved in UNR Living Learning Center and TMCC Student Union projects.
• California State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinchpin serves as on-call structural engineer for California State Parks historic structures. Projects include Jack Knight Hall, Bridgeport Covered Bridge (peer review), Malakoff Diggins ADA Improvements, Vikingsholm Earthquake Repairs, and multiple other historic preservation projects.
• Krakower AssociatessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinchpin partnered with Krakower Associates for restoration work, including the Bridgeport Covered Bridge peer review and Ide Adobe structural repairs. Krakower serves as rehabilitation engineer of record with Linchpin providing peer review and construction administration.
• FERMAsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLinchpin provided Demolition Engineering Consultation to FERMA for demolition of the Sacramento Downtown Mall to make way for the Kings Arena.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Linchpin-Structural-Engineering/100057551776246
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/linchpin-structural-engineering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Linchpin Structural Engineering, Inc.