Safe by Design: Engineering Temporary Structures and Shoring

Temporary doesn’t mean unimportant. The shoring systems, formwork structures, and excavation supports that make construction possible carry real loads, often under dynamic, unpredictable conditions. Engineering them properly is not optional.

Why Temporary Structures Need Engineering

A shoring system holds up an existing floor while new foundations are being installed below it. A formwork structure supports hundreds of tons of wet concrete until it cures. An excavation support system keeps adjacent buildings from moving while a basement is being dug.

These systems fail, sometimes catastrophically, when they are inadequately designed, improperly installed, or misunderstood by the crews working around them. The consequences can be irreversible.

Temporary structure engineering brings the same rigor to these systems that permanent structure engineering brings to the building itself.

What We Design

Frontier provides engineering for a range of temporary and construction support conditions:

Shoring: Support of existing structure above excavation or demolition activity. We analyze the loads, design the shoring members, and specify the installation requirements.

Formwork: Engineering of concrete formwork and falsework systems, with attention to construction loads, concrete pressure, and lateral stability during placement.

Underpinning: Sequential support of existing foundations to allow work below or adjacent to them without settlement or movement.

Bracing and Temporary Connections: Lateral bracing of structural members during erection, before permanent connections and diaphragms are in place.

Coordinating with the Team

Temporary structure design works best when it starts early. We prefer to be involved before the contractor’s plan is fixed. It’s easier to design the right system than to evaluate whether a proposed system is adequate. We work directly with GCs, specialty subcontractors, and excavation crews.

If you have a project that involves shoring, underpinning, or other construction support engineering needs, reach out to Frontier early.

Ready to Talk Through Your Project?

Frontier Structural Engineering brings 20 years of commercial and residential design experience to projects across Colorado and California. Whether you're in schematic design or already in the field, we're available.