Mr. Mason is a 2001 engineering graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering and Master of Architectural Engineering. After finishing college, his work focused on Mr. Mason has broad experience in all aspects of contract negotiation, planning, design, and construction.
Mr. Mason’s prior experience includes working as a structural design engineer, an Owner’s representative, and a structural repair and waterproofing engineer. This background has enabled him to perform a variety of tasks for our clients, both in the public sector such as for Montgomery County, Maryland and Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania municipalities, as well as private sector clients such as Jones Lang LaSalle, C.B. Richard Ellis, Cushman Wakefield and many others. These tasks have ranged from managing an over $2 million budget for capital improvements spread over 4 apartment complexes and 17 self-storage facilities to performing Owner's representative duties for two $5.5 million new-build self-storage facilities; to designing the structural framing for new office, apartment and condominium buildings; to performing due diligence and property condition assessment surveys and five to ten-year capital expenditure budgets in Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Washington, DC; to surveying, designing, bidding and awarding, and performing construction administration services for multiple building structure, façade, garage, plaza repair programs over the East Coast area.
300 block of 8th Street Apartment Building, Homestead, PA (2015): Designed the structural framing plans, section and details of the four-story steel and wood-framed building. Oversaw the design calculations of the gravity and lateral structural systems by junior engineers.
Walgreen’s Drugstore, Easton, MD (2006): Designed the ground-up retail store utilizing Walgreen’s typical design documents. The local municipality mandated a brick façade, which the typical drawings do not accommodate, requiring extensive reworking of all associated plans and details to support the brick masonry veneer façade
Various Small Bridge and Culvert Inspections, Allegheny and Washington Counties, PA (2012-2015): Performed condition assessment inspections of various existing metal pipe and precast concrete culverts and small precast concrete and steel-framed two-lane roadway bridges.
Saw Mill Run Boulevard Stream Culvert Restoration, Mt. Lebanon, PA (2015): Performed quality assurance peer review of drawings and specifications. Performed construction administration and on-site quality assurance reviews of the repair contractor in a confined space environment of 1,200 feet in length.
Proposed Auto Parts Store Culvert Condition Assessment, Monongahela, PA (2015): Reviewed all available construction documentation including historic site plans provided by local municipality. Applied critical analysis methods to rapidly identify problematic issues with the building and recommend necessary remediations and associated repair costs. Created a due diligence written report with attached photographic log illustrating problematic issues discussed in the report. Constructed a capital expense budget to the Client illustrating all necessary repairs to the corrugated metal pipe culvert running under the subject site and adjacent thoroughfare.
UPMC Gulf Building Façade Condition Assessment, Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA (2017): Performed a condition assessment of the façade and roof to determine the exact cause of the delaminating limestone façade panels. Provided a written report with photo log and capital expense budget specifying the recommended façade and roof parapet repairs.
UPMC Iroquois Building Façade and Roof Repairs, Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA (2016): Performed a condition assessment of the façade and roof determining best methods of repair. Provided drawings and specifications for the recommended repairs. Provided bidding and scope review services to determine best value provided by the winning contractor. Provided construction administrative services during an accelerated construction schedule driven by the neighboring university semester schedule.
Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building Facade and Roof Repairs, Mt. Lebanon, PA (2013): Performed a condition assessment of the façade and roof determining best methods of repair. Provided drawings and specifications for the recommended repairs. Provided bidding and scope review services to determine best value provided by the winning contractor. Provided construction administrative services including attending and producing progress meeting minutes, performing periodic site visits for quality assurance and writing field reports with photo log, designing field design solutions for unforeseen field conditions, reviewing and advising on monthly payment applications, reviewing and making recommendations on contractor-generated change orders, answering RFI requests and providing punch list inspections.
Lucas County Welfare Building Post-Tensioned Emergency Repairs, Toledo, OH (2016): Provide initial damage assessment and structural analysis to determine root cause of post-tensioned tendon failure at building lobby. Provide temporary shoring plan and scope of work to allow reoccupancy of the building. Coordinate exploratory exploration of tendon anchorage ends to ascertain full scope of corroded tendon anchorages. Provide written report detailing recommended scope of work to allow for removal of temporary shoring framing.
Various PNC Sites – Wood Bowed Roof Truss Investigation (2017): Evaluate six sites determined to potentially have wood bowed roof truss. Provide inspection services of roof structure to ascertain condition of existing roof framing. Provide written report and photo log detailing condition of roof framing and need for further structural evaluation.
PNC Branch Below-Grade VAT Access Tunnel Condition Assessment, Chillicothe, OH (2017): Provide on-site inspection of below-grade tunnel to determine structural suitability of temporary steel plates installed over tunnel due to high level of slab corrosion. Provide written report and photo log detailing possible structural solutions beyond full replacement.
UPMC Heritage Place Building Façade and Roof Repairs, Pittsburgh, PA (2017): Performed a condition assessment of the façade and roof determining best methods of repair. Provided drawings and specifications for the recommended repairs. Provided bidding and scope review services to determine best value provided by the winning contractor. Provided construction administrative services during an accelerated construction schedule driven by the client’s need to complete the repairs by end of year.
The Tower at PNC Plaza Façade Condition Assessment, Pittsburgh, PA (2017): Performed condition assessment services to evaluate future capital expenditure requirements. Created a written report with photo log illustrating problematic issues discussed in the report. Constructed a 5-year capital expense budget illustrating all necessary and suggested repairs and/or upgrades to the subject building in multiple phases in relation to the most critical repair items and to each component’s anticipated service life.
One PNC Tower Façade Condition Assessment, Pittsburgh, PA (2017): Performed condition assessment services to evaluate future capital expenditure requirements. Created a written report with photo log illustrating problematic issues discussed in the report. Constructed a 5-year capital expense budget illustrating all necessary and suggested repairs and/or upgrades to the subject building in multiple phases in relation to the most critical repair items and to each component’s anticipated service life.
The Tower at PNC Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA (2017): Performed condition assessment services to evaluate future capital expenditure requirements. Created a written report with photo log illustrating problematic issues discussed in the report. Constructed a 5-year capital expense budget illustrating all necessary and suggested repairs and/or upgrades to the subject building in multiple phases in relation to the most critical repair items and to each component’s anticipated service life.
Three PNC Tower, Pittsburgh, PA (2017): Performed condition assessment services to evaluate future capital expenditure requirements. Created a written report with photo log illustrating problematic issues discussed in the report. Constructed a 5-year capital expense budget illustrating all necessary and suggested repairs and/or upgrades to the subject building in multiple phases in relation to the most critical repair items and to each component’s anticipated service life.
PNC Center Cleveland Garage, Cleveland, OH (2017): Performed condition assessment services to evaluate future capital expenditure requirements. Created a written report with photo log illustrating problematic issues discussed in the report. Constructed a 5-year capital expense budget illustrating all necessary and suggested repairs and/or upgrades to the subject building in multiple phases in relation to the most critical repair items and to each component’s anticipated service life.
Resnik Plaza Waterproofing Restoration, Carnegie Mellon University (2017): Perform initial condition assessment with photo log and capital expenditure budget. Coordinate exploratory opening locations and examine existing conditions and probably water infiltration locations. Prepare drawings and specifications detailing the removal and replacement of the waterproofing system with a hot-applied, reinforced, bituminous waterproofing membrane, removal and replacement of the surrounding brick masonry façade to install new perimeter flashing material, replacement of the drain bowl assemblies, installation of an electronic field vector mapping (EVFM) system to ensure new membrane is leak-free, and replacement of the insulation and topping material designed by an outside architect.
Cincinnati Financial Headquarters Plaza Repairs, Fairfield, OH (2015): Prepare drawings and specifications for the plaza waterproofing repairs including exploratory openings to locate and repair membrane at leak locations, isolated joint sealant replacement, isolated concrete topping slab replacement, isolated precast façade panel partial depth repairs, and drain assembly replacement.
Montgomery County Courthouse Plaza Replacement, Rockville, MD (2011): Perform initial condition assessment with photo log and capital expenditure budget
Montgomery County Garage #16 New Garage Construction, Silver Spring, MD (2011): Joint venture between a private developer and County government where the County’s surface parking lot was purchased, and two levels of parking constructed under the new 5-story wood-framed concrete podium apartment and first floor retail building. Performed Clerk of the Works duties as a representative for Montgomery County Department of Transportation Parking Division. Inspected on-going construction activities during the construction of the County’s garage portion of the development. Coordinated 3rd party testing firms for site visits during critical construction activities. Coordinated County’s response when 60 CY of below-strength concrete was poured for the elevated slab.
Tyson’s Commerce Center, Vienna, VA (2009): Performed construction management duties throughout construction process, including progress meeting minutes, pay application review and approval, and site visits for quality assurance. Completed project closeout duties.
Union Park Self Storage (now Public Storage), Union Park, Orlando, Florida (2008): Ground-up new construction including deforesting and dewatering of existing site; installation of new stormwater drainage and pond system; installation of a new 8-inch diameter forced main sanitary line bored under Route 50- East Colonial Drive; and new construction of over 500 storage units in a mixture of single-story pre-engineered metal buildings and multi-story, climate-controlled storage buildings with elevators and sprinkler systems.
I'm working on a large project in the Pittsburgh area. The building was previously condemned despite being in good condition. In order to remove the condemnation, the city wanted a report from an engineer to verify that it was safe to occupy. Bob came to the site when he said he would and took his time walking throughout the entire structure. He was able to offer insight on how the building was constructed and advice on things we could do to reduce our construction and maintenance costs (which was WAY outside of the scope of work I was paying for). I was extremely pleased with his work. Many engineers & architects come across as dry and dare I say arrogant. Bob was easy going and polite. A breathe of fresh air in that line of work. I would definitely use Bob again and would recommend him to friends or family.
I contact Mr. Mason after I was having some issues with glass block being installed in my house as the installer thought my red brick wall was bowed and a crack in the foundation. Mr. Mason was able to make an appointment the same week and he showed up actually on time (something most people do not). He was very professional and answered all of my questions and concerns. He took numerous picture and explained everything in great detail. I purchased the detailed written report as I would recommend that to anyone seeking out his services as I’m not an engineer and explaining to contractors and others what he was talking about I’m sure I would of misspoke. Within 48 hours I received a 4-page report outlining everything I needed to have fixed before moving forward with any more home improvement projects. The peace of mind Mr. Mason provides and his recommendations are well worth the money! Can’t thank him enough!
Reliable Structural Engineers LLC is composed of high expertise structural engineers who focus on common-sense solutions for small and large projects while simultaneously delivering Ritz Carlton level customer service to our clients. Since 2015, we’ve helped hundreds of clients with various projects. Please contact us today to discuss how we can help you with your structural engineering needs.