Specialties
We are structural engineers who study, analyze and admire great architectural design. We seek every day to live out a concept that we call The Art of Structural Engineering.
Project Expertise
Museums
Museums and cultural facilities have special structural needs that are unique to these public facilities. Our experience on projects such as the Perot Museum of Nature & Science and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art has led us to author a guide for our clients on the issues involved.
Download our A/E guide, Thoughts on Museum Design, below.
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Convention Centers
Convention Centers have very specialized structural requirements. With tens of thousands of auditorium seats and millions of square feet of exhibit space, functionality and flexibility are keys to great design.
Download our A/E guide, Structural Design of Convention Centers, below.
Historic Preservation and Renovation
Datum has worked to help preserve some of Texas's most treasured buildings: Texas State Capitol, Alamo Mission, Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture, Crow Holdings Capital Partners in the old Parkland hospital -- and many more. These special landmarks require an understanding of historical construction materials and methods, as well as sensitivity toward preserving their unique character.
Research Institutions and Laboratories
Higher education facilities and medical laboratories today need to draw in world-class researchers. Cutting-edge laboratory equipment, functionality, adaptability, and aesthetic surroundings all play an important role.
Laboratory equipment has become progressively more sensitive to vibrations as magnification levels have increased, though the equipment type, sensitivity, and quantity vary with the use, location, and size of the laboratory. As a result, the structural design of lab spaces requires special attention.
Parking Structures
In a parking garage, the structure can’t hide behind a protective veneer. It is exposed to view and exposed to the elements.
Structural design and detailing profoundly affect the life-cycle cost of a parking garage. From our investigations and repairs of existing garages and the design of over 100 new parking facilities, we understand how to make them perform better.
To help inform our clients, owners, contractors and our staff, we have written a guide on the design, construction, and maintenance of these functional spaces.