Structural, MEP & Solar Design for a 36-Unit Apartment Development in San Diego, CA
S3DA Design provided integrated Structural, MEP, Solar PV, and Title 24 engineering design for a 36-unit apartment project in San Diego, California. This multifamily development included four identical buildings, allowing the team to streamline coordination, improve design efficiency, and support a more cost-effective path toward permit-ready construction documents.
S3DA’s Scope
- Structural loading analysis for wind, seismic, dead, and live loads
- Structural design of roof rafters, diaphragms, shear walls, load-bearing walls, beams, lintels, headers, slab on grade, wall footings, and pad footings
- Preparation of foundation plans, floor framing plans, roof framing plans, shear wall layouts, structural sections, and typical structural details
- Mechanical design including HVAC plans, heat load report, roof plans, refrigerant and condensate drain piping, schedules, calculations, and details
- Electrical design including lighting and power plans, panel schedules, single-line diagram, calculations, and low-voltage AV/surveillance design
- Plumbing design including domestic water, sanitary drainage, stormwater design, gas plans, riser diagrams, and plumbing calculations
- Solar PV system coordination integrated with the electrical design and roof layout
- Structural evaluation of roof framing to support solar panel loads and attachment systems
- Title 24 energy modeling using the latest EnergyPro, with multiple compliance options for equipment, building envelope, and solar performance
Key Challenges & Solutions
Designing a 36-unit multifamily project with integrated solar required close coordination between structural, electrical, and architectural systems. Roof layouts had to accommodate solar panels while maintaining proper equipment spacing, structural support, and long-term building performance. Because the project consists of four identical buildings, S3DA optimized the design process by coordinating one repeatable engineering solution across all structures, improving efficiency and reducing redundant work. By combining structural, MEP, and solar design under one team, S3DA minimized clashes between rooftop equipment, solar arrays, and structural framing while supporting California energy compliance goals.
The Result
The result was a coordinated engineering package that combined structural integrity, high-performing building systems, solar readiness, and Title 24 compliance under one roof. S3DA’s integrated approach helped simplify coordination, improve energy efficiency, and support a smoother permitting process for the owner and design team. S3DA’s company profile highlights this single-source responsibility model as a major advantage for reducing conflicts, meeting budgets, and delivering projects more efficiently.
