how we got started

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In the spring of 2020, engineering firms of all sizes were faced with one huge question: How will they deliver projects in the midst of imposed lockdowns during a global pandemic?

The answer: Just fine.

If one thing was learned coming out of the Covid-19 crisis it was that professionals could be counted on to get the job done regardless of the working conditions. Throughout 2020, engineering professionals stood-up (or rather, sat-down) at their kitchen tables and conducted business as usual. Many actually recognized an increase in efficiency (due to the elimination of the daily commute) and improved quality of life along the way.

This opens up an entirely new business model. If professionals can network and work remotely without affecting budget or schedule during a pandemic, why can’t they continue to operate that way? Doing so eliminates the significant overhead costs associated with having a traditional “bricks and mortar” shop. Analysis shows that, assuming the engineer has paid off their kitchen table, the cost savings can be on the order of 25%-35%, all passed on directly to the client!

An average of a 30% discount is enticing, but do I really want to save money on engineering costs? Wouldn’t a large firm provide better service?

The answer is that an organization is simply the sum of its people. Although good organizations have a knack for getting the most out of their people, there is nothing inherently magic about an organization.

A simple sports analogy can illustrate this.

A sports team is not successful because of the uniforms they wear. It is the players that wear those uniforms that win games. Suppose a hypothetical team won the league championship last year on the strength of their key, star players. If, during the off-season, those star players went to other teams, would the defending champions automatically repeat? Or would the new teams which those star players now play for become more competitive?

The fact is that the people at Sorrell Engineering have been doing the work for years. They’ve just been doing it behind-the-scenes, with a different name on their business card. You could say they were the star players, they just now play for a new team.

I get your point, but I’m still wary of a small firm. Can they get the job done?

As a Marine Corps veteran, the owner and founder of Sorrell Engineering is familiar with the Marine Corps leadership principles, one of which is, “Employ your command in-line with its capabilities.” Simply put, it means not to stretch yourself too thin. If you plan to construct a new tower to rival the Burj Khalifa and you need bid ready plans in 6 weeks – Sorrell Engineering is probably not the right fit for you.

But you would be amazed at what they can do on small and medium sized projects, or even on parsed-out tasks of a larger one. After the initial consult, all clients will be given a realistic schedule and budget. If they decide they want to proceed, Sorrell Engineering will do everything humanly possible (you are dealing with a Marine Corps veteran remember) to deliver the project within those constraints. Sorrell Engineering  has also developed a network of freelancing professionals who can be put together on an ad-hoc basis to perform job specific analyses. This allows them to expand and contract as needed for a project, without needing to “carry” additional overhead.

I’m interested, so what type of work does Sorrell Engineering do?

Our founder has 20-years of experience in the heavy civil construction industry, primarily dams and tunnels, but also has plenty of experience with bridge and building construction too.  Visit the Owner's Bio page to learn more.   Sorrell Engineering has reviewed shop drawings for a small culvert under a rural town road, been the lead structural engineer on the $1b tunnel carrying 80% of New York City's drinking water under the Hudson River, and everything in between.

The primary focus is on structural design, particularly of reinforced concrete structures such as walls, abutments, piers, and vaults, but along the way, we have performed multi-disciplinary designs in the fields of hydraulic, hydrologic, geotechnical, mechanical and electrical engineering as well.   Click here for some of our selected experience.

With a diverse portfolio of experience, a reputation for practical designs, a history of merging old-school engineering principles with the latest technology and ideas, a flexible business model, the ability to adapt to specific projects, and a can-do attitude, Sorrell Engineering is the solution for your engineering needs.