About Dunbar

Delivering Excellence Without Excess

Dunbar is a consulting structural engineering firm known for bringing clients an elusive combination of a progressive spirit and the thoughtfulness, thoroughness and wide-ranging expertise that only an experienced firm committed to excellence can offer.

Always people-focused, we have clients, not projects. And it’s this mindset that continually drives us to do right by them.

We’re guided by a set of values that support our commitment to always put people first:

Undivided Attention
We treat every client like they are our only client.

Radical Responsiveness
We address every need and solve every challenge the moment it arises.

Active Allies
We stand and speak up for you, your company and your project.

Responsible Stewardship
We think and act judiciously in everything we do.

Progressive Perspective
We recommend solutions today that ensure our clients and end users are primed for the future.

Yes Attitude
We bring the “can-do” mindset and technical expertise to make our clients’ most ambitious visions a reality.

Our Firm

Founded in 1966, we’ve grown into a substantial firm dedicated solely to structural engineering. Our clients include architects, government institutions and agencies, engineering firms, contractors and industrial and manufacturing companies. Today we have 30+ employees, including 23 Registered Professional Engineers and five graduate engineers (EITs) across two full-service offices in Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia. Dunbar is certified in Virginia as a small business (SWaM). The firm is registered in these states:

Our Specialties

Dunbar offers a range of structural engineering services, including:

Because our clients come from diverse sectors, we’ve built a broad knowledge base and expertise in structural engineering for:

We have experience with many structure types, including wood, steel, reinforced masonry, and cast-in-place and precast concrete, and foundation types ranging from steel, concrete and wood piles to caissons, floating mats and standard spread footings.

Our far-reaching experience enables us to clearly understand our clients’ larger context, uncovering potential challenges before they become problems and future-proofing projects so that desired changes are possible.

This thoughtful and thorough approach saves our clients money and headaches, maintains their timelines and keeps them in compliance.

My experience with Dunbar and its staff over the past five decades has been of the highest caliber and integrity.

Roger D. Richardson, AIA Quinn Evans

Have Ambitious Project Plans?

Let’s talk about how our thoughtful and thorough approach and 50+ years of excellence can make your vision a reality.

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