Public engineering firm profile
San Francisco, CA
Leading Structural and Geotechnical Engineering in CA
Rutherford + Chekene (R+C) is a California structural and geotechnical engineering practice founded in 1960 by John Rutherford and Constantine Chekene in San Francisco. The approximately 50-person organization provides structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, and building systems engineering primarily in California. It is known for complex seismic engineering, base isolation systems, historic preservation, and complex institutional projects including hospitals, university buildings, courthouses, science and research facilities, airports, and cultural institutions. Representative completed projects include the de Young Museum, San Francisco Ferry Building renovation, Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Replacement Hospital, Pixar Animation Studios Steve Jobs Building, Stanford University Main Quad renovations, UC Davis Health 48X Complex, and San Francisco International Airport Harvey Milk Terminal 1. R+C is headquartered in San Francisco with a second office in Sacramento.
Design of new structures and seismic retrofits for complex institutional, healthcare, cultural, and research buildings, featuring advanced analytical and material innovations.
Supports geotechnical engineering work documented by R+C
Supports building systems engineering work documented by R+C
2005 | San Francisco, CA | Arts & Culture
Structural and geotechnical engineer for the base-isolated museum designed by Herzog & de Meuron in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. SEAOC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Excellence.
View project source2011 | Burlingame, CA | Sutter Health | Healthcare
First base isolated hospital in Northern California using sliding friction pendulum bearings (171 bearings). 441,000 sf, six-story steel brace-framed structure designed for immediate occupancy after major seismic event.
View project source2001 | Emeryville, CA | Pixar Animation Studios | Commercial
220,000 sf building with base isolation system for 48-hour post-seismic resumption of operations. Structural engineering for exposed steel system.
View project source2003 | San Francisco, CA | Historic Preservation
Structural engineering for renovation of the historic 1896 Ferry Building. California Preservation Foundation Design Award and ASCE Outstanding Civil Engineering Project Award.
View project sourceStanford, CA | Stanford University | Historic Preservation
Structural and geotechnical engineer for multiple seismic safety reconstructions of historic Main Quad buildings spanning 1975-1990s. 1982 AIA Award of Merit for Excellence in Concrete Construction.
View project sourceSacramento, CA | UC Davis Health | Healthcare
Structural engineering for the multi-story ambulatory care surgery center complex.
View project sourceSan Francisco, CA | Airports
Structural engineering for the terminal boarding area, honored as the 2024 Concrete Innovations Winner.
View project sourcePalo Alto, CA | Stanford University | Healthcare
Structural engineering for the state-of-the-art hospital facility.
View project sourceMoffett Field, CA | USGS / NASA | Research Facilities
Structural and geotechnical engineering for the research facility.
View project source1984 | Monterey, CA | Arts & Culture
Structural and geotechnical engineering for the renovation and expansion of the historic cannery facility into a world-class aquarium, featuring reinforced concrete tanks and a seawater filtration system.
View project source2003 | Berkeley, CA | UC Berkeley | Historic Preservation
Structural and geotechnical engineering of record for a major renovation of the historic 1907 building. The project installed base isolation and dampers while supporting the building on concrete-filled, steel-cased drilled piers to preserve its historic character.
View project sourceSan Francisco, CA | San Francisco State University | Affordable Housing
Structural engineering for a student housing development providing over 700 beds of affordable housing and a student health center.
View project sourceRohnert Park, CA | Sonoma State University | Education
Structural engineering for the comprehensive renovation of Stevenson Hall, earning three prestigious industry awards.
View project sourceChico, CA | California State University, Chico | Laboratories
Structural engineering for a 29,600 sf, two-story facility housing advanced forensic anthropology and archaeology laboratories, secure analysis areas, and classroom spaces.
View project sourceSan Francisco, CA | UC San Francisco | Healthcare
Structural engineering for the state-of-the-art medical building, recognized with an ENR Best Projects Award.
View project sourceSanta Cruz, CA | UC Santa Cruz | Education
Structural engineering for the transformative campus renewal project featuring innovative mass timber design.
View project sourceCEO / President
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Chief Financial Officer
Principal | Director of Business Development
Principal Geotechnical Engineer
Ph.D., GE
Principal geotechnical engineer at R+C since 1999.
Executive Principal
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Executive Principal
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Executive Principal
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Leads the Building Systems Engineering department; worked alongside Wayne Wong for 20 years to grow the nonstructural department.
Executive Principal
SE, LEED AP
Principal
SE, LEED AP
Principal
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Principal
GE
Principal Structural Engineer
SE
Founded the Building Systems Engineering department in 1993, recognizing a gap in nonstructural seismic bracing design.