Structural Engineering at Howard Stein Hudson

March 05, 2024

Our structural engineering team is ready to design, repair, and rehabilitate your bridges, culverts, and walls. HSH’s structural engineers provide statewide design and construction services for our public and private clients. 

No job is too big or too small for our engineers. They understand that even the smallest repair can provide large benefits for the community. Our team is ready to collaborate with you and deliver innovative solutions.

HSH’s Structural Engineering group specializes in bridge design, rehabilitation, and preservation, and is pre-qualified with MassDOT. Structures can range from small culverts to multiple-span bridges that carry vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. HSH can provide clients with a range of feasible solutions and formal recommendations for their small, medium, or large projects. Our team implements projects from conceptual design through final design and construction.

Our Structural Engineering services include:

  • Bridges and Culvert Design,
  • Retaining Walls,
  • Sign/Traffic Signal Foundations, and
  • Miscellaneous Structural Items.

 

Meet Our Experts

Paul Berthiaume, P.E.,
Associate Principal,
Manager of Structural Engineering

Paul has over 17 years of experience, primarily in bridge and culvert design, rehabilitation, rating, and construction services administration. He has experience managing multi-discipline projects from concept level and preliminary design through final design and construction. He has extensive experience with complete bridge replacements, superstructure replace-ments, deck replacements, truss rehabilitation, stone masonry structures, and concrete substructure rehabilitation, as well as scour repair projects. Paul reports to our Boston office weekly, but also travels to our Bridgewater, Chelmsford, and Worcester offices (and beyond) to meet with clients and staff as needs arise.

Colin Costello, P.E.
Senior Structural Engineer

Colin is a Professional Engineer with experience in both civil/structural design and construction fields. His experience includes bridge design and load ratings following MassDOT standards, construction services administration, construction cost estimating, construction management, and on-site practical experience. Colin has worked on several projects including bridge rehabilitation, replacements, and field investigations including concrete and steel repairs. Colin’s previous contractor experience assists our group in making constructability decisions on our projects.

Angela M. DeFrancesco, P.E. 
Senior Structural Engineer

Angela is a Professional Engineer with experience in all areas of Bridge Design and Construction Services. She works closely with Project Managers to create work plans and coordinates successful completion of the work. Angela’s experience includes: multi-span, curved, and heavily skewed structures for vehicular and pedestrian bridges. She has experience with both conventional bridge construction and accelerated bridge construction techniques for bridges crossing over roadways, waterways, and railroads. Angela has worked on many projects throughout her career including both design/bid/build and design/build procurement methods.

Robert Gibson, E.I.T.
Structural Designer

Bob is a Structural Designer and performs structural design calculations, drafting details and plan sets for bridge design and rehabilitation projects. He has designed both vehicular and pedestrian bridges as well as retaining walls. Bob has experience completing bridge load ratings and on-site construction inspection to ensure compliance to contract documents. He also has worked as a surveyor and roadway designer, and has working knowledge of various software packages.

Adam DeCotis
Staff Structural Designer

Adam is a Staff Structural Designer and performs structural design calculations, drafting details and plan sets for bridge design and rehabilitation projects. He writes technical structural reports including MassDOT’s Preliminary Structure Reports, Bridge Type Selection Worksheets, and Preservation Reports. Prior to joining HSH, Adam worked as a Civil Engineering Intern with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) where he managed construction crews, ensuring adherence to RIDOT standards, oversaw road and bridge construction projects, and evaluated if safe traffic control practices were being implemented.