Planning
Things to Settle Before You Start a Building Design
Land papers, the approving authority, a survey, a soil test, the final number of floors, a brief, and a budget. Settling these early saves redesign, delay, and money later.
Integrated Structural Optimization· Gazipur & Mymensingh
Sound structures, clearly engineered.
Structural design, assessment, testing, and approvals from one engineering team, from the soil under the plot to the approval on the file.
Reference image · Unsplash · Not an ISO project
From drawing board to site
The practice
A building is more than a set of plans.
Integrated Structural Optimization (ISO) brings planning, structural engineering, and site evidence into the same conversation, so the brief, the structure, and the approval stay connected.
One coordinated team
Survey, planning, structure, and approvals are handled together, so fewer decisions need to be undone later.
Grounded in Bangladesh
Design that responds to monsoon rain, heat, dense urban plots, and local construction practice.
Technical clarity
Clear drawings and reasoning that owners, contractors, and approving authorities can follow.
Design · Assess · Deliver
One engineering team, from plot to approval.
New buildings, existing buildings, and everything between the drawing board and the site, handled by people who talk to each other.
Reference photography from Unsplash, used for illustration.
Where to start
Start from your situation.
Not sure which service you need? Find the description closest to your project. We confirm the right scope after a short conversation.
Building on your own plot
A house or a family building, from checking the land to an approved, buildable design.
Developing apartments or commercial space
Multi-storey buildings where the structure, the budget, and the approval have to hold together.
Running a factory or industrial building
Steel sheds and RCC factory buildings, and evidence that existing ones are safe for their loads.
Changing an existing building
Adding floors, changing the use, or dealing with cracks, starting from what the structure can carry.
Services
All servicesThe right expertise for each stage of the project.
Engage one discipline or the full team. Each service is scoped to the project, from early feasibility to construction-stage support.
01Structural EngineeringStructural Design (Steel & RCC)Analysis and design of reinforced concrete and steel structures, from foundation to roof, documented for approval and construction.View details 02ArchitectureArchitectural PlanningSite plans, floor plans, elevations, and sections that turn a brief into a buildable building that complies with the rules.View details 03AssessmentDetailed Engineering Assessment (DEA)Structural safety assessment of existing buildings, combining an as-built survey, material testing, and analysis.View details 04GeotechnicalSoil Investigation & Foundation AnalysisBoreholes, standard penetration tests, and laboratory soil tests turned into clear foundation recommendations.View details 05DeliveryConstruction ManagementSite supervision, quality control, and progress tracking, so the building is built as designed, on a realistic schedule and budget.View details 06ApprovalsRAJUK, GAUK & Paurashava ApprovalPreparing, submitting, and following up building plan applications with RAJUK, GAUK, and Paurashava authorities.View details
How we work
From first brief to finished building.
Every engagement is scoped to the project. On full building commissions, these stages keep design and technical decisions in step.
- Stage 01
Brief & site
Understand goals, budget, site conditions, and how the spaces need to work.
- Stage 02
Concept direction
Set the architectural idea and the priorities that will guide later decisions.
- Stage 03
Coordinated design
Develop the plan and the structure together, resolving clashes early.
- Stage 04
Documentation
Prepare drawings and specifications for approval, tender, and construction.
- Stage 05
Site support
Answer questions and review work on site so the design is built as intended.
Insights
All insightsPractical guidance for clearer project decisions.
Plain explanations of soil reports, approvals, structural choices, and existing buildings, written for owners in Bangladesh.
Soil & Foundations
Soil Testing Before You Build: What the Report Tells Your Engineer
A soil investigation measures the ground your building will stand on. Here is what the field work involves, how to read the report, and the mistakes that lead to foundation problems.
Assessment & Retrofitting
Adding Floors to an Existing Building: What Has to Be Checked First
Before another floor goes on, the foundation, columns, and materials of the existing building have to be checked against the new loads. Here is how that check works and what it can conclude.
FAQ
Ask a questionAnswers for early-stage questions.
Clear guidance helps owners and developers make informed decisions before a project moves into detailed design.
What information is needed before starting a building design?
The essentials are the land documents (deed, mutation, and khatian), a land survey of the plot, a soil investigation report for multi-storey buildings, and a clear brief: the use of the building, the number of floors now and in the future, and an approximate budget. If you do not have a survey or soil report yet, we can arrange both as the first step.
Do architectural and structural design need to be coordinated?
Yes. Column positions, beam depths, stair and lift cores, and openings affect both the plan and the structure. When they are designed separately, columns end up in the middle of rooms or beams cut across windows. Planning both together from the start avoids these conflicts and usually saves material as well.
Can an existing building be altered or extended?
Often, yes, but it has to be checked first. We review the existing drawings, survey the building, and test the materials where needed to find out what the structure can carry. The alteration or extension is then designed around that capacity, with strengthening where it is required.
Should my building be RCC or steel?
Most residential and commercial buildings in Bangladesh are built in RCC, because materials and skilled labour are widely available and it performs well against fire and moisture. Steel is usually the better choice for factories, warehouses, and long-span roofs, where speed of construction and column-free space matter. For mixed cases, we compare both options on cost, construction time, and practicality before recommending one.
Do I need a soil test before structural design?
For any multi-storey building, yes. The foundation type, depth, and size depend on the strength of the soil and the groundwater level, and these vary greatly from plot to plot in Bangladesh. Designing without soil data means either guessing, which is risky, or over-designing to be safe, which is expensive.
The next step
Start with the brief.
Tell us what you are planning. We can discuss which design and engineering support will be useful for the next step.