Chris O’Hara

A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Chris brings the same focus, determination, and respect for the natural world to his work that he does to the mountains. With years of experience mountaineering and rock climbing across the United States, Chris has developed a deep appreciation for natural systems, balance, and resilience—values that influence his approach to structural design. His time in challenging alpine environments has honed not only his problem-solving skills under pressure but also his commitment to thoughtful, sustainable design.
Chris is self-driven, conscientious, and detail-oriented and has a strong foundation in both design and field experience. A 2008 graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Chris began his career in New England, spending a decade in Boston serving as project manager and designer for a mid-sized engineering firm.

Over the course of his career, Chris has developed deep expertise across a range of structural systems and building types. He is well-versed in the International Building Code (IBC), ASCE 7, AWS, NDS, ACI, AISC, and numerous other design standards, applying them rigorously to ensure safe, efficient, and code-compliant structures. Chris’s portfolio includes wood-framed residential projects, historic restoration work, and large-scale municipal buildings such as schools and hospitals. He also brings extensive experience as a delegated designer, working on specialized systems involving light gauge metal framing, precast and prestressed concrete, aluminum structures, and other non-building structural applications. Whether working on preservation or innovation, Chris brings a proactive mindset and a meticulous attention to detail to every project he undertakes. His New England roots and hands-on experience give him a practical yet forward-thinking approach to engineering challenges.