From large industrial facilities to complex structural renovations, Andrew Wilson, PE, SE, has built his career on tackling the kinds of engineering challenges that require both creativity and technical precision. Based in RPA Engineering’s Pittsburgh office, he leads structural projects throughout Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, bringing experience with large-span structures, heavy industrial buildings, and existing facility upgrades to clients across the region.
Structural engineering has always been more than a career for Andrew Wilson, PE, SE. It’s a discipline that has been part of his life from the beginning. Inspired by his father, a bridge designer who spent his career writing bridge design and inspection manuals, Andrew developed an early fascination with how structures work and how they withstand the forces placed on them. That curiosity grew into a profession focused on solving complex structural challenges and designing systems that are both strong and efficient.
Throughout his career, Andrew has been drawn to projects that push the limits of conventional design. Large, complex structures, particularly aircraft hangars and heavy industrial facilities, have played a significant role in shaping his experience as an engineer. Designing aircraft hangars necessitates unique structural systems, specialized foundations, demanding wind-load criteria, and complex steel connection design. These projects require careful coordination through both design and construction, helping him develop the technical depth and problem-solving approach that defines his work today.
His current experience spans a wide range of structural systems, from heavy industrial buildings and large-span structures to commercial and office facilities. Much of his work focuses on evaluating, upgrading, and expanding existing buildings, where creative solutions and a strong understanding of structural behavior are critical. He has also tackled projects in high seismic and hurricane-prone regions and collaborated on large-scale commissioned artwork installations, each presenting its own unique engineering challenges.
I see strong structural design as planning not just for today, but for how a building may be used in the future. I’m naturally drawn to projects that challenge me and allow me to explore different creative solutions…Each project teaches me something new and reinforces my passion for structural engineering.
For Andrew, structural engineering is about understanding how every component contributes to the performance of the whole. He approaches structural engineering by looking at each element individually, carefully considering how it contributes to the strength and resilience of the overall structure in order to develop solutions that are safe, constructable, and adaptable to the specific needs of the client and the facility. This thoughtful, detail-driven approach allows him to deliver designs that not only meet technical requirements but also support the long-term success of the project.
Based in RPA Engineering’s Pittsburgh office, Andrew leads structural engineering projects throughout Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. His experience with complex industrial facilities, renovations of existing structures, and large-span building systems makes him a valuable resource for clients in the region’s manufacturing, industrial, commercial, and institutional markets. By combining technical expertise with local presence, he helps ensure responsive service, practical design solutions, and strong coordination with regional contractors and project teams.
