Structural Engineering in Massachusetts, without the complexity.
Third Rock Engineering provides practical structural engineering for homeowners, contractors, and industrial clients across MetroWest Boston.
With over 20 years of field and design experience, our work is grounded in real-world conditions and shaped by constructability, permitting realities, and budget. You get direct access to a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) on every project.
Free Initial Consultation
A short phone call to discuss your project. No cost, no obligation.
Structural Engineering Services We Offer
permitting.
Load-bearing wall removals, foundation design, and deck framing. We assess existing framing, load paths, and site constraints before calculations begin. Drawings are stamped and prepared to your town’s specific submission requirements.
Equipment foundations, mezzanines, catwalks, and crane support structures for industrial and commercial facilities. We evaluate existing structural systems and operational loads before designing, so what we produce works in the field. We also work on aging facility assessments and EV charging infrastructure integration.
Vulnerability assessments, bollards, reinforced entry points, and vehicle standoff design. Security is engineered into the structure from the start, structurally sound, code-compliant, and integrated with site flow.
Permit-Ready Engineering Drawings
Professional Engineer (P.E) stamped drawings to meet Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR) and local building department requirements across our service area.
Emergency and Short-Notice Consultations
When a project cannot wait, we make time. Call 617-507-9776 to discuss availability.
What Sets Our Engineering Firm Apart
Six reasons Third Rock is different, starting with who actually works on your project.
Direct Senior Access
A licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) leads every project. You receive professional insight on the first call rather than navigating through multiple layers of junior staff.
Practical, Buildable Designs
Engineered to real site conditions; existing framing, soil, load paths, and local constraints, and not theoretical minimums that create problems during construction.
Transparent Pricing and Written Contracts
Every project starts with a written Engineering Services Agreement. Scope, deliverables, fees, and timeline are defined before work begins. No surprises mid-project, no open-ended billing.
Massachusetts Code and Permitting Knowledge
Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), local amendments, and building department expectations across MetroWest. We prepare submissions to meet local requirements from the first pass.
Permit-Ready Deliverables
Professional Engineer (P.E.) stamped drawings specific to your project needs, not generic documents reformatted at the last minute.
Emergency Availability
Short-notice consultations are available when your schedule doesn’t allow for a standard timeline.
About
Meet Andrew Hruby, P.E.
Andrew J. Hruby, P.E., founded Third Rock Engineering after 20+ years of field and design experience across residential, industrial, and security projects in Massachusetts. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and carries professional liability (Errors & Omissions) insurance. When you work with Third Rock, you work directly with Andrew from site visit through permitting, which means faster answers, practical solutions, and no surprises mid-project.
From First Call to Stamped Drawings
Four steps from initial conversation to permit-ready deliverables.
Free Initial Call
Call 617-507-9776 or fill out the request form. We respond within one business day. Send photos or existing plans if you have them.
On-Site Consultation
We’ll schedule a date and time and spend one hour on-site reviewing your structure with you. You walk away with real direction, not a vague follow-up email.
Written Proposal & Agreement
If your project needs engineering documents, we outline scope, deliverables, estimated hours, and timeline in a written Engineering Services Agreement. Work begins once it’s signed.
Engineering & Deliverables
P.E.-stamped drawings, structural calculations, and reports built to your specific town’s submission requirements. Permit-ready from the first pass.
Permitting Support
Building department comments are a normal part of any permitted project. We review them, respond, and revise as part of the engagement, with scope and fees defined upfront in the Engineering Services Agreement.
What Clients Say
Real projects. Real outcomes.
From sagging 1920s floors to six-figure platform redesigns that came in at half the estimate.
Commercial clients include:
Service Area
MetroWest & the Blackstone Valley.
Based in Hopkinton, Third Rock Engineering provides structural and civil services across the region. We regularly partner with homeowners and contractors in communities such as Framingham, Newton, Natick, Weston, Wellesley, and Franklin, along with over 30 other towns throughout MetroWest and the Blackstone Valley.
Don't see your town? We serve 37 communities across MetroWest and the Blackstone Valley. View the full service area →
On-Site Consultation with a Licensed P.E.
One hour on-site with a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). We evaluate existing framing, foundation, and site conditions in person, give you engineering insight on feasibility and code, and leave you with a defined plan. Flat fee, payable prior to the visit.
- Project conversation: goals, scope, timeline
- On-site evaluation of existing conditions
- Professional engineering insight on feasibility and code
- Defined next steps and deliverable options
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need stamped drawings in Massachusetts?
For most structural changes in Massachusetts, yes. Wall removals, additions, decks, and foundation work typically require P.E.-stamped plans under Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR). Most Massachusetts building departments enforce this. If you’re unsure whether your project requires stamped drawings, a quick call can tell you.
When should I bring in an engineer?
During planning, before contractors are scheduled. Late engineering creates redesigns, permit delays, and change orders that cost more than the engineering would have.
How long does a residential project take?
Most complete within two to three weeks. Complex scopes or multi-party coordination may take longer. We put the timeline in the proposal.
Do you handle building department comments?
Yes. Review comments and revision requests are part of the engagement, not a separate charge.
