Andrew Van Straaten, PE
Project Manager/The Calm Consultant

What do ice hockey, surfing, and structural engineering have in common? For Andrew, it’s all about precision, balance, and the thrill of the challenge. Whether he’s navigating a complex seismic retrofit, designing a multi-unit residential project, or catching the perfect wave, he’s always focused on finding the smartest solution.

With experience on over 100 projects, Andrew has worked on everything from tilt-ups to ground-up builds. His favorite part of the job? Solving new problems and seeing a project go from numbers on a page to a finished structure. His best advice? Draw to scale. The details will save you.

When he’s not engineering, Andrew is hitting the ice, climbing rocks, or planning his next big meal. Travel isn’t just about the destination—it’s about finding the best food along the way. His ultimate last meal? A Peruvian Tres Leches.

Favorite Book:

Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Favorite Food:

His wife’s Lomo Saltado

BS Structural Engineering

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)