the sw Team
Erik Anders Nelson, PE
Engineer
Erik has been working in the engineering and construction industry since 1996 and started Structures Workshop in 2008. He has helped design over 1000 structures ranging in scale from small houses to baseball stadiums and high rises. Erik was the President of the Structural Engineers Association of Rhode Island (SEARI) 2015-19.
Erik had been an adjunct professor for 13 years within the Architecture Department at the Rhode Island School of Design - typically one class per semester. He also taught engineering courses over 5 years at University of Massachusetts and MIT.
Adriano Goncalves
Engineer
Adriano received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Jean Piaget University in Cape Verde in 2011, and a M.S. degree In Structures from Porto University in Portugal in 2014. He started his carrier in construction industry and later designed of residential and commercial buildings in concrete and steel. He worked as Assistant Professor at Cape Verde University for 5 years and moved to the US in 2022.
He spends his free time playing soccer, running 10k’s, practicing athletics, and swimming.
Ali Yildirim
Engineer
Ali earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey in 2002, and his Master’s degree in Earthquake Engineering from Istanbul Technical University in 2006.
He worked as a Structural Engineer in Istanbul for 13 years before moving to the US in 2015. He has experience with steel and concrete building design and has worked on many residential and commercial building projects. He is interested in steel connections and seismic design of structures.
In his free time Ali enjoys playing the guitar, watching soccer and basketball, and traveling.
Sanaa Nelson
Accounting and HR
Sanaa helps with QB accounting/invoicing/book keeping and HR (insurance/etc) and helps us all keep things on track! Sanaa hails from Morocco.
Our OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS
Eric Donahoe, PE
Consultant to SW
Eric received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Eric began his engineering career at Structures Workshop shortly after graduation in 2011, where he worked for over 4 years. In that time he'd fostered an interest in designing with steel, wood, and glass. He moved to New York City 2016, where he worked on interior fit-out projects, facade and other large-scale renovations, then eventually on high-rise residential buildings. He returned to Structures Workshop in 2021 and worked here through early 2025.
He recently started his own firm, Tower House, a full service structural engineering firm. SW highly recommends Architects to connect with Eric and with this new firm. Starting February 2025, we continue to work together, now as outside consultants.
Ethan Pierce Tirrell
Consultant to SW
Ethan has been professionally active in the construction industry since 2006. From 2006 to 2010, Ethan worked as a carpenter in high-end remodeling and renovations. In 2010, Ethan started his structural engineering career here at Structures Workshop and worked here for 14 years (2010-2022 FT, 2022-2024 PT). Ethan is an experienced structural engineer and effective team leader. In his time at Structures Workshop, Ethan has contributed on over 400 projects and boasts a diverse work portfolio that includes design of miscellaneous metals, steel connections, and residential and commercial buildings.
In 2017, Ethan designed and built a house in Rehoboth, MA, where he currently resides.
He has started his own firm, Bernard Pierce, which is a design-build company. SW highly recommends his company for this work. Starting November 2024, we continue to work together, now as outside consultants.