Grounded in the discipline of structural engineering, Rupa Garai is known for unifying design, technical, and managerial expertise to deliver innovative solutions to complex structural and seismic challenges. She rigorously pursues outcomes that benefit her clients, enabling seamless integration of advanced engineering principles with architectural design. Whether addressing the complexities of tall buildings, seismic retrofits, or renovation projects, Rupa excels in innovative problem-solving and delivering impactful engineering solutions. Her work encompasses a wide range of project types including airports, courthouses, laboratories, educational facilities, residential complexes, and mixed-use towers. Working across the globe—in the United States, China, India, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia—Rupa has developed a sophisticated understanding of the unique challenges and construction methodologies specific to many different countries and regions.
Today’s built environment demands resilient solutions. I take pride in collaborating with clients worldwide to develop research-based structural applications that endure, inspire, and are thoughtfully tailored to diverse cultural contexts and construction methodologies across global markets.
A dedicated researcher, Rupa has published more than 50 technical papers, participated in forensic engineering investigations following major earthquakes in Mexico and Turkey, and led the engineering of the Pin-Fuse Joint—a patented technology that enhances the structural resilience of buildings during seismic events.
In addition to project and research work, Rupa actively contributes to multiple committees focused on code development, structural engineering licensure exam development, research, structural peer review, and more. Her ongoing commitments include work with the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), and other committees in the United States.
Rupa began her career in India as a civil engineer before relocating to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in structural engineering at Stanford, where she has also shared her expertise teaching collaborative design studios.
