# Cefali & Associates, Inc.

> Structural engineering for deep excavations, earth retention, temporary shoring, retaining walls, and specialty foundations.

Cefali & Associates is a specialty structural engineering firm founded in 1994. The firm designs temporary shoring, support of excavation, permanent earth retention, retaining walls, and specialty foundations such as micropiles and underpinning for developers, owners, architects, and contractors. Offices: Southern California: 4344 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 3, Los Angeles, CA 91604; Northern California: 2800 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 225, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523; Utah: 5513 W 11000 N, Suite 168, Highland, UT 84003. Project inquiries: engineering@cefali.com, +1 818.752.1812.

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## Company

- [About Cefali & Associates](https://cefali.com/about/): Firm history, team, and approach to specialty structural engineering.
- [Contact and project inquiries](https://cefali.com/contact/): Office locations and how to start a project inquiry.

## Services

- [Shoring and Support of Excavation Design](https://cefali.com/services/earth-retention-systems/): Shoring design and engineering for temporary excavation support and permanent earth retention beside buildings, tunnels, and tight property boundaries.
- [Temporary Shoring Design](https://cefali.com/services/temporary-shoring-design/): Temporary excavation shoring design services for basements and foundations: bid concepts, structural drawings and calculations, and engineering for changed conditions.
- [Soldier Pile Shoring](https://cefali.com/services/soldier-pile-shoring/): Soldier pile shoring design for cantilever, tieback, raker-braced, and internally braced excavations on constrained sites.
- [Tieback Shoring](https://cefali.com/services/tieback-shoring/): Tieback shoring design for deep excavations where property rights, utilities, nearby foundations, or transit infrastructure constrain anchor layouts.
- [Soil Nail Walls](https://cefali.com/services/soil-nail-walls/): Soil nail wall design for staged excavation and retaining conditions where ground conditions, property limits, and construction access affect nail geometry.
- [Micropiles](https://cefali.com/services/micropiles/): Micropile foundation engineering for restricted access, existing structures, underpinning, and other specialty foundation conditions.
- [Underpinning](https://cefali.com/services/underpinning/): Underpinning design for existing structures affected by nearby excavation, foundation work, or staged load transfer.
- [Slope Stabilization](https://cefali.com/services/slope-stabilization/): Slope stabilization structural engineering for hillside sites where geotechnical findings, drainage, property limits, and access shape the support system.
- [Retaining Walls](https://cefali.com/services/retaining-walls/): Retaining wall engineering for permanent earth support, hillside sites, foundation interfaces, and construction-stage excavation.
- [Structural Peer Review](https://cefali.com/services/structural-peer-review/): Structural peer review and technical input for defined design issues, calculations, details, and construction changes.

## Project experience

- [Wilshire Grand Center](https://cefali.com/projects/wilshire-grand-center/): Deep excavation and shoring at Wilshire Grand Center in Downtown Los Angeles, including phased demolition, tiebacks, rakers, Metro tunnel coordination, BIM, and instrumentation.
- [Lakeridge Slope Stabilization](https://cefali.com/projects/lakeridge-slope-stabilization/): Slope stabilization construction on a hillside above Hollywood Reservoir in Los Angeles.
- [Vista Monterey Soil Nails](https://cefali.com/projects/vista-monterey-soil-nails/): Soil nail and soldier pile retaining walls at Vista Monterey in Corona, including a 25-foot soil nail wall constrained by the property line.
- [Quintas Press Micropiles](https://cefali.com/projects/quintas-press-micropiles/): Micropile foundation construction inside an existing industrial building at Quintas Press.
- [Intuit Dome](https://cefali.com/projects/intuit-dome/): Temporary and permanent shoring at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, including a sunken court, below-grade construction, heavy equipment loads, tiebacks, and cross-lot bracing.
- [Metro BLOC Tunnel](https://cefali.com/projects/metro-bloc-tunnel/): Underground structural support for the Metro BLOC connection at 7th Street Station in Downtown Los Angeles, built beneath an active roadway and public stairway.
- [6th & Bixel](https://cefali.com/projects/6th-bixel/): Excavation support for the 6th & Bixel mixed-use project in Downtown Los Angeles, using soldier piles, tiebacks, and later-added walers as excavation conditions changed.
- [1201 S. Hope](https://cefali.com/projects/1201-s-hope/): Shoring redesign for the five-level garage at 1201 S. Hope in Downtown Los Angeles, including tieback coordination near Metro light rail at Pico Station.
- [BLVD 6200 North and South](https://cefali.com/projects/blvd-6200-north-and-south/): Deep excavation and shoring for BLVD 6200 North and South in Hollywood, including tiebacks, rakers, bulkheads, and close coordination with Metro structures.
- [Century Plaza](https://cefali.com/projects/century-plaza/): Deep excavation and shoring for the Century Plaza redevelopment in Century City, coordinated around the existing hotel, utilities, future Metro work, and tower foundations.
- [Columbia Square](https://cefali.com/projects/columbia-square/): Deep excavation and shoring for the Columbia Square redevelopment in Hollywood, using tiebacks, corner bracing, and rakers around historic structures and deep utilities.
- [TEN50](https://cefali.com/projects/ten50/): Shoring for the TEN50 retail and residential tower in Downtown Los Angeles, including tiebacks, corner bracing, utility coordination, and monitoring beside an existing brick building.
- [The Grand](https://cefali.com/projects/the-grand/): Shored excavation for The Grand in Downtown Los Angeles, coordinated around dipping bedrock, underground tunnels, existing retaining walls, and constrained tieback locations.
- [Thompson Hotel](https://cefali.com/projects/thompson-hotel/): Shoring for the Thompson Hotel in Hollywood, including tiebacks, corner bracing, rakers, continuous walers, and a construction-stage redesign when the excavation deepened.
- [West Hollywood Edition](https://cefali.com/projects/west-hollywood-edition/): Excavation support for the West Hollywood Edition at Sunset and Doheny, using soldier piles, tiebacks, corner bracing, and a local secant pile wall.
- [Westfield Century City](https://cefali.com/projects/westfield-century-city/): Excavation bracing for Westfield Century City, where existing four-level basement walls were retained and supported with strongbacks and tiebacks during redevelopment.
- [BUR](https://cefali.com/projects/bur/): Shored excavation for the Hollywood Burbank Airport replacement passenger terminal project, coordinated around foundations, utilities, grades, retaining walls, and airport construction packages.
- [LAX - Multiple Projects](https://cefali.com/projects/lax-multiple-projects/): Cefali & Associates work at LAX includes support of excavation, underpinning, building shoring, interim column support, approach pits, micropiles, and other specialty structural work.
- [Glendale Community College](https://cefali.com/projects/glendale-community-college/): Permanent shoring and foundation-excavation support for a terraced hillside science building at Glendale Community College.
- [G-8](https://cefali.com/projects/g-8/): Shoring for the G-8 mixed-use development in Downtown Los Angeles, using tied-back and raker-braced soldier piles beside historic buildings and an existing deep basement.
- [12th and Grand](https://cefali.com/projects/12th-and-grand/): Two-stage shoring for a Downtown Los Angeles excavation separated by a narrow alley, using tiebacks, rakers, and cross-alley tie rods.
- [Hoag Memorial Hospital](https://cefali.com/projects/hoag-memorial-hospital/): Cefali & Associates designed permanent tied-back shoring for a 50-foot retaining wall at Hoag Memorial Hospital.
- [755 Fig](https://cefali.com/projects/755-fig/): Deep excavation and shoring at 755 Fig in Downtown Los Angeles, including internal bracing, underpinning, and temporary access structures on a narrow constrained site.
- [USC Coliseum](https://cefali.com/projects/usc-coliseum/): Shoring during the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum renovation, coordinated around historic construction, existing tunnels, limited demolition, and field-level excavation.
- [Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing](https://cefali.com/projects/wallis-annenberg-wildlife-crossing/): Temporary earth shoring for early construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over US 101, supporting bridge and abutment work before later earthwork was complete.
- [8777 Washington Boulevard](https://cefali.com/projects/washington-8777/): Soldier pile and tieback shoring at 8777 Washington Boulevard in Culver City, an office development above three subterranean parking levels.
- [2919 Wilshire Boulevard](https://cefali.com/projects/wilshire-2919/): Cefali & Associates is identified as shoring engineer in the preliminary plans for 2919 and 2923 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica.

## Markets

- [Private Development Structural Engineering](https://cefali.com/markets/private-development/): Structural engineering for private development projects involving deep excavations, below-grade parking, and constrained urban sites.
- [Education Project Structural Engineering](https://cefali.com/markets/education/): Structural engineering support for education projects, campus improvements, and excavation or foundation conditions.
- [Healthcare Project Structural Engineering](https://cefali.com/markets/healthcare/): Structural engineering support for healthcare projects where construction constraints and existing facilities require careful coordination.
- [Transportation and Infrastructure Structural Engineering](https://cefali.com/markets/transportation-infrastructure/): Structural engineering for transportation and infrastructure projects involving tunnels, shafts, earth retention, and constrained access.
- [Hospitality Project Structural Engineering](https://cefali.com/markets/hospitality/): Structural engineering support for hospitality projects with below-grade construction, urban constraints, and excavation support needs.
- [Aviation Project Structural Engineering](https://cefali.com/markets/aviation/): Shoring, micropile, and underpinning engineering for airport work, including the Hollywood Burbank Airport replacement terminal and multiple LAX projects.
- [Sports and Entertainment Structural Engineering](https://cefali.com/markets/sports-entertainment/): Structural engineering support for sports, entertainment, museum, and venue projects with excavation and support challenges.
- [Specialty Foundations and Stabilization](https://cefali.com/markets/specialty-foundations/): Specialty foundation and stabilization engineering for micropiles, landslide remediation, soil nails, and difficult foundation conditions.

## Locations

- [Los Angeles Shoring and Excavation Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/los-angeles/): Cefali & Associates shoring and excavation work in Downtown Los Angeles, South Park, and other Los Angeles neighborhoods, with links to local project records.
- [Inglewood Shoring and Below-Grade Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/inglewood/): See Cefali & Associates shoring work at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, including below-grade construction, crane loads, tiebacks, and cross-lot bracing.
- [Glendale Retaining Wall and Shoring Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/glendale/): See Cefali & Associates permanent shoring and excavation support at Glendale Community College on a terraced hillside site.
- [Agoura Hills Temporary Shoring Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/agoura-hills/): Temporary earth shoring for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills.
- [Burbank Shoring and Excavation Support Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/burbank/): Shoring and tieback coordination for the Hollywood Burbank Airport replacement terminal parking structure.
- [Corona Retaining Wall and Soil Nail Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/corona/): Soil nail and soldier pile retaining wall engineering at Vista Monterey in Corona, California.
- [Newport Beach Retaining Wall Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/newport-beach/): Permanent tied-back retaining wall engineering at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.
- [West Hollywood Shoring Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/west-hollywood/): Soldier pile, tieback, and secant pile excavation support at the West Hollywood Edition on Sunset Boulevard.
- [Culver City Shoring Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/culver-city/): Cefali & Associates soldier pile and tieback shoring at 8777 Washington Boulevard in Culver City, an office development with subterranean parking.
- [Santa Monica Shoring Projects](https://cefali.com/locations/santa-monica/): Cefali & Associates is named as shoring engineer in the preliminary plans for 2919 and 2923 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica.

## Engineering guides

- [Do You Need a Shoring Engineer, Structural Engineer, or Geotechnical Engineer?](https://cefali.com/resources/shoring-engineer-structural-engineer-geotechnical-engineer/): See how ground investigation, building design, and excavation support fit together, and where a shoring or specialty foundation engineer can join your project team.
- [Requesting a Shoring or Specialty Foundation Engineering Proposal](https://cefali.com/resources/what-to-send-shoring-engineer-proposal/): Start an engineering inquiry with the plans and site information you have. Find out what helps define the work, the fee, and the support included in a proposal.
- [Temporary Shoring and Permanent Retaining Walls: Why a Project May Need Both](https://cefali.com/resources/temporary-shoring-vs-permanent-retaining-walls/): A finished retaining wall and the shoring needed to build it serve different purposes. Learn how the two designs affect excavation, bracing, access, and construction.
- [Micropiles, Caissons, and Helical Piles: Which Foundation Fits Your Site?](https://cefali.com/resources/micropiles-vs-caissons-vs-helical-piles/): Understand how loads, ground conditions, equipment access, and connections to the building affect the choice of micropiles, drilled caissons, or helical piles.
- [Los Angeles Hillside Foundations: Building on a Steep or Constrained Site](https://cefali.com/resources/hillside-specialty-foundation-engineering-los-angeles/): How slopes, retaining walls, nearby buildings, and equipment access shape hillside foundation design, with examples from Cefali & Associates projects.
- [Shoring Without Tiebacks: Rakers and Bracing Inside the Excavation](https://cefali.com/resources/tiebacks-restricted-rakers-internal-bracing/): When property rights or underground structures restrict tiebacks, rakers and internal bracing may provide support. See how the alternatives affect construction space.
- [Deep Excavation Near LA Metro: Shoring Beside Tunnels and Transit Facilities](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-metro-adjacent-excavation-shoring/): How nearby Metro tunnels, tieback limits, demolition, and construction access affect shoring for a Los Angeles basement, with the Wilshire Grand example.
- [Hospital Expansion Shoring in Orange County: Excavating Beside an Operating Hospital](https://cefali.com/resources/orange-county-hospital-expansion-shoring/): How an active hospital campus affects excavation support: existing utilities, neighboring buildings, service access, and construction of the new basement.
- [San Diego Basement Shoring: Geologic Maps, Site Conditions, and Nearby Foundations](https://cefali.com/resources/san-diego-geologic-hazard-maps-basement-shoring/): What San Diego hazard maps establish, and why basement depth, sloping grades, ground investigation, and nearby foundations still need site-specific review.
- [San Francisco Basement Excavation: Fitting Shoring, Sewers, and Access at the Street](https://cefali.com/resources/san-francisco-basement-shoring-sidewalk-utilities/): How shoring, sewer connections, sidewalk use, and construction access compete for space at the frontage of a San Francisco basement project.
- [San Jose Basement Shoring: Ground Conditions, Excavation Depth, and Geologic Review](https://cefali.com/resources/san-jose-geologic-clearance-shoring-design/): How changes in basement depth, ramps, and foundations affect San Jose excavation support, alongside site investigation and the City geologic review.
- [Sacramento Excavation Dewatering: Groundwater, Shoring, and the Discharge Route](https://cefali.com/resources/sacramento-construction-dewatering-shoring-scope/): How temporary water control relates to Sacramento excavation support, groundwater information, discharge permissions, and the permanent basement.
- [Dallas Retaining Walls Near Streets: The Excavation Needed to Build Them](https://cefali.com/resources/dallas-retaining-wall-right-of-way-temporary-shoring/): A Dallas retaining wall needs room for its foundation, drainage, and construction excavation. Learn how streets and easements affect that work.
- [Fort Worth Basement Shoring: Tiebacks, Bracing, and Limited Space](https://cefali.com/resources/fort-worth-below-grade-encroachment-shoring/): How tiebacks, internal bracing, ramps, and temporary foundations change the space needed to construct a Fort Worth basement.
- [Austin Excavation Shoring: Working Beside Streets and Sidewalks](https://cefali.com/resources/austin-shoring-street-excavation-license-agreement/): How underground support, utilities, and temporary street use affect Austin excavation shoring, including the difference between agreements and permits.
- [San Antonio Adaptive Reuse: Adding Below-Grade Space to an Existing Building](https://cefali.com/resources/san-antonio-adaptive-reuse-excavation-foundations/): Adding a basement or pit to an existing San Antonio building? See how foundations, retained structures, and equipment access shape the shoring design.
- [Houston Basement Excavation: How Groundwater Affects Shoring](https://cefali.com/resources/houston-construction-dewatering-shoring-coordination/): Groundwater affects shoring, water control, and basement construction. Understand how those designs connect on a Houston excavation.
- [El Paso Hillside Development: Retaining Walls and Foundation Excavation](https://cefali.com/resources/el-paso-sloping-site-grading-retaining-wall-shoring/): A hillside building pad needs room for retaining walls, foundation excavation, drainage, and equipment. See how those constraints affect an El Paso project.
- [Salt Lake City Basements: Liquefaction, Foundations, and Shoring](https://cefali.com/resources/salt-lake-city-basement-liquefaction-shoring/): A liquefaction finding can affect a Salt Lake City basement project. Understand what the geotechnical study, foundation design, and shoring each address.
- [Provo Hillside Development: Retaining Walls and Basement Excavation](https://cefali.com/resources/provo-hillside-slope-retaining-wall-foundation-engineering/): See how a Provo hillside layout brings retaining walls, basement excavation, slope conditions, property limits, and foundations together.
- [Ogden Infill Excavation: Building a Basement Beside an Existing Foundation](https://cefali.com/resources/ogden-infill-excavation-neighboring-foundations/): Nearby footings, limited anchor space, and narrow access can shape an Ogden infill basement. See where shoring and underpinning design meet.
- [St. George Foundations: When Soil Swells or Settles After Wetting](https://cefali.com/resources/st-george-expansive-collapsible-soils-foundation-shoring/): Expansive soils swell and shrink; collapsible soils can settle when wetted. See why the distinction matters for St. George foundations and excavation.
- [Park City Excavations: Fitting Shoring and Equipment Inside the Site Limits](https://cefali.com/resources/park-city-excavation-shoring-limits-of-disturbance/): A Park City building can fit its site while excavation equipment and shoring need more room. See how access, braces, soil handling, and site limits connect.
- [Orem Utility Pits: Shoring Around Utilities, Foundations, and Working Space](https://cefali.com/resources/orem-utility-pit-shaft-excavation-support-design/): A utility pit needs room for support and installation as well as the finished chamber. See how nearby utilities and foundations shape an Orem excavation.
- [Downtown Los Angeles Excavation: Ramps, Cranes, and Temporary Platforms](https://cefali.com/resources/downtown-los-angeles-excavation-access-ramps-shoring/): See how ramps, a pedestrian bridge, drilling access, and temporary platforms shaped Cefali’s shoring at 755 Fig and Wilshire Grand Center.
- [Century City Redevelopment: Supporting Basement Walls While Floors Are Replaced](https://cefali.com/resources/century-city-existing-basement-wall-bracing-redevelopment/): How Cefali supported retained basement walls at Westfield Century City while old floors were removed and new decks and foundations were built.
- [Hollywood Hotel Basements: How Parking Clearances Change Excavation and Shoring](https://cefali.com/resources/hollywood-hotel-basement-parking-depth-shoring/): Thompson Hotel’s three basement levels required excavation up to 46 feet. See how parking clearances, rakers, and floor changes shaped Cefali’s design.
- [Los Angeles Renovations: Shoring Beside Stairs, Tunnels, and Historic Buildings](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-renovation-shoring-existing-historic-structures/): How Cefali supported excavation around retained stairs, seating, tunnels, and historic buildings at USC Coliseum and Columbia Square in Hollywood.
- [Los Angeles Airport Excavation: Shoring Around Utilities and Foundations](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-airport-excavation-shoring-utility-coordination/): Cefali’s work at LAX and Hollywood Burbank Airport shows how utilities, large foundations, existing structures, and construction access shape shoring.
- [Corona Retaining Walls: When Soil Nails Cannot Cross the Property Line](https://cefali.com/resources/corona-retaining-walls-soil-nails-property-lines/): At Vista Monterey in Corona, property limits led Cefali to combine soil nail and soldier pile walls. See how reinforcement space affects wall design.
- [Los Angeles Property-Line Shoring: Tiebacks and Internal Bracing](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-property-line-shoring-tiebacks-rakers/): When tiebacks cannot extend beyond a Los Angeles site, rakers and cross-lot braces may need space inside it. See Cefali examples at Intuit Dome and G-8.
- [Los Angeles Excavation Beside Existing Buildings: Shoring and Underpinning](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-excavation-existing-buildings-shoring-underpinning/): See how nearby foundations and basements affected Cefali’s shoring at 755 Fig, G-8, and USC Coliseum, and when separate underpinning may be needed.
- [Los Angeles Shoring Bids: Excavation Depth, Access, and Property Constraints](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-deep-excavation-before-bidding-shoring/): What changes a Los Angeles shoring bid: basement depth, foundation geometry, tieback rights, Metro constraints, equipment loads, and construction stages.
- [Los Angeles Soldier Pile Shoring: Where Tiebacks and Braces Fit](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-soldier-pile-shoring-tiebacks-rakers-layout/): How depth, neighboring basements, property rights, and access shape soldier pile shoring, with Cefali examples at 1201 S. Hope, G-8, and Intuit Dome.
- [Los Angeles Shoring Near Utilities: Anchor Paths, Pile Locations, and Clearance](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-shoring-utility-conflicts-piles-tiebacks/): Deep utilities and underground structures can change tieback angles, pile locations, and bracing. See Cefali examples from Hollywood, Downtown LA, and Burbank.
- [Deeper Excavation After Shoring Installation: Los Angeles Project Examples](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-excavation-change-shoring-redesign-deeper-cut/): At 6th & Bixel and Thompson Hotel, Cefali modified shoring for deeper excavation while retaining soldier piles. See what the engineering review involved.
- [Choosing a Shoring Engineer for a Los Angeles Excavation](https://cefali.com/resources/how-to-choose-shoring-engineer-los-angeles/): Look for shoring experience with the conditions on your site: deep basements, nearby buildings, restricted tiebacks, construction access, and field changes.
- [Los Angeles Shoring Near Streets and Sidewalks: BOE Lateral Support Review](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-shoring-public-right-of-way-boe-lateral-support/): What Los Angeles BOE reviews for shoring beside the public way, including foundation plans, tieback depth, utilities, and dewatering information.
- [Los Angeles Excavation Dewatering: Wells, Pumps, and Shoring](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-construction-dewatering-shoring-coordination/): How groundwater assumptions, wells, tanks, discharge routes, and settlement monitoring affect the space and design needed for Los Angeles excavation shoring.
- [Los Angeles Excavation Monitoring Beside Buildings and Transit](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-excavation-monitoring-shoring-instrumentation/): See how monitoring accompanied Cefali’s excavation support at Wilshire Grand, Century Plaza, and TEN50, from pile installation through deep excavation.
- [Shoring Terms Explained Through Los Angeles Projects](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-shoring-terms-soldier-piles-tiebacks-rakers-walers/): Understand the parts of a shoring system, where they fit around an excavation, and how Cefali used them on Los Angeles projects.
- [Shoring Costs in Los Angeles: What Affects the Price](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-shoring-cost-depth-access-tiebacks-bracing/): See how excavation depth, tieback rights, access, utilities, and field changes affect shoring design and construction, with examples from Cefali projects.
- [Retaining Walls and Slope Stabilization in Los Angeles](https://cefali.com/resources/los-angeles-retaining-wall-engineering-vs-slope-stabilization/): Retaining walls, hillside stability, and excavation support serve different purposes. See how Cefali designs permanent walls around foundations and property limits.