REI BuildUP: Structural Engineering, Construction, and Fabrication, All Under One Roof

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This week, we’re spotlighting a team that’s truly doing it all: REI BuildUP. Our founder, Serina, has worked with them for years and counts them among her absolute favorite engineers and contractors in the Bay Area.

Led by owner Ali Afrasiabi, REI BuildUP blends structural engineering, general contracting, and in-house steel fabrication into one vertically integrated powerhouse. Their specialty? Making the whole process faster, smoother, and more cost-effective.

Ali’s journey, immigrating from Iran and building a multidisciplinary firm from the ground up, is as impressive as the work his team delivers. What began as a structural engineering practice expanded organically into construction through soft-story retrofit projects. In 2022, they added a fabrication shop in Oakland to round out the trifecta.

The benefit? When field surprises inevitably pop up (like a post that needs moving or a foundation that needs underpinning), having the same team engineer, build, and fabricate makes real-time adjustments simple. No delays, no finger-pointing, just solutions.

Because Ali and his team understand construction inside and out, their engineering designs are also more buildable and budget-conscious from the get-go. And when steel elements like moment frames are required, they can fabricate them in-house - no shop-drawing review needed.

They bring this integrated approach to a wide range of projects: soft-story retrofits, ADUs, new developments, and concrete buildings (an area where many engineers fall short). With San Francisco’s new Ordinance 250211 requiring seismic retrofits for concrete buildings, Ali’s expertise fills a critical gap, often at a far more reasonable cost than larger firms.

REI BuildUP also has a deep understanding of what property owners care about. Ali develops his own SB-9 projects and works closely with realtors, managers, and small landlords alike. The result? A practical, collaborative mindset whether he’s leading a full project or jumping in as a subcontractor for foundations or framing.

As Ali puts it:

“If you’re a small business, you need to look at your colleagues as support, not competition. Your colleagues are your allies.”

Want a structural engineer, contractor, and fabricator who thinks like a developer, solves problems like a builder, and designs like an expert? Reach out to REI BuildUP.

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