Our Team
Stefan Tschirren
Principal Structural Engineer | BEng MIEAust CPEng NER EC RPEQ
Started his professional career almost 20 years ago by joining a national engineering consultancy in a division focusing in light gauge steel design and shop detailing of framed construction in the residential, commercial, and light industrial sectors. Holding both technical and managerial roles within the business, Stefan was involved in overseeing major projects, systems development, providing engineering solutions to internal and external clients, innovative design projects, research and development, mentoring staff, strategic planning, resource management, and general expansion of the division’s client base. With on-ground experience in several states across Australia, and design projects that cross international borders, Stefan is able to provide effective design solutions to projects of many scales. In 2018 Stefan co-founded STS Structural and leads the team as the Principal Structural Engineer. Stefan is the QLD Chairman of The National Association of Steel-Framed Housing, is active with the Australian Steel Institute, and has assisted on Australian Standards committees. You may catch Stefan presenting technical lectures at conferences around Australia, online, or via various eLearning portals.
- Expertise
- Broad experience in design and documentation of building structures in residential, commercial, industrial, and mining infrastructure.
- Cold-formed steel design (truss systems, framing, sheds, floor systems)
- Design of steel framed and general steel structures
- Modular building systems including steel framed, panelised, and modified shipping containers.
- Innovative design, Research & Development of product and building systems.
- Project and Design Management, and Team Leadership
- Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- MIEAust CPEng NER - The Institution of Engineers Australia
- RPEQ - Board of Professional Engineers QLD
- RE - Consumer Affairs Victoria
- BSP - Tasmanian Department of Justice
- NASH Qld Chairman - National Association of Steel-Framed Housing
- Projects
Commercial / Residential / Industrial / Defence
- Mountain Creek SHS, QLD
- OJW Room Refurbishment, QUT Gardens Point, QLD
- Gorgon LNG Accommodation Village, Barrow Island, WA
- Grosvenor MIA, Mooranbah, QLD
- General Electronics Aviation, Eagle Farm, QLD
- Tip Top Bakery, Slacks Creek, QLD
- AMCOR, Acacia Ridge, QLD
- Newman Airport, WA
- Broome Visitors Centre, WA
- Collie Aged Care Facility, WA
- Charleville Community Health Centre Redevelopment, QLD
- Ellenbrook Christian College, WA
- Brockman Sinkline 4, Administration Building, WA
Research and Development
- Solahart; cyclonic tie down brackets
- Layher Allround Scaffolding; Design For Wind, Australia & New Zealand Design Manual
- Titan Hoarding Systems
Matthew Tomkins
BEng (Civil) PhD
Matt joined the STS Structural team in 2021. With over 15 years of experience in the Built Environment industry, Matt has gained considerable knowledge in various structural engineering sectors from architectural housing, volume housing, industrial complexes, commercial re-purposing projects, asset assessments and forensic investigations. Matt has gained doctoral qualifications (PhD) and has taught as a sessional lecturer (Bond University) in the field of structural engineering for construction management courses. Matt is a curious and committed engineer who is passionate about the possibilities of transdisciplinary design in the Built Environment.
- Selected Projects and Experience
Industrial
Super Retail Group Distribution Centre
50,300m² distribution centre located at Brendale, $28.6m.
Port West Bunnings
30,500m² distribution centre located at the Port of Brisbane, $23m
Knauf Bundaberg
Structural audit for the imported gypsum belt conveyor and hopper located at the Knauf Bundaberg facility (Port of Bundaberg, Bundaberg).
Commercial & Retail
Oxley Central
5,000m² retail development (Woolworths & mixed tenancy), $17m
Queensland Veterinary Specialists North Lakes
900m² specialised veterinary care facility.
Education
BER School Projects
Hall, learning and resource centre buildings – Bracken Ridge SS, Moorooka SS, Jamboree Heights SS, Ipswich SS.
MMG Dugald River
MMG Dugald River
550 room mining village located at Cloncurry, $65m.
Defence
Greenbank Training Area
Condition reporting for existing infrastructure (timber bridge) and training assets along with construction support services during the ELF Stage 2 facilities project.
Energy
Numerous structural audits and assessments for existing industrial buildings (e.g. Cleanaway Yatala, Cleanaway Bohle), commercial buildings (e.g. NAB branches throughout QLD/VIC) and retail (e.g. Woolworths Ormeau, Woolworths Logan Village) to suit solar PV panel installations.
Residential
Kerami Manor Guest House
470m², 3-storey timber framed structure located in Marysville, Victoria.
Chandler House
600m², 2-storey structural steel, timber framed and load-bearing rammed earth walls located in Chandler, Brisbane. Numerous luxury residential housing projects
Asset/Maintenance & Forensic
Kilcoy Sports Ground
Structural audit and condition assessment of the original timber framed grandstand (Somerset Regional Council).
Wacol Water Tower
Structural audit and condition assessment of the concrete tower, elevated concrete tank and internal tower/tank access system (Queensland Government – Building & Asset Services).
Gold Coast City Council Relieving Slab Program
City of Gold Coast relieving slab stabilisation program for various bridges (City of Gold Coast Council – 2017 Program).
Eildon Hill Reservoir
Structural audit, condition assessment and design of the internal valve pit access system (Diona/Brisbane City Council)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Street Awning Program
Structural condition and safety audits for original/heritage street awnings at various CBA branches throughout regional QLD/NSW. Numerous structural condition audits for single detached dwellings, 2-3 storey walk-ups, medium to high rise apartment blocks, residential complexes and industrial complexes.
Stefan Tschirren
Principal Structural Engineer
BEng MIEAust CPEng NER EC RPEQ
Started his professional career almost 20 years ago by joining a national engineering consultancy in a division focusing in light gauge steel design and shop detailing of framed construction in the residential, commercial, and light industrial sectors. Holding both technical and managerial roles within the business, Stefan was involved in overseeing major projects, systems development, providing engineering solutions to internal and external clients, innovative design projects, research and development, mentoring staff, strategic planning, resource management, and general expansion of the division’s client base. With on-ground experience in several states across Australia, and design projects that cross international borders, Stefan is able to provide effective design solutions to projects of many scales. In 2018 Stefan co-founded STS Structural and leads the team as the Principal Structural Engineer. Stefan is the QLD Chairman of The National Association of Steel-Framed Housing, is active with the Australian Steel Institute, and has assisted on Australian Standards committees. You may catch Stefan presenting technical lectures at conferences around Australia, online, or via various eLearning portals.
- Expertise
- Broad experience in design and documentation of building structures in residential, commercial, industrial, and mining infrastructure.
- Cold-formed steel design (truss systems, framing, sheds, floor systems)
- Design of steel framed and general steel structures
- Modular building systems including steel framed, panelised, and modified shipping containers.
- Innovative design, Research & Development of product and building systems.
- Project and Design Management, and Team Leadership
- Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- MIEAust CPEng NER - The Institution of Engineers Australia
- RPEQ - Board of Professional Engineers QLD
- RE - Consumer Affairs Victoria
- NASH Qld Chairman - National Association of Steel-Framed Housing
- Projects
Commercial / Residential / Industrial / Defence
- Mountain Creek SHS, QLD
- OJW Room Refurbishment, QUT Gardens Point, QLD
- Gorgon LNG Accommodation Village, Barrow Island, WA
- Grosvenor MIA, Mooranbah, QLD
- General Electronics Aviation, Eagle Farm, QLD
- Tip Top Bakery, Slacks Creek, QLD
- AMCOR, Acacia Ridge, QLD
- Newman Airport, WA
- Broome Visitors Centre, WA
- Collie Aged Care Facility, WA
- Charleville Community Health Centre Redevelopment, QLD
- Ellenbrook Christian College, WA
- Brockman Sinkline 4, Administration Building, WA
Research and Development
- Solahart; cyclonic tie down brackets
- Layher Allround Scaffolding; Design For Wind, Australia & New Zealand Design Manual
- Titan Hoarding Systems
Matthew Tomkins
BEng (Civil) PhD
Matt joined the STS Structural team in 2021. With over 15 years of experience in the Built Environment industry, Matt has gained considerable knowledge in various structural engineering sectors from architectural housing, volume housing, industrial complexes, commercial re-purposing projects, asset assessments and forensic investigations. Matt has gained doctoral qualifications (PhD) and has taught as a sessional lecturer (Bond University) in the field of structural engineering for construction management courses. Matt is a curious and committed engineer who is passionate about the possibilities of transdisciplinary design in the Built Environment.
- Selected Projects and Experience
Industrial
Super Retail Group Distribution Centre
50,300m² distribution centre located at Brendale, $28.6m.
Port West Bunnings
30,500m² distribution centre located at the Port of Brisbane, $23m
Knauf Bundaberg
Structural audit for the imported gypsum belt conveyor and hopper located at the Knauf Bundaberg facility (Port of Bundaberg, Bundaberg).
Commercial & Retail
Oxley Central
5,000m² retail development (Woolworths & mixed tenancy), $17m
Queensland Veterinary Specialists North Lakes
900m² specialised veterinary care facility.
Education
BER School Projects
Hall, learning and resource centre buildings – Bracken Ridge SS, Moorooka SS, Jamboree Heights SS, Ipswich SS.
MMG Dugald River
MMG Dugald River
550 room mining village located at Cloncurry, $65m.
Defence
Greenbank Training Area
Condition reporting for existing infrastructure (timber bridge) and training assets along with construction support services during the ELF Stage 2 facilities project.
Energy
Numerous structural audits and assessments for existing industrial buildings (e.g. Cleanaway Yatala, Cleanaway Bohle), commercial buildings (e.g. NAB branches throughout QLD/VIC) and retail (e.g. Woolworths Ormeau, Woolworths Logan Village) to suit solar PV panel installations.
Residential
Kerami Manor Guest House
470m², 3-storey timber framed structure located in Marysville, Victoria.
Chandler House
600m², 2-storey structural steel, timber framed and load-bearing rammed earth walls located in Chandler, Brisbane. Numerous luxury residential housing projects
Asset/Maintenance & Forensic
Kilcoy Sports Ground
Structural audit and condition assessment of the original timber framed grandstand (Somerset Regional Council).
Wacol Water Tower
Structural audit and condition assessment of the concrete tower, elevated concrete tank and internal tower/tank access system (Queensland Government – Building & Asset Services).
Gold Coast City Council Relieving Slab Program
City of Gold Coast relieving slab stabilisation program for various bridges (City of Gold Coast Council – 2017 Program).
Eildon Hill Reservoir
Structural audit, condition assessment and design of the internal valve pit access system (Diona/Brisbane City Council)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Street Awning Program
Structural condition and safety audits for original/heritage street awnings at various CBA branches throughout regional QLD/NSW. Numerous structural condition audits for single detached dwellings, 2-3 storey walk-ups, medium to high rise apartment blocks, residential complexes and industrial complexes.
