Why Cable-Supported Bridge Retrofits Need Wind Analysis
In June 2025, the International Bridge Conference (IBC) was held in Pittsburgh where bridge owners and engineers, senior policy makers, government officials,…
Service: Wind Engineering
Harnessing the Wind: Engineering for Safer, Smarter Structures
Creating resilient and sustainable structures
RWDI is the world leader in specialized wind engineering services. Our unparalleled expertise allows us to craft precise solutions that deliver structural resilience and performance reliability.
From towering skyscrapers, one-of-a-kind structures, grand stadiums, complex solar arrays, and iconic bridges, our wind engineering expertise helps clients build resilient and sustainable projects that stand strong against the elements.
Designed to minimize wind-related risks and optimize the performance of your structure, we leverage over five decades of experience, to provide customized solutions that prioritize occupant comfort and safety, reduce costs, and bring innovative architectural designs to life.
Wind is complicated…and is changing frequently. It is influenced, not only by an ever-growing built environment, but also by a changing climate, which can result in more frequent o...
John Kilpatrick
How our wind engineering services can benefit your project
We’ll take care of the wind so you can pursue ambitious designs confidently
With over 50 years of wind engineering experience, we deliver world-leading modeling and analysis to ensure your project performs optimally, meets safety standards, and goes beyond building code to achieve cost-efficiency.
Support across diverse projects
From skyscrapers and bridges to offshore platforms and outdoor sculptures, to hospital helipads and solar arrays, our comprehensive wind engineering services adapt to the unique challenges of diverse projects, providing highly customized support and innovative solutions.
Unparalleled safety and comfort for occupants
Our advanced wind engineering services minimize wind-related risks and create stable, secure environments, reducing the likelihood of wind-induced accidents or discomfort.
Design ambitious and innovative structures with confidence
There’s nothing worse than having your ambitious architectural vision scaled back after testing. Our expertise ensures your projects can withstand various wind conditions without compromising stability and safety, enabling you to push the boundaries of creativity and achieve iconic, standout projects.
Save capital and operational costs
We minimize wind-related wear and tear, reducing expenses for repairs and maintenance. This not only lowers your overall project costs but also ensures long-term durability and efficiency, protecting your investment and boosting your bottom line.
How we help
Our expertise and innovative approach allows design teams to push creative boundaries, confident their designs can withstand the elements. When the stakes are high and the winds are fierce, RWDI is the partner you can count on to keep your project standing firm.
Model of Shanghai Tower in wind tunnel
goldengate bridge
building facade
Stadium roof
Merdeka Tower
solar panels on roof
Model of Shanghai Tower in wind tunnel
Aerodynamic optimization of building shape
Our wind engineering expertise helps optimize the aerodynamic shape of buildings and structures to reduce wind loads and improve occupant comfort. When used early in the design process, shape optimization allows architects to refine their design, exploring multiple iterations.
This approach supports resilient design priorities by minimizing structural costs and creating more efficient, sustainable buildings.
Speak with a wind engineering expert
goldengate bridge
Wind–induced noise (aeroacoustics)
Wind can cause structures to produce unwanted noise. While these occurrences are rare, aeroacoustics issues can be disruptive and difficult to solve. Because of their novelty, aeroacoustics problems are also often considered highly newsworthy.
Trying to remedy wind-induced noise complaints to an existing structure can be costly and difficult. Early avoidance and mitigation is the best approach.
Speak with an aeroacoustics expert
building facade
Wind on façade systems
Façade failures due to wind are costly. They can be disastrous to budgets, to reputations, sometimes to human safety. We help to reduce the risks (or fix issues) creatively and cost effectively.
Our location-specific approach will help you assess the impact of actual wind loads to your structure’s cladding and components. This information allows you to make informed decisions about optimizing your design, bringing existing buildings up to code, and designing for strong wind events that are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change.
Speak with a facades expert
Stadium roof
Wind effects on structural systems
As architects continue to redefine what is possible in the built environment, there has been an increase in stunning and dynamically sensitive structural elements, such as long-span roofs, sculptural features, high-rise towers, rooftop spires, and solar installations, as well as residential, commercial, or industrial developments, airports, stadiums, and convention centers, that push the boundaries of conventional design.
We evaluate a broad range of structures, from simple and straightforward to extremely complex. By assessing structural wind issues early, designers can effectively use structural changes, shape changes and damping systems for optimization, and embrace performance-based design that goes beyond code compliance to a true understanding of code intent.
Speak with an expert
Merdeka Tower
Tall building wind analysis
As world leaders in wind engineering for skyscrapers, we provide crucial insights for the design of many of the world’s tallest buildings, including having worked on 16 of the top 20 tallest buildings in the world.
As the built environment continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, building higher and more elaborate tall buildings, we help clients understand and mitigate wind effects on tall structures, ensuring safety and performance in challenging urban environments.
Speak with a wind engineering expert
solar panels on roof
Minimizing wind damage on solar panels
Demand for roof- and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems is exploding—and manufacturers and operators need to optimize the wind stability of photovoltaic racking.
But solar arrays are complex, and the wind flows around them are equally complex. Aerodynamic assumptions in standard codes are not truly accurate for these complex geometries, which are further complicated when arrays are included in complex terrains, such as on hillsides, water, or over crops (agrivoltaics).
Speak with a wind engineering expert
Asia Pacific
Pearl River Tower
Advanced wind engineering for a supertall skyscraper that generates its own wind power
Europe & UK
Newfoundland
A wide range of studies to verify safety and optimization for this eye-catching addition to London’s Canary Wharf
FAQs about our wind engineering services
Still have questions? Contact us.
RWDI maintains reliability through rigorous testing protocols, continuous research advancements, and adherence to international standards like ASCE, Eurocode, and ASTM. Our multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists ensures comprehensive analysis and dependable results for every project.
RWDI evaluates structural integrity, performance history, and current code requirements when retrofitting existing structures. We propose retrofit solutions such as strengthening vulnerable components, enhancing wind resistance, and upgrading facade systems to prolong the structure’s service life.
RWDI integrates innovative solutions such as aerodynamic shape optimization, smart material selection, and adaptive building facades to enhance building performance against wind hazards. These strategies improve energy efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and extend structural lifespan.
While building codes help engineers design safely, they have a few limitations that wind engineering can help address.
Building codes can be limited with unique structural design. In select circumstances, they can be overly conservative, which can add unnecessary materials. In some locations, they may not reflect a changing climate and an increase in extreme weather events.
Insights from our industry experts
Development of Wind-Based Criteria for Vertiports
The development of wind-based criteria for vertiports
Leveraging Bridge Aerodynamics to Achieve Climate Resilience
Bridge aerodynamics, the interaction between the wind and various parts of the bridge structure, can help achieve climate resilience.
