About the Ascent Group's team and our approach to structural engineering

Rear elevation of a custom home with a pool

About Us

The Ascent Group is a structural engineering firm located in Boulder and Winter Park, Colorado. We specialize in providing comprehensive structural engineering throughout Colorado and beyond including the Eastern Plains, Colorado Front Range, Mountain Locales and Western Slope and several states throughout the nation. Ascent has engineers licensed and projects in over 25 states in the country. Our team consists of LEED accredited professionals, engineers with Masters of Science degrees. We provide engineering services to developers, general contractors, architects, design-build partners, municipalities, federal agencies and homeowners.

The Ascent approach

We often design for complex architectural challenges and strive to maintain your original design intent with innovative engineering solutions. Ascent understands that working closely with the design team and owner early on in the planning and design phase of the project is paramount to meeting the goals of the project and expectations of the owner.

Design for cost efficiency

Not only do we evaluate and select efficient structural members for the particular structural design problem, we look forward to how this selection affects the assembly and connection of the components of the structure. We work closely with the design team to help understand the effects different structural design decisions have on the project. We will advise the design the team of potential changes or modifications to the design of the project that can result in less structure required, easier construction techniques and less cost for the project. We understand how critical your budget is to the overall success of the project.

Learn more if you are experiencing structural issues on an existing building or if you need expert assistance with a ground-up project. From design through build we are your partner during all phases of your design and construction project.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FOR

Custom Residential
Residential remodels
Light industrial
Commercial
Higher Education
Municipal/Federal
Multi-family housing
Pools & fountains
Signage
Art installations
Solar photovoltaic arrays
Component & metal stud support
Building forensic consultation

CALL US TO SCHEDULE
A CONSULTATION:

303.499.3022

Meet the partners

Lee Winkler

PE, LEED-AP BD+C, Principal

Originally from central Illinois, Lee moved to Colorado in 1983 and has embraced the outdoor Colorado lifestyle ever since. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1993 and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering in 1995, both from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While at the University, Lee was the Civil Engineering Laboratory manager assisting undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate students with laboratory testing and experimentation on a wide variety of structural and geotechnical projects. The experience of observing the testing of materials and components of structures has provided beneficial insight into the behavior of the structural mechanics and materials.

As a founding partner of Ascent Group, he has acquired significant experience in structural engineering working on a variety of public and private, commercial, industrial, and residential projects throughout his career. Aside from his experience in all phases of design and construction phase administration, Lee’s advanced knowledge of mechanics of materials and structural analysis allows the firm to successfully complete complex projects.

In his free time, Lee can be found mountain biking, snowboarding, fly-fishing, and camping across Colorado and beyond.

MATTHEW BERRY

PE, Principal

Matt Berry grew up in Oklahoma as part of his family’s business which is the oldest continuously run general construction business in the state. He graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Arts in Natural Science / Management and participated in the development of Pepperdine’s 3/2 engineering program while a member of the NCAA Division 1 water Polo team. Upon graduation he earned a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Matt has gained considerable structural engineering experience through his project history in structural design and detailing of wood, steel, concrete, precast concrete, concrete masonry units, and structural insulated panels. Central to Matt’s engineering philosophy is the integration of structural design with the other trades (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) while achieving the design goals of the architect.

In addition to Engineering: Matt serves on the City of Louisville Building Code Board of Appeals, enjoys building houses, and all outdoor activities.

Chris Krauss

PE, SE, Principal

After 18 years on a small family farm in rural Iowa, Chris made the move to Colorado’s Front Range in 2000 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 2004. Since then, he has gained structural engineering experience in the design and management of a wide variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Chris expanded his professional career with Structural Engineer (SE) licensure in 2022 and currently holds active PE or SE licenses in over a dozen states.

He is currently an active member of the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado (SEAC), serving on the Business Management Committee and Existing Structures Committee. His years of experience with various project owners and construction types give him the capability to develop creative and effective solutions to the many challenges facing the evolving practice of Structural Engineering.

Away from the office, Chris enjoys cycling Colorado’s back roads, rock climbing, traveling, and attending concerts and sporting events.

Jared Veenstra

PE, Principal

Jared moved to Colorado in 2007 from his home state of Michigan after graduating from Calvin University earning a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a structural emphasis. He manages the Winter Park office for Ascent Group and primarily works on new residential construction projects in the Rocky Mountains. Jared enjoys the challenge of developing efficient and constructable solutions for the unique details of high-end mountain homes.

Jared spent several applying his knowledge of wood light-frame buildings to self-perform the construction of his own home incorporating many of the same materials and details he specifies on his projects. Although it was a time-consuming venture, the experience has provided him with many practical lessons while working through the construction process that he can apply to his engineering projects.

Jared likes to spend his time skiing with his friends and family during the winter and recreating outdoors during the summer.

“We at Sopris Homes have used the engineers at Ascent for over 20 years. We are always pleased with their service and we completely trust their work.”

John Stevens – Sopris Development

Industry
Expertise

Our history and experience working on diverse projects throughout the country provides ASCENT the knowledge and skillset to tackle complex structural building projects in unique environments.

DESIGNING FOR:
• Expansive Soils
• High Wind Loads
• High Seismic Zones
• Heavy Snow Loads
• Flood Loads
• Unusual Structural & Site Conditions