Meeting Tipping Mar

Since being named principal and lead designer in 2000, David Mar has continued in the firm’s long-standing tradition of well-crafted engineering solutions, while introducing an emphasis on creativity and exploration supported by practical, project-specific research.

David advocates early collaboration with architects and contractors to provide clients with the most cost-effective design solutions possible. Moreover, his focus on high-performance seismic and sustainable design has positioned Tipping Mar at the forefront of the green-building movement. His enthusiasm for innovation has fueled the expansion of his design repertoire from traditional steel, concrete, and wood construction to rammed earth, bamboo, straw bale, timber frame, and structural insulated panels.

David frequently lectures at the engineering departments of the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, and the Lean Construction Institute. He has published articles in numerous publications and has received many local and national awards in the areas of new construction, seismic renovation, and sustainable design.

David has practiced structural engineering for more than twenty years, having received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from UC Berkeley.

His work and research demonstrate his desire to provide a complete design product that is thoughtfully integrated with the project’s environment, accommodating long-term sustainability, seismic conditions, cost, and interdisciplinary design parameters.