Protective Design Consultant Serving MetroWest Boston
Third Rock Engineering provides protective design and physical security engineering for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities across MetroWest.
Vulnerability assessments, perimeter barrier design, reinforced wall assemblies, and bollard anchoring calculations, all compliant with Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR).
A licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) leads every engagement. Each deliverable is stamped, permit-ready, and formatted to your MetroWest building department’s submission standards.
Free Initial Consultation
A short phone call to discuss your project. No cost, no obligation.
Physical Security & Perimeter Hardening Services
ASSESSMENTS
Structural Vulnerability Assessments
Evaluation of existing structural systems, entry points, wall assemblies, and perimeter conditions.
You receive a written assessment with findings and specific hardening recommendations, not a generic checklist.
BARRIERS
Perimeter Barriers & Bollards
Foundation sizing, anchor bolt layout, and embedment calculations based on your site’s actual soil and pavement conditions.
Stamped drawings prepared for building department submission.
REINFORCEMENT
Reinforced Entry Points & Impact-Resistant Walls
Structural detailing for hardened door frames, wall assemblies, and openings.
Designed to actual impact and load requirements for your specific structure.
STANDOFF
Vehicle Standoff Design
Setback analysis, barrier placement, and crash-rated system integration based on site geometry.
Anchoring is engineered to the specific barrier system being installed.
ACCESS
Secure Access Area Design & Facility Hardening
Slab reinforcing, wall upgrades, and overhead support for secure access control areas.
Integrated with your existing structural system without unnecessary demolition.
INTEGRATION
Security Integration for New Construction
Load paths, anchor points, and reinforced assemblies are detailed in construction documents from day one.
Not retrofitted after framing is complete.
Planning bollards, barriers, or perimeter upgrades?
Work directly with a licensed P.E. to design structural security improvements that are buildable, permit-ready, and site-specific.
Why Choose Third Rock Engineering for Protective Design
Direct P.E. Oversight From Site Walk to Stamp
What our Professional Engineer (P.E.) sees on the perimeter walk shapes the calculations, drawing details, and anchor specifications. Nothing is filtered through an account manager or handed off to drafting staff working from notes.
Calculations Built on Verified Site Data
Bollard anchoring is sized to your actual soil bearing and pavement section.
Wall reinforcing is detailed to the specific impact rating you need. Barrier anchorage is coordinated with the manufacturer’s published cut sheets, not assumed.
Drawings That Pass Building Department Review
Structural submissions for security work get extra scrutiny in MetroWest.
We format drawings, calculations, and supporting documentation to the standards your specific municipality expects, so the first submission is the one that gets approved.
Fixed Scope, Fixed Fee
Once the vulnerability review is complete, scope and pricing are committed in writing.
You see exactly what’s covered, what’s deliverable, and what it costs before any engineering begins.
Security That Doesn't Disrupt Operations
Hardening is integrated with your existing structural system, traffic flow, and operational layout.
Bollards, walls, and access modifications work with the building, not against it.
Need stamped drawings for a physical security project?
Get senior-level structural engineering for bollards, barriers, reinforced entries, and facility hardening upgrades.
About
Meet Andrew Hruby, P.E.
Andrew Hruby, P.E., founded Third Rock Engineering after 20+ years of field and design experience across commercial, industrial, and institutional projects in Massachusetts.
He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Every protective design engagement runs through Andrew directly, from the first site walk to the final stamped drawing.
How Protective Design Projects Get Done at
Third Rock Engineering
Free Initial Phone Call
Reach out by phone or contact form and we’ll get back to you within one business day.
The first call is for context: what the threat model looks like, what your building department has already flagged, and whether site plans, threat assessments, or perimeter photos can be reviewed before the on-site walk.
On-Site Vulnerability Review ($295)
We walk the perimeter, evaluate entry points, and inspect wall assemblies and anchor locations in person. Existing structural vulnerabilities and site constraints are documented before any hardening scope is finalized.
Written Proposal & Engineering Agreement
After the on-site review, you get a proposal that spells out the protective measures being engineered, the drawings being produced, and the building department submissions being prepared.
Scope, fees, and schedule are committed in writing before engineering starts.
Stamped Drawings, Calculations & Permit Coordination
Bollard anchoring details, barrier foundation drawings, reinforced assembly sections, and access modifications are produced as a permit-ready package.
Building department comments and revision requests are tracked and addressed through to permit approval.
Design security upgrades that pass review.
Work with a licensed Massachusetts P.E. on protective design plans formatted for your MetroWest building department.
What Clients Say
Real projects. Real outcomes.
From sagging 1920s floors to six-figure platform redesigns that came in at half the estimate.
What Facility Owners Should Factor In Early
Security Consultants and Structural Engineers Do Different Work
A security consultant identifies threats and specifies systems.
A structural engineer makes those systems buildable, load-rated, and approvable by a Massachusetts building department. Both roles are often required on the same project.
Specifying a System Without Stamped Drawings Does Not Get a Permit Issued
Bollard and barrier installations involve foundation work and structural anchoring.
Most MetroWest building departments require P.E.-stamped drawings before a permit is issued.
Existing Conditions Determine What Can Actually Be Built
Wall assemblies, slab thickness, and anchor conditions vary across facility types.
Hardening recommendations that ignore existing structural conditions produce designs that cannot be built as drawn.
Service Area
Protective Design Across MetroWest & the Blackstone Valley
Hopkinton-based and serving facility owners, security integrators, architects, and contractors across MetroWest and the Blackstone Valley.
Coverage includes Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Westborough, Marlborough, Milford, Franklin, Hopkinton, Holliston, Ashland, Northborough, Shrewsbury, and surrounding communities within roughly a 30-minute radius.
On-Site Consultation with a Licensed P.E.
One hour on-site with a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). We evaluate existing framing, foundation, and site conditions in person, give you engineering insight on feasibility and code, and leave you with a defined plan. Flat fee, payable prior to the visit.
- Project conversation: goals, scope, timeline
- On-site evaluation of existing conditions
- Professional engineering insight on feasibility and code
- Defined next steps and deliverable options
Frequently Asked Questions
Do bollards and perimeter barriers require a building permit in Massachusetts?
In most cases, yes.
Bollard installations involve foundation work and structural anchoring that trigger permit requirements under Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR). Most MetroWest building departments require P.E.-stamped drawings before a permit is issued.
What's the difference between a security consultant and a protective design engineer?
A security consultant identifies threats and specifies systems.
A protective design engineer provides the structural engineering that makes those systems buildable, load-rated, and approvable by a Massachusetts building department.
Can you work alongside an existing security integrator or consultant?
Yes. We coordinate directly with security consultants, integrators, and contractors. Our Professional Engineer (P.E.) handles the structural engineering side while the security team manages system specification and installation.
Do you assess existing facilities or only new construction?
Both. We review actual site conditions before specifying reinforcing or retrofit work. No assumptions about what’s behind the finish or beneath the slab.
How long do protective design projects take?
A straightforward bollard installation or barrier design usually wraps up in two to three weeks.
Full vulnerability assessments and multi-phase hardening projects take longer. The exact timeline is locked in when the proposal is signed.
