Taylor Bontz is a registered Civil Engineer in California and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She was inspired early in life by watching her father work as a contractor to build their family home, which led her to take an architectural design class in high school. From there, she discovered the civil engineering program at Cal Poly and was quickly drawn to the structural design courses. She loves the problem-solving aspect and real-world impact of structural engineering.

Now with eight years of experience, Taylor continues to be especially interested in wood design, tenant improvement (TI) projects, and the client relationships that develop through construction administration. Since joining MBC in 2024, Taylor has focused on learning the ins and outs of TI projects and has enjoyed understanding how new systems can interact with existing or historic buildings. Some of her favorite projects include 111 Petaluma Blvd, a historic building in Petaluma with a failing architectural cornice. She studied the existing structure and previous retrofits to develop a safe and effective way to secure the architectural element. Another project she enjoyed was for a high-end retail client, which involved designing a new mezzanine level and updating room equipment for a new store location. The design of the steel mezzanine was a challenging and rewarding effort, balancing client needs with minimal impact to the existing structure.

Some other recent projects Taylor has worked on include:

• 685 Market Notion TI & Floor Capacity Check
• One Front St Phone Booth
• UC Berkeley Dwinelle Hall & UC Berkeley McCone Hall
• Bayfair Center