The client’s brief was straightforward, which was to design a ground-plus-six mall spanning nearly half a million square feet”, says Prasanna Kulkarni, Director & Principal Consultant, North Grid Consultancy. “However, a common recommendation to adopt flat slab construction triggered a deeper analysis”, Prasanna adds. Instead of defaulting to convention, the team at North Grid Consultants ran internal comparisons, scrutinized cost implicationsand re-evaluated structural alternatives. Their decision to revert to a regular slab design, without compromising storey height, resulted in an estimated 12–15 percent reduction in RCC costs. This outcome did not stem from a one-off creative hunch, it was the result of decades-long commitment to design optimization, internal R&D, and a philosophy that insists on fully owning both the technical and economic performance of structural solutions.
That episode mirrors the broader expectations of a sector now under pressure to deliver structures that are stronger, more sustainable, and economically viable on compressed timelines. India’s public infrastructure capex has risen sharply in recent years, government data shows budgeted infrastructure outlays reached about ₹10 lakh crore in FY 2023-24. With the country consuming only half as much concrete per capita as developed nations, the latent demand is
enormous, but so is the need for engineering partners who can deliver predict ability and performance across every phase of design and verification. For over three decades, clients across real estate, industrial and public infrastructure have turned to North Grid Consultants for exactly that reason.
Client Needs Drive Internal Capabilities
Prasanna Kulkarni’s approach follows a tightly integrated design process, in which material efficiency, MEP coordination, and constructability are resolved upfront. The team does not simply deliver drawings, they incorporate MEP services into structural design using clash detection methodologies. This ensures cleaner workflows during execution and eliminates the need for costly rectifications like core cutting or demolition. The result is fewer site-level surprises and smoother project handovers.
The company’s ability to span structural design and structural assurance, where the testing and auditing capabilities are led by structural engineers. “We have a capacity to interpret the results from testing labs and arrive at solutions, which in turn helps us in end to end, structural assurance”, says Prasanna. “We not only design, but verify, validate to ensure long term performance”, he adds.
Over the years, the transition from manual drafting to computer-aided design has been more than a technological update for the company, it has catalyzed process efficiency and internal innovation. The adoption of software like Tekla and in-house development of Excel-based design tools has allowed the team to rapidly iterate and custom-build design solutions without sacrificing code compliance.
R&D, 3D Printing, & a Legacy of Trust
Software adoption and active technical experimentation are driving the company forward. A notable example is the contribution of one of its lead consultants, Omkar Kulkarni, to India’s first 3D printed bridge at IIT Hyderabad. His involvement brought not just credibility but internal capability to the company in the area of 3D printing. That knowledge is now being channelled into exploring how additive manufacturing may reshape components of structural design, offering clients radically different options when conventional methods reach their limits.
Its structural consultancy integrates deep technical experience, internal R&D, digital adoption, and interpretive testing expertise. By embedding engineering know-how across every touchpoint of a project, from initial design through to final validation, the company reduces project risk and ensures delivery without compromising on quality or cost. For clients looking for fewer delays, more control over budgets, and confidence that every structure designed is both sound and economically justified, North Grid Consultants can provide reliable, cost-effective, tailor solutions.
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