Construction Business Review

Synergi
Stairs That Shape Experience

Stairs shape how people move through a space, how they pause, and what they notice. Whether they stand out or disappear into the architecture, they play a crucial role in how a space feels. However, making that kind of impact requires more than design intent. It takes a team that knows how to carry that vision from paper to reality without missing a step.

That is where Synergi comes in. While many others focus on metal fabrication or cover only a specific region, Synergi offers comprehensive stair solutions and serves clients nationwide.

“Our process covers everything. We design, engineer, fabricate, and install every stair element, whether it is glass, metal, wood, or structural steel,” says Walter Bowie, vice president, client relations.

That full-scope capability is essential, but what truly makes the most significant difference is Synergi’s timing. The team often gets involved early, before a design is finalized. As soon as a design concept or schematic begins to take shape, Synergi jumps into a collaborative format. This means sitting at the table with architects, engineers, contractors, and clients, working through every challenge together.

Weekly or biweekly meetings are the norm, and it is during these sessions that design intent merges with constructability and gets translated into engineered solutions. Input is gathered, drawings evolve, and the stair begins to take its true shape.

Tailored Solutions for Every Vision

Of course, no two clients come with the same needs. Some are racing against tight deadlines and need a stair delivered fast. Others want something visually striking but have to keep the budget in check. Then, there are those projects where the design team arrives fully committed to a concept they have already embraced. The materials have been chosen, the shape is admired, and the team is fully invested. Then, the engineering review begins and reveals that the structure needs to be bulkier or that the finish materials add too much weight. That is when Synergi’s experience becomes essential.

One particular project at a large higher education life sciences institution brought that scenario into sharp focus. The design called for a sweeping two-level spiral stair set in a grand atrium. At first glance, everything looked perfect. But when Synergi’s engineers took a closer look, they discovered that the stair would weigh nearly 50,000 pounds. Between the exposed steel structure and tall guardrails, the load was enormous. The building’s existing floor slab was not designed to handle it.

  • Our process covers everything. We design, engineer, fabricate, and install every stair element, whether it is glass, metal, wood, or structural steel


At that point, the project was already halfway through design development. Had Synergi not stepped in, the issue might not have been discovered until far later—possibly when it was too late to make changes without significant delays or added costs. Its early involvement allowed the team to flag the problem, propose slab reinforcements before they were complete, and keep the project moving forward without sacrificing the design.

On another project for a New York consulting company, the story played out differently. This time, the client had worked with Synergi before and knew the value of bringing the company on early. Even before an architect was hired, Synergi was called in to help with space planning and stair placement. The client had just signed the lease and needed help determining where to place stair openings while maximizing usable square footage.

Synergi began analyzing possible stair weights and calculating the necessary structural support. The company’s input provided the base-building contractor with everything required to plan the openings and reinforce the slabs long before any final stair design had been chosen. Months later, once the architect was in place and the design assist process resumed, Synergi moved quickly and helped finalize the design, engineered the stairs, and integrated details directly into the architectural plans.

While the final touches were still being made to the construction documents, the stairs were already coming together in the shop. The fully assembled stairs were craned into place as soon as the site was ready. They fit perfectly. No cutting, no welding, no field adjustments. Just precision. And because of the timing, those same stairs were used by workers during the rest of the build, serving function and form before the space was even finished.

From Blueprint to Brilliance

Stories like these speak to what Synergi does best. The company does not just deliver stairs; they guide complex projects through the toughest challenges, preserves the beauty of design, and ensures that what gets built matches the vision that started it all. Not by chance but by careful collaboration, innovative engineering, and experience earned one project at a time.