Shirley Yuan

Senior Structural Engineer | P.Eng.
Lateral Thinker, Trail Seeker, Canoe Enthusiast

Born and raised in China, Shirley moved to Canada to pursue her Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo. Before making the move, she earned her Master’s Degree in civil engineering from Lanzhou University, building the foundation for a career focused on solving complicated structural challenges.

Shirley has developed extensive expertise in the design of high-rise concrete buildings, specializing in lateral systems, seismic and wind design, and concrete shear walls. Her experience includes contributing to the wind and seismic design of the 105-storey 1 Yonge Street Phase 2 and leading the structural design of major high-density developments, including Queen & Ashbridge, Emerald City Block C, and Lansing Square.

A problem-solver at heart, Shirley brings technical expertise and a collaborative mindset to her work every day. She works seamlessly across disciplines, turning complex engineering challenges into practical, cost-efficient, and buildable solutions for her clients. Her technical expertise also extends to advanced research and design in cold-formed steel. Shirley has shared her research with the broader engineering community, including presenting at the 22nd Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures in St. Louis Missouri.

Outside of work, Shirley loves to travel and spend time outdoors. You’ll often find her hiking, canoeing, exploring somewhere new, or spending time with her daughter.