Why Sugarpine?

Sugarpine Engineering is inspired by the tree with the largest cones in the world: the Sugar Pine tree.  This tree is prevalent in the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the highest parts of the range.  

When we accept your project, we know we have a big name to live up to.  This is a good thing- it means we constantly strive to provide the highest level of design and service.  

Our background is in complex HVAC system interactions- hydronics, geothermal, solar, and uber-high efficiency equipment.  Making these systems function together in a way that truly achieves energy reduction is not easy- a contractor cannot simply install a new boiler and get the efficiencies advertised- the operational flows and temperatures must be set (and tested, and verfied) to work with the building systems and the equipment parameters.  This is especially true for ground source heat pumps (GSHPs).  Small variances in temperatures and flows can result in huge changes in energy consumption.  

It takes experience and research to calculate these interactions and get it right.  It also takes construction-phase involvement from your engineer.  Because facilities construction is not like iPhone mass-production, there isn't a chance to "build a few and work out the bugs."  

Some bugs must be worked out during construction and during the early stages of operation.  A good design team will work to avoid most issues with good plans, but unless your project is fully BIM (and your design team is paid to do 4x additional coordination), chances are good that there will be field items to work through.  This is not a bad thing- simply how construction of anything works- a prototype car, airplane, or computer is exactly the same.

At Sugarpine Engineering, we understand design and construction process, contracts, bidding, constraints, and stakeholder needs, so ensure your project is successful.

Our Goals, Your Goals

Sugarpine Engineering, Inc. was formed in January of 2012, with the goal of providing three things:

Honest, Involved Engineering. 

We’ve seen that the construction industry is filled with hurried designs, hurried process, and claims of performance that don’t come to fruition.  We see time and again contractors and engineers pointing fingers at each other.  That’s just not our style.  Whether you’re an architect, developer, or building your dream home, let us show you how Involved Engineering really works!

Energy Performance, not just talk.  

True performance often falls away when design costs, construction costs and schedules are tight.  We believe that with smarter communication, smarter contracting, and early energy analysis, performance and cost are not mutually exclusive.  Let us show you how Smarter Engineering can work for you!

Engineering tailored to the project climate.  

We can’t count how many times “big city” firms come to the interview with flashy big talkers and shiny shoes.  They put on a show, win your contract, then design something that works where they came from.  Sugarpine Engineering has real experience in frozen mountains, baked deserts, and everything in between.  We’ve experienced what works and what fails.  We’ve learned from this in every instance.  We will tailor our design to where your project is located.  Whether you choke in humidity, fry in the sun, get hammered by wind, buried in snow, or all of those, we know how to make your systems work, correctly.  Caution: We might wear hiking boots to the interview.

With those goals at the forefront, we’re sure we can provide you with superior engineering and consulting.

Founder Bio

Mark S. Schlosser, PE, LEED AP  –  President

Mark formed Sugarpine Engineering, Inc. in 2012 to meet the demand for high-level sustainable engineering, energy evaluation, and commissioning in northern California and Nevada.  Mark spent the prior 13 years working his way to Senior Associate and California Branch Manager at Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers, Inc., a 60-person MPE firm headquartered in Colorado.  Over the past decade, he has built a vast knowledge of engineering design, energy analysis, building envelopes, commissioning, project management, construction, and contracting.  

Mark brings an array of expertise and experience to Sugarpine, including work in large, custom residential, healthcare, commercial, military, and government projects.  His experience also includes civic, industrial, office, resort, multi-family, OSHPD, DSA, educational, forensics, commissioning, and sustainable design. 

He was employed for three years in Montana by CTA Architects Engineers, Inc., an A-E firm focusing on architecture.  During that time, Mark worked directly with architects, giving him deeper insight and understanding of project possibilities.

From Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to Vail, to Montana, to Tahoe, Mark is well-versed in extreme climates and outdoor pursuits.  As the President of Sugarpine Engineering, Mark ensures intelligent and sustainable design is incorporated into every project to the greatest extent practical.  He has designed and consulted on dozens of LEED projects. 

He is also an instructor with the Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol, and Board President of the Riverview Townhomes Owners Association.

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS:

NCEES National Council Record

Montana, P.E. #15421PE

California, P.E. #M33525

Nevada: In Progress

LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP BD+C)

EDUCATION:  B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Michigan Technological University – Houghton, Michigan