Our Team

Lessani is a Washington, D.C. based engineering firm and a certified CBE and SBA HUBZone small business. We specialize in delivering structural engineering, third party plan review, inspections, and energy consulting services that support complex capital projects from pre construction through closeout. Our team works closely with owners, developers, and public agencies to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

With deep local experience and a hands on approach, Lessani has supported a range of vertical and horizontal infrastructure projects, including schools, commercial developments, transportation facilities, roadways, and civic buildings. Our integrated services include structural engineering and energy consulting, allowing us to provide technically sound, efficient, and code compliant solutions tailored to each project’s unique demands. At Lessani, we pride ourselves on being responsive, reliable, and committed to the long term success of our clients and the communities we serve.

Arian Lessani, PhD, PE

Arian Lessani, PhD, PE

Principal

Arian is a construction engineer and building expert with over fifteen (15) years of experience in building inspection, design review, and energy consulting. He specializes in independent design reviews, field inspections, and engineering investigations across residential, commercial, and federally funded building projects. Arian provides objective, code compliant evaluations to owners, agencies, and design build teams, helping to identify risks, improve performance, and ensure adherence to regulatory and contractual standards.

His background spans high performance building design review, energy audits, MEP coordination, and building inspection oversight for complex renovations and new construction. Arian is frequently retained as a trusted independent engineer, design peer reviewer and technical advisor, offering impartial assessments that support compliance verification.

Core Competencies

  • Independent Building Inspections
  • Third-Party Plan Review & Inspections
  • Energy Code Compliance & Energy Modeling
  • Building Envelope & HVAC Diagnostics
  • Green Building Standards (LEED, Energy Star, etc.)
  • Construction Deficiency & Evaluations
  • MEP Design Coordination Reviews
  • Owner’s Representative
  • Design-Build and CM-at-Risk Contract Support
  • Federal, State, and Municipal Project Compliance

Education

  • PhD Civil Engineering, Construction Claims
  • MS Civil Engineering, Project Management
  • BS Civil & Structural Engineering

Certifications

  • Professional Engineer (PE), DC, Maryland, Virginia
  • PMP (Project Management Professional)
  • PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional)
  • CQM-C (Construction Quality Manager for Contractors), USACE/NAVFAC
  • OSHA 30
  • BPI MFBT & BAT, 5071755
  • ICC 79, Residential Energy Inspector / Plans Examiner, 10410113
Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson, PE

Senior Advisor

H. Joseph Johnson is a senior Program Manager and Construction Manager professional with more than forty years of experience leading complex commercial, heavy civil, transportation, infrastructure, and capital improvement programs. He provides executive leadership in project controls, schedule and budget oversight, change management, and claims analysis, helping owners and contractors align scope, cost, schedule, quality, and contract performance across challenging public and private sector projects.

Core Competencies

  • Executive Program Leadership
  • Owner Advisory and Strategic Decision Support
  • Program Governance and Project Oversight
  • Claims and Dispute Resolution Advisory
  • Contract Administration and Change Management
  • Risk Management and Mitigation Planning
  • CPM Scheduling and Forensic Delay Analysis
  • Cost Control and Budget Oversight
  • Compliance Verification and Reporting
  • Interagency and Stakeholder Coordination
  • Executive Reporting and Performance Monitoring

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, University of Maryland

Certifications

  • Professional Engineer (PE), confirm states
Yahya Aliabadi, PhD, PE

Yahya Aliabadi, PhD, PE

Senior Structural Engineer

Yahya is a Structural Engineering authority with more than thirty years of hands on experience delivering and managing design solutions for buildings, bridges, and industrial facilities. He combines doctoral level research credentials with multi state Professional Engineer licenses to provide code compliant, performance focused results for public and private sector clients.

His portfolio ranges from residential additions to DOT infrastructure and power plant structures, covering new construction, complex renovations and alterations, and forensic investigations. Yahya provides full service structural design, third party reviews, special inspections, expert witness testimony, and construction administration support across the Washington, DC metro region.

Core Competencies

  • Structural Analysis & Design for Concrete, Steel, Masonry, and Timber
  • Third-Party Structural Plan Review & Special Inspections
  • Foundation & Retaining-Wall Engineering
  • Seismic, Wind, and Extreme-Event Load Evaluation
  • Expert Witness & Forensic Engineering
  • Design-Build, CM-at-Risk, and P3 Contract Support
  • Project Management, Scheduling, and Contract Negotiation
  • Code Compliance & Peer Review (IBC, ACI 318, AISC LRFD, AASHTO LRFD)
  • Advanced Structural Software: STAAD Pro, SAP, ETABS, ANSYS, RISA, Revit

Education

  • PhD Civil Engineering, Structures
  • MS Civil Engineering, Project Management
  • BS Civil & Structural Engineering

Certifications

  • Professional Engineer (PE), DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey