BASE ADDS NEW GENERATION OF OWNERS

HONOLULU, HAWAII – APRIL 16, 2025 – Thirty years ago, Steve Baldridge founded BASE in Honolulu and, with the assistance of Vice President Frank Humay, has since expanded to offices in Chicago, Florida, Guam, and India. Over the years the firm has earned a reputation for collaborating with owners and architects, design teams and builders to develop efficient designs for projects of all kinds, from renovations to new structures big and small. Today, BASE announces the transition to a new generation of ownership with the addition of firm veterans Fernando Frontera, Mark Hirschi, and Anantha Chittur as new owners of the firm. Over the years Frontera, Hirschi, and Chittur have exemplified BASE’s commitment to excellence, advancing through the ranks and taking on key leadership roles. Now, as principals and partners, they join Baldridge to shape BASE’s future while continuing to lead projects and provide the outstanding service their clients have come to trust.

“A wise mentor once told me that the secret to success is to surround yourself with people smarter than you,” said Baldridge. “That advice has held true – our future success and ability to serve our clients is solidified with the elevation of these smart and attentive leaders to principals.” Baldridge added, “The decision to promote these three stellar engineers was confirmed by the many positive client comments over the years about how great it has been working with them.”

Frontera joined BASE as a structural designer in its Honolulu office in 2006. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Frontera has worked on a wide variety of projects from conceptual design to completion. His notable projects include the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki, and he is currently managing several high-profile large-scale mixed-use developments in Honolulu. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Michigan, served as president of the Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, and was recognized as a 40 Under 40 by Pacific Business News in 2018.

Hirschi began his journey at BASE in Honolulu as a structural designer in 2010. Born and raised in Champaign, Illinois, Hirschi relocated to the firm’s Chicago office in 2016 and leads their federal projects sector on the U.S. mainland. He has worked on a wide range of project types including federal, resort, residential, commercial, and adaptive reuse, and manages BASE’s growing construction support services sector. Hirschi holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a voting member of several American Concrete Institute committees, and in 2021 was named a rising star in architecture, engineering, and construction by Civil + Structural Engineer magazine.

Chittur joined BASE in 2011 to lead the firm’s international projects after six years as a structural engineer in Florida. Chittur currently heads the firm’s Chicago office. Chittur has been an integral part of projects that have shaped many communities, including a new ballpark for the Miami Marlins, a sky bridge in Abu Dhabi, and high-rise buildings in Chicago and Honolulu. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and was named a Forty Under 40 in architecture, engineering, and construction by Building Design + Construction magazine and a rising star in architecture, engineering, and construction by Civil + Structural Engineer magazine, in 2017. Chittur is also a voting member in the Post-Tensioning Institute’s building design committee.

The transition coincides with BASE’s celebration of its 30th anniversary. As part of this ownership transition, Baldridge remains as an owner and will continue as the company’s president. Humay will remain a key member of the management team, providing leadership and guidance as the firm moves into its next phase.

ABOUT BASE

BASE is an internationally recognized full-service structural engineering firm founded in Honolulu with offices in Chicago, Florida, India, and Guam. Known for its diverse expertise, BASE’s resume includes a wide array of project types including high-rises, residential, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, and national defense projects.

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