Notable New Orleanians: A Tricentennial Tribute

FROMHERZ
ENGINEERS,
INC.
Top: Notre Dame Seminary, 1923.
Constructed by Joseph Fromherz.
Below: Cold-formed steel framed home in
New Orleans’ Garden District.
Fromherz Engineers, Inc., has proven success
and diversity in engineering for more than a
century and a half. It is believed to be the only
family-owned, multifaceted engineering firm in
the nation with that longevity still owned by
descendants of the founder.
Fromherz’s roots can be traced to the carpentry
shop of Ferdinand Reusch, founded in
1867. Joseph Fromherz, an early apprentice
for Reusch, helped transform the carpentry
shop to a master building firm that included
design as well as construction. Fromherz had
taught mathematics during the Civil War, and
his skills in the mathematical field were just
what Reusch needed to further his own business.
Fromherz became his business partner.
It was not long after that Fromherz married
Ellen, Reusch’s daughter, and established his
own business. Fromherz’s sons, Alvin and
Fabian, carried on the business bloodline
after their father died. Today, Frank II (fifth
generation) is president of the firm, which
continues to practice civil, structural, and
environmental engineering.
Fromherz’s skills are evident in many
well-known homes, businesses, and highways;
the Houma Tunnel and Notre Dame
Seminary, among others. In addition to local
clients, ingenuity has always been a mainstay
of the Fromherz firm. The company has
spear-headed many innovations in construction
and architectural technology. This
included Joseph’s use of deep-driven piles
to counteract the instability of New Orleans’
soggy soil, which helped to change the
city’s skyline. Alvin was among the first to
remove piling to investigate tip damage from
over-driving.
Fromherz Engineers stays up-to-date with
engineering technology. In addition to
designs utilizing traditional building materials,
such as steel, concrete, and timber, the
company is proficient with new products
and new applications for conventional products.
In recent years, multistoried residences
have been designed that use structural
insulated panels for both the vertical and
horizontal structural systems. In addition to
being highly energy-efficient, these structures
are significantly lighter than those constructed
from conventional materials, and this
provides additional savings in the cost of
foundations. The company is currently providing
innovative designs using cold-formed
steel framing to create walls and trusses in
unique applications.
The success of Fromherz Engineers, Inc. is
simple: It thrives on patience, perseverance,
and perspiration. “Our past is one of merit
and our future is one of promise,” says Frank.
“Based on our historical success, combined
with the latest technology, the future shines
brighter than ever,” he concludes.
NOTABLE NEW ORLEANIANS: A Tricentennial Tribute
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