Leadership & Team
The Glenwood Structural team brings together over a century of combined experience in structural engineering, construction, and architectural coordination. We are a small, senior-led firm — meaning the principals you meet are the engineers and designers who work on your project, from the final stamped drawing to the last walkthrough visit.
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Adolfo O. Gorra, MS, PE
Principal Engineer & Founder
40 years of structural engineering.
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Walter A. Gorra, MS, PE
Project Manager & Project Engineer
From high-rise renovations in Manhattan to custom homes in Snowmass — mountain engineering runs in the family.
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Kenneth Kulwiec, MFA
Structural Drafting & Project Coordination
Valedictorian. Architect.
The reason our drawings look the way they do. -
Paula E. Gorra, MS
Co-Founder and Director of Business Operations
Paula Gorra brings a distinctive combination of civil engineering education, construction management expertise
Ready to work with our team?
We'd love to hear about your project — no matter the size.
Adolfo O. Gorra, MS, PE
Principal Engineer & Founder
Adolfo founded Glenwood Structural and Civil in 1999 after a career that took him from the seismic retrofit of unreinforced masonry buildings in California to structural steel fabrication and erection across the Mountain West. Today, with 39 years of design and constructionexperience behind him, he leads the firm as principal engineer — and remains deeply involved in every project the team takes on.
His background spans commercial, governmental, educational, residential, and religious structures, with a particular specialty in the complex demands of mountain construction. He has always placed a strong emphasis on construction support, believing that time spent in the field produces better drawings at the desk.
Adolfo serves the broader community as a board member of the Garfield County Board of Adjustments and previously served on the Garfield County Planning and Zoning Commission.
Avid builder and automotive restoration enthusiast with a proven track record of managing full-scale projects, including designing and constructing a custom family home in California, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), and a mountain cabin/workshop, alongside the complete mechanical restoration of a 1951 Willys Jeep.
Education:
MS Civil Engineering + BS Civil Engineering (Building Science) — University of Southern California
Licensed:
Colorado | California | Utah | NCEES Certified
Walter A. Gorra, MS, PE
Project Manager & Project Engineer
A native of the Roaring Fork Valley, Walter grew up surrounded by the mountains his firm now engineers for. He earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil and structural engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, then spent time in New York City working on high-rise building renovations and large custom homes in the Hamptons — bringing a breadth of experience back home to Colorado that few Western Slope engineers can match.
At GSC, Walter leads project engineering and management across the firm’s commercial, residential, and institutional portfolio. He is a member of the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado (SEAC).
Outside of engineering, Walter is an award-winning jazz pianist who has performed internationally, and an avid fly fisherman.
Education:
BS Civil Engineering + MS Structural Engineering — University of Colorado at Boulder
Licensed:
Colorado | Member, SEAC | NCEES Certified
Kenneth Kulwiec, MFA
Structural Drafting & Project Coordination
Ken Kulwiec brings something rare to a structural engineering firm: a formal architectural education, a background in graphic and packaging design, and over 35 years of experience translating complex engineering concepts into clear, construction-ready documents. He graduated as Class Valedictorian from UCLA’s architecture program and earned his undergraduate degree with honors from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
At GSC, Ken oversees all structural and architectural documentation, project coordination, and construction drawing organization — and serves as an unusually effective bridge between the engineering and architectural sides of any project team.
An artist in his own right, Ken frequently spends his personal time painting. Recently, he has expanded his creative repertoire to include the assembly of complex, intricate Lego structures, blending his fine-art background with structural design.
Education:
Master of Architecture (Valedictorian) — UCLA | BArch with Honors — Art Center College of Design, Pasadena
Paula E. Gorra
Co-Founder and Director of Business Operations
Paula Gorra brings a distinctive combination of civil engineering education, construction management expertise, and more than 25 years of business leadership to Glenwood Structural and Civil. As a co-founder of the firm, she has played an integral role in supporting its long-term growth, operational stability, financial management, and professional presence since 1999. In her role, Paula oversees the firm's business operations, including full-charge accounting, accounts payable and receivable, contracts, insurance requirements, and administrative systems. She also leads proposal development and interview preparation, coordinating the organization, design, and production of proposals, correspondence, project descriptions, staff resumes, and firm qualifications. Paula also supports the firm's marketing and communications efforts, including the development and maintenance of marketing materials and website content. She designed the firm's original website and continues to help keep the current website accurate and up to date.
Education
Master of Science in Civil Engineering/Construction Management, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering/Building Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Community Involvement
Paula serves as a board member of the City of Glenwood Springs Downtown Development Authority.