Thornfield Consulting Corp is a commercial structural engineering firm. We focus on cold-formed steel (steel stud) framing, structural steel and steel connections, miscellaneous metals, masonry veneer support, pipe supports, and specialty structural components. We work with contractors, fabricators, architects, and developers throughout British Columbia and beyond, and our team holds professional engineering registration in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Washington.
We bring technical precision to complex structural challenges. Our approach emphasizes constructability, clear documentation, practical design grounded in real conditions, and responsiveness to evolving project requirements. From pre-tender planning to field reviews, we’re an active part of your team—coordinating with trades, owners, and GCs, working through design questions, and representing your interests.
With over 185 projects completed and more than 35 active long-term clients, we’ve built our practice on technical rigor and genuine partnership. We deliver solutions that are not just correct on paper, but buildable and practical on site.
Matthew brings years of engineering experience to every Thornfield project, along with a genuine passion for the craft. He is dedicated to streamlining the design process, developing innovative methodologies and building his own software tools to make the most of time and resources.
His specialty is cold-formed steel (steel stud), where he focuses on optimizing materials and minimizing labor. Drawing on a deep knowledge of the cold-formed steel code and material specifications, he pushes the material to its limits while keeping every design safe, and he actively seeks out collaboration to trade insights and take on the industry's harder problems.
He is equally at home in structural steel (hot-rolled), designing efficient, constructible systems that respect the architectural intent and working closely with fabricators to keep them buildable and cost-effective. As an active member of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC), he stays current with evolving best practices. Registered across several Canadian provinces and U.S. states, and able to register in others as projects require, he supports work over a broad region.
His guiding belief is simple: any material used beyond what the code or project truly requires is a wasted opportunity. Across hospital, commercial, institutional, and industrial projects, that mindset lets him deliver cost-effective solutions without compromising quality or safety.
Matthew Elgersma, Principal
In the Field
The Work Behind the Drawings
Steel stud framing is where our practice lives. From layout to the last stud, we design systems that install cleanly, coordinate with every trade, and stand exactly as drawn. These are the structures our drawings become.
Load-bearing walls, ceiling systems, and interior partitions — engineered to be buildable, efficient, and clear on paper before anyone picks up a screw gun.
Exterior steel stud engineering for this Clinical Support and Research Centre, including panel lifting design and custom lifting lug development. We worked closely with the client, fabricator, and installer to support prefabricated wall panels, with a focus on constructability, lift sequencing, and site efficiency. Lifting and handling forces were treated as a primary design case, allowing panel geometry, connection detailing, and lug placement to be coordinated early. Rendering by Diamond Schmitt Architects.
Structural Steel, Overhead Lifting
Spreader Bar
Chilliwack, BC
Purpose-built lifting beam for an American facility, with the structural analysis carried out in accordance with ASME BTH-1:2023. Torsion was a governing design issue due to the lift geometry and load path, and it was explicitly analyzed. The design was developed using a combination of MapleFlow, RFEM 6, and bespoke Python notebooks to evaluate section properties, torsional response, load paths, and overall stability, resulting in a solution that is efficient, buildable, and clearly documented for fabrication and safe use.
Steel Stud and Ceilings
Prince Albert Victoria Hospital
Prince Albert, SK
Design and field reviews for the steel stud walls and ceilings for this hospital in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Rendering courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan.
Steel Stud and Ceilings
Broadway Subway Stations
Vancouver, BC
Structural design of steel stud systems for Vancouver's Broadway Subway project, which includes six stations. Given the scale and complexity, careful coordination with multiple consultants has been essential throughout construction.
Structural Steel
Structural Steel Frame for RF Chamber
Wisconsin, USA
This 70 by 30 by 16 foot steel frame was designed as an exo-skeleton to support the installation of a Radio Frequency Chamber to be installed in Wisconsin, USA. Members of our team are registered in several US states. This project required extremely close coordination with the RF chamber supplier to ensure exact fit and no penetrations into the chamber.
Steel Stud and Ceilings
PNE Amphitheatre
Vancouver, BC
Engineering for the steel stud systems on this landmark project. Initially retained by the general contractor for pricing drawings of the parapets forming the arch exterior, we were later brought on by the wall and ceiling contractor to complete engineering for the remainder of the project. Rendering by Revery Architecture.
"Thornfield is a great company to cooperate with. At any point of the project, quality of service and solution-focused approach is their priority. Very knowledgeable and skilled professionals. I would highly recommend this firm to everyone."
KamilProject Manager at Wall and Ceiling Contractor
"Matthew was the engineer for my shop construction and was great to work with. I’ve since worked with him on one of my railing projects. Good decisions."
Marten KerkhoffOwner, Tenmar Contracting
"Matthew has been very professional and easy to communicate with. Looking forward to working together on more projects in the future."
JustinOwner at Chilliwack Steel Fabricator
"We renovated our townhouse in Chilliwack and had some structural engineering considerations. After phoning around town, there were very few who were willing to take on such a small, one-off job. Matthew was ready and willing to help us out. I am very grateful to him for taking on our project, doing so quickly and affordably. I’m happy to say our renovations are complete, including removing walls and adding beams."
Chilliwack HomeownerTownhouse Renovation
"I really appreciate Thornfield Consulting and the great job they have done over the years. I would recommend them to any job out there. They have been great. Their staff are really polite and very helpful, and most importantly very knowledgeable."
NickForeman at Wall and Ceiling Contractor
Our clients consistently tell us how much they value our involvement. We're more than just a consultant who sends drawings, rather, we're an active part of the team. Whether it's coordinating with trades, owners, or GCs, working through design questions, or representing your interests in meetings, we show up prepared, engaged, and focused on solutions. You can rely on us to keep things moving and make your job easier at every stage.
