Welcome to Tyson Engineering! I'm Tyson, a licensed professional engineer with deep roots in Bellingham, WA and a rich family tradition of homebuilding in Whatcom County. My family has been building in the area since the 1890s, starting with my great-great-grandfather, Anton Swanson, who constructed homes in the Sehome neighborhood. Many of these homes remain occupied today, with several listed on the Bellingham Historical Buildings Registry—including the Carter House at 1900 Eldridge Ave, a testament to his craftsmanship.

Our tradition spans five generations, passing from Anton to my great-grandfather Leonard Swanson, grandfather Bob Swanson, through uncles, cousins, and my father Mike Gill, who has been a local Bellingham builder working on residential and commercial projects in Whatcom County since the late 1970s. With this family legacy in mind, it has always been my goal to return home and contribute to Bellingham’s growth and development. Tyson Engineering was founded to support local designers and builders by creating clean, accurate, easily understandable structural drawings to help them build the highest quality and highest performing structures that stand the test of time and serve our community for generations.

If you’re looking for structural engineering services for residential or light commercial projects, I invite you to give us a call. Let’s discuss your project and how we can help you bring it to life with precision and efficiency.

Founder’s Experience

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Washington State University, with a concentration in structural engineering and a minor in mathematics. I graduated just ahead of the 2008 recession, and like many engineers at the time, my early career was shaped by circumstances well beyond my control. Within six months of graduating, I worked for three different engineering firms that ultimately closed as the housing market collapsed and residential construction across the country came to a standstill. Structural engineering positions—particularly in residential work—were scarce, and opportunities for recent graduates were limited.

That period taught me resilience and adaptability. As the economy recovered, I was able to fully re-enter the profession in 2013, joining a structural engineering firm in Lynnwood, Washington. Since then, I have focused primarily on residential construction, preparing structural plans and calculation packages required for permitting and construction. Over the past decade, I’ve worked on a wide range of projects, gaining a deep understanding of how thoughtful engineering can reduce construction costs, simplify labor in the field, and help architects and builders bring complex designs to life.

What I enjoy most about structural engineering is problem-solving—finding efficient, buildable solutions that respect an architect’s vision while making practical sense for the contractor and the homeowner. There’s something deeply satisfying about turning concrete, steel, and lumber into homes and spaces where families live, work, and build their lives.

At Tyson Engineering, we take pride in delivering clear, practical, and innovative structural solutions tailored to the unique challenges of each project. I would welcome the opportunity to work with you and help create a structure that becomes a lasting and meaningful part of the Bellingham community.