Structural Engineering in Iraq: ArtPlan Consulting Bureau’s Industrial Projects with ProtaStructure

Introduction

Structural engineering in Iraq follows these codes: ACI 318, AISC 360, and ASCE 7 — the American concrete, steel, and loading standards adopted across many of the country’s residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Established in 2010, ArtPlan Consulting Bureau is a structural engineering consultancy delivering residential, commercial, and industrial projects within this framework across Iraq.

Since its establishment, the company has focused on adopting modern engineering technologies that improve design quality, increase productivity, and simplify coordination throughout every stage of a project. To support these goals, ArtPlan Consulting Bureau selected ProtaStructure Suite as its primary structural design platform, enabling the team to create realistic structural models while streamlining analysis, detailing, and documentation.

Discovery of ProtaStructure

ArtPlan Consulting Bureau has been using ProtaStructure Suite since 2022. The team was looking for a modern, interactive structural engineering solution that could handle complete project workflows within a single environment.

From the beginning, ProtaStructure stood out by allowing engineers to build realistic structural models rather than simplified analytical representations. This approach has helped the team improve design accuracy while making it easier to coordinate complex projects. What impressed the team most was how closely the software’s models reflect the real structure:

“It’s not like other software. With ProtaStructure, we can create a real model of the structure, making the entire engineering process much more practical and accurate.”

Useful Features

Among the many capabilities of ProtaStructure Suite, the team highlights steel detailing as one of the software’s greatest strengths. ArtPlan uses the program across the modeling, analysis, design, and documentation stages for a variety of building types — from commercial structures to demanding industrial facilities.

Some of their favorite features include:

• Comprehensive 3D structural modeling
• Accurate analytical models based on real structural geometry
• Advanced steel detailing capabilities
• Integrated modeling, analysis, design, and documentation within a single platform
• Efficient workflow that minimizes manual drafting effort

Project Case Study: Cooler Modification at Tasluja Cement Factory

One of the most challenging projects completed using ProtaStructure Suite was the Cooler Modification at Tasluja Cement Factory.

The project required upgrading an existing cooler section while keeping the original structure in place. Engineers had to accommodate a completely different cooler configuration and support significantly heavier loads without demolishing the existing structural system.

This presented several engineering challenges, including:

• Working with an existing industrial structure
• Integrating a new cooler system with a different configuration
• Supporting substantially increased structural loads
• Maintaining construction feasibility while minimizing disruption to plant operations

Using ProtaStructure Suite, the engineering team was able to develop an accurate structural model, evaluate different design alternatives, and produce the required steel detailing efficiently. The integrated workflow let the team move seamlessly from modeling to analysis and detailing without switching between multiple platforms, so project coordination became more efficient while manual drafting work was reduced.

For complex industrial projects such as the Tasluja Cement Factory modification, this integrated workflow helped the team confidently manage structural changes and produce accurate documentation within demanding project constraints. Beyond Tasluja, ArtPlan Consulting Bureau has successfully applied ProtaStructure Suite on numerous projects, including the Razyana Building.

Additional Resources

📌 Want to see these features in action? Check out our YouTube channel for detailed tutorials and demonstrations.

Resources and Demonstrations

For hands-on walkthroughs of the modeling, analysis, and steel detailing features described here, explore the ProtaStructure 2026 Tutorials & Tips playlist on our YouTube channel.

You can also find in-depth articles and support options on the Prota Help Center, and follow us on social media to stay updated on recent events and new feature releases.

Real-World Applications

Browse our Project Gallery to explore real-world structures modeled with ProtaStructure Suite.