After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Pirooz began a 15-year tenure with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in San Francisco in 1968. In 1983, he founded PB&A Inc. and began focusing his expertise on the interaction between structural systems and soil — particularly earth retention systems and deep excavation support.

 

Pirooz has contributed significantly to the industry: • Designed the first Soil Nail Wall in the Western Hemisphere • Authored a National Science Foundation–funded report to Congress on the behavior of soil nailed walls after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake • Served as Chairman of the Los Angeles Soil Nail Committee, developing design guidelines for permanent soil nailed walls in LA County • Drafted OSHPD design criteria for permanent retention systems, later adopted into the California Building Code Title 24.

 

Pirooz remains an active member of ADSC and DFI, and continues to guide PB&A toward advancing geo-structural engineering in the field — not just in theory.