He was born in 1926 in the city of Leninakan /Gyumri/ in the family of noble builder.

In 1949 he finished Yerevan Polytechnic Institute after K. Marx, received qualification of engineer builder and he dedicated his whole scientific life to the development of urban development and seismic proof in the republic.

He has been director of Geophysics and Research Institute of Engineering Seismology of the National Academy of the Republic of Armenia, then -head of the studio of "ArmStateDesign" Institute, then - Deputy Director on science, Chief Engineer, and from 1980 to 1992 he has been the head of RA Construction and Architecture Research Institute.

During those years his organizational skills were fully revealed, professional deep knowledge in the sphere urban development and seismology.
He published about 100 scientific articles, numerous monographs and higher educational books, favoured with author's certificates.

With his immediate leadership the united seismic network was established and had further development in the republic.

With his designs numerous civil and industrial buildings and residential houses were built.

From 2001 he led the control works of the quality if the civil buildings and state monuments, being restored by Gyumri "Lincy" foundation, including V. Achemian Drama, Merkurov House-Museum, Garni, Zvartnots complexes.

S. Shahinyan combined his professional activity with pedagogical and public work. He is a professor of the chair of Yerevan Engineering Academy, as well as the founding and executive director of "Shirak International Union" NGO.

Now he is involved in the technical control of the quality of the design and construction works of "MEMORIAL COMPLEX" eternalizing the memory of the 1988 earthquake innocent victims .