Moffatt & Nichol was founded in 1945 to provide design engineering services to the evolving maritime infrastructure on the west coast of the United States. Early successes in port facility planning and coastal structures design earned the firm a reputation for innovation and creativity. By the next decade, Moffatt & Nichol's practice had expanded... more»
What has kept you with Moffatt & Nichol?
The people-focused culture of the firm—it supports individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit. The firm also promotes strong inter-office and intra-office relationships.
How has your role developed since you came?
I joined the firm to serve as a project engineer for large projects, and project manager for smaller projects. My role has evolved significantly during my tenure at the firm. I manage a wide range of small and large projects and also support business development activities and marketing, such as developing relationships with private and public clients and writing and preparing proposals. I also mentor and oversee the schedules and workload of coastal engineers in our office.
What types of projects do you work on:
In the last five years, our office has provided master planning and design services for a significant number of private developments in the southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean. These projects focus on beach restoration and enhancements, shore protection, and marina planning and design. In addition, we have provided coastal engineering services to various water management districts and municipalities.
How has the company changed since you arrived?
The company has grown larger and is more focused on enhancing its capabilities in our core practices. The company is also returning to the international arena, where there are significant opportunities for growth
How would you describe the work environment?
Excellent! I continue to learn something new every day based on the interaction between employees in my office and our other offices around the world.
What separates M&N from its competition?
Our responsiveness to our clients; we expend considerable effort to maintain long-term relationships with our clients.
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Erosion Halted in Caribbean Community
Palmas del Mar
Client/Owner: Palmas Del Mar Properties, Inc. and Palmas del Mar Yacht Club, Inc
Location: Humacao, Puerto Rico
Practices/Services: Coastal Engineering & Water Resources
As the first planned community in the Caribbean region, Palmas Del Mar blends the resort lifestyle of pristine beaches and world class marinas and golf courses with the conveniences of a small town. One of the focal points in the development is the marina, which was fashioned after Port Grimaud in the French Riviera. The marina consists of two basins; an interior basin consisting of interconnecting canals opening to a large open outer basin protected by a large breakwater. The construction of the breakwater was never completed in its entirety, resulting in a structure with a low, unprotected crest. Frequent tropical storms and hurricanes have further damaged the structure. The breakwater also did not provide adequate sheltering of waves in the outer marina basin, creating agitated mooring conditions.
When the owners, Del Mar Properties, Inc. and Palmas del Mar Yacht Club, Inc., decided to repair and enhance the breakwater, they turned to Moffatt & Nichol for planning, permit support and design of the existing 690-foot long breakwater, along with a new spur breakwater. The spur breakwater was designed to reduce wave penetration into the outer basin, permitting the owner to construct a 163-slip marina to serve yachts from 50 to 160 feet long. Moffatt & Nichol conducted numerical wave studies and a physical model study to evaluate and optimize repair sections for the main breakwater and the geometry and alignment of the breakwater spur. The chosen alternative – increasing the height of the main breakwater by approximately 10 feet and adding a 210-foot dog-leg-shaped spur breakwater, was designed. Moffatt & Nichol also provided support services during construction.
Approximately a mile north of the marina is Punta Candelero, an undeveloped sandy headland on the resort’s coastline. Over the last decade, severe erosion had resulted in shoreline retreat, threatening development of the site. Moffatt & Nichol was tasked with evaluating the performance of a series of T-groins proposed along the 2500-foot-long shoreline. A three T-groin configuration at the central section of the point with beach fill and construction of a buried revetment to protect upland infrastructure during severe events was chosen alternative based on the outcome of a physical model study. Moffatt & Nichol provided permit assistance and prepared construction documents for this project.
Innovative Seismic Design for New East Span
Innovative Seismic Design for the New Bay Bridge East Span
Client/Owner: Caltrans Division of Structures
Location: Oakland, California
Practices/Services: Transportation
In a joint venture, Moffatt & Nichol served as the project manager for the design of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge's new East Span. Severely damaged during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the 2.2-mile-long replacement span is an example of innovative seismic design. The bridge will have expandable deck joints, enabling the bridge to expand and contract during tremors, and the steel beams will deform under pressure, absorbing force. The design also includes twin 1.5-mile-long viaducts that will carry five lanes of traffic in each direction and a 15-foot-wide pedestrian/bike lane on the south side of the eastbound deck. Since opening in 1936, the bridge has served as the primary route between San Francisco and the east bay communities beyond.
Our Mission
Creative People, Practical Solutions
We strive to hire the most talented and creative people possible, knowing that success will inevitably follow when our creative employees perform advanced work that leads to practical solutions to clients' problems. Practical solutions are ones that contractors can build, are cost-effective, or that help improve our clients' operations, enabling them to be more competitive and efficient. Our blend of imagination, high-end analytics, and decades of practical experience is a distinguishing quality of Moffatt & Nichol.
Our Values
Consistently holding to a unique set values.
Our values underlie our culture and reputation, govern our actions, and reinforce the essential beliefs that sustain Moffatt & Nichol.
Integrity is paramount. Be fair, honest and forthright with all parties.
Maintain a strong tradition of ethical conduct as the foundation of our business.
Never stand on past successes. Constantly improve our skills and approaches.
Overachieve on project assignments while understanding the important distinction between excellence and perfection.
Secure our future by constantly exceeding our clients' expectations.
Respect our competitors.
Share our earnings with employees.
Maintain a meritocracy in which employees' hard work, sacrifices and achievements will be rewarded.
Be good corporate citizens within our communities.
Our Vision
Working together to be the best in our core practices and supporting disciplines.
Our value to clients comes from our professional practices. We will focus on these, grow them and make them the best in our industry by adding value through technical excellence and creativity. In some fields, this might mean that we are the biggest. However, we see no value in striving to be the largest at anything for its own sake. Rather, we will strive simply to be the best. We do not have to be all things to all people to be successful.
