DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAY/JUNE 2020 • 77

MEMBER PROF I LE

AUTHOR S. Scot Litke, Hon. D.GE

Matt Meyer, Langan Engineering, Well-Suited to Go the Distance

Charleston, South Carolina, is a picturesque

city of 138,000 along the Cooper River. It is

known for many things, including its

charming antebellum architecture, excel-

lent restaurants and the oft-profiled

Cooper River Bridge, a prominent structure

in the geo-industry based on the

geotechnical challenges its design and

construction presented. Another event of

geotechnical and historical note was the

6.9-7.3 magnitude earthquake of 1886,

which destroyed over 100 buildings and

was felt as far away as Ohio.

Charleston also happens to be the

birthplace of Matt Meyer, P.E., D.GE. At the

time of Meyer’s “arrival,” his father, a WWII

U.S. Navy veteran who was pursuing a

career in the engineering field, was

employed at the Charleston shipyard. His

mother, admired for, among other things,

her entrepreneurial spirit, owned her own

public accounting firm. Meyer credits his

folk’s model work ethic as setting the tone

for his own success-filled life. Based in

Miami, Florida, now, he is vice president and

principal at the DFI member firm, Langan

Engineering and Environmental Services.

It Happened This WayAs a boy, Meyer was interested in sports and

in becoming an accomplished cross-

country and long-distance runner. Perhaps

the words “running” and “distance” were

portents of his future. His 25-year profes-

sional life has had him crisscrossing the

U.S., taking on responsibility for multiple

high-profile projects of every stripe. After

graduating from high school, he remained

in his beloved Charleston where he

attended The Citadel, an engineering-

oriented military college much like West

Point. After graduating with a bachelor’s

degree in civil engineering, he then went on

to Virginia Tech where he received his

master’s. At Virginia Tech he studied under

some of the profession’s greats, including

Jim Mitchell, Michael Duncan, George Filz,

James Martin (himself a Citadel graduate),

and Tom Brandon, all of whom he credits

with having had a major influence on his

own path. Meyer’s fervor for education is

evidenced by his serving as an adjunct

professor at Florida International Uni-

versity, and by his support of the Geo-

Institute of ASCE’s Advanced Specialty

Certification program.

Challenges AplentySince joining Langan in 1996, Meyer has

played a significant role in over 100 major

deep foundation projects throughout the

U.S. His work has involved just about every

conceivable type of deep foundation

application. Among the most notable are the

new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the

NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in Georgia; the Port of

Miami Tunnel in Florida; the Four Seasons

Hotel and Tower (the tallest structure in

Florida at the time of its construction); the

Atlantis Phase II expansions on Paradise

Island in the Bahamas; and the iconic guitar-

shaped Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

buildings in Florida.

As one of his colleagues at Langan,

Rudy Frizzi, says, “Matt isn’t wed to one

foundation type, but is open to the

utilization of whatever system is most

suited to the project at hand.” This is

evidenced by the range of projects in which

he has taken a leadership role.

While on the subject of leadership, all

who have worked with Meyer have

described this very trait as that which most

typifies his career and his persona. Frizzi

notes that, “Matt is an extremely hard-

working professional. He leads by example.

He is a person that people want to work

with. His actions inspire others to achieve.”

Matt Meyer and daughter, Samantha, during a Colorado ski trip

78 • DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAY/JUNE 2020

Another colleague, Andres Baquerizo with the Keller Group,

describes traits that have been the hallmark of Meyer’s

contributions to the profession. “Matt Meyer is first and foremost

an incredible family person with the highest ethical standards. I feel

really lucky and blessed to have worked with him for the past 20

years. Some of our work resulted in ‘world record projects.’ Over

the years we have been able to come up with amazing solutions,

some even changing the face of our cities. Matt is a win-win person

with an unmatched thirst for knowledge.”

Meyer notes that, while great resources have been available to

him within Langan, “I recognize that in order to have a successful

project, one must understand and appreciate the importance of the

role played by talented foundation specialty contractors, and of

working closely with clients and general contractors, all of whom

are key parties on the project team.”

Among the challenges he sees that confront not only

geotechnical engineering but also our nation and the world as a

whole include addressing failing infrastructure, expanding mass

transit capacities, moving toward alternative energy sources, and

facing climate change head-on. The latter he says was made all the

more clear to him from having grown up along the Cooper River

and from living in Miami, two cities directly affected by the rise in

sea levels, and by severe flooding events.

DFI Is a BeneficiaryMeyer has been a stalwart contributor to DFI’s technical and

educational initiatives. Among his many contributions to the

organization is serving as a trustee, being the past chair of the

Augered-Cast-In-Place and Drilled Displacement Pile Committee, a

prior member of the DFI Sustainability Committee, and participating

as a lead presenter at multiple DFI seminars and workshops. He is a

past trustee liaison to the Soil Mixing Committee and the current

trustee liaison to the Working Platforms Industry-Wide Working

Group. His many technical papers are featured in DFI publications,

including the organization’s peer-reviewed Journal and Deep

Foundations magazine. In 2018, DFI acknowledged his many contri-

butions by presenting him with its prestigious President’s Award.

DFI is not the only professional organization that has

acknowledged Meyer’s achievements. He was the recipient of the

2002 Miami-Dade Florida Branch of ASCE’s Young Engineer of the

Year Award, and was featured in 2011 as one of ENR Southeast’s

Top 20 Under Forty Engineers.

All Work and No Play Is Not Meyer’s MantraAs noted by Meyer’s colleagues earlier, he is the consummate “family

man.” The Meyers are involved in a host of recreational activities,

including being avid skiers, boating enthusiasts and world travelers.

Being a runner and regularly putting-in-the-miles is part of his

genetic makeup. He has maintained this passion throughout his life,

and one would expect the enthusiasm to continue.

Well rounded. Centered. Engaged in all that life has to offer.

Add to this engineer, volunteer, parent and valued friend to all that

have had the pleasure of being part of his universe. For Meyer life is

not a sprint, it is a marathon.