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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.
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