Virginia Beach, VA Branch
Relationships First, Excellence Always
Our Viginia Beach, VA, team has an extensive knowledge of the area’s geology, enabling them to provide well-informed site knowledge to meet your project needs. In addition to geotechnical and environmental consulting services, our Raleigh office offers Special Inspection services to ensure compliance with International Building Code (IBC) requirements, as well as special services, such as geophysical site evaluations, floor flatness testing, StructureScan Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Pile Driving Analysis (PDA), thermal image scanning, and more.
At the Helm
Branch Manager Rich Engates, P.E.
Rich Engates, P.E., leads the Virginia Beach office as Branch Manager, bringing over 25 years of expertise in geotechnical services and construction materials testing. His construction career began in 1990 with the U.S. Navy Seabees, where he honed his leadership skills. Since then, Rich has served as a professional engineer of record on projects across Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Rich’s experience spans various roles, including field and lab technician, geotechnical field engineer, CMT/Geotechnical Department Manager, Operations Manager, and Branch Manager. His work bridges diverse market sectors, such as renewable energy, retail, military, commercial, municipal, DOT, education, and industrial.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Rich enjoys gardening, reading, and exploring new destinations through travel.
Address
1209 Baker Road, Unit 506
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Contact Information
Phone: (757) 217-9950
Fax: (910) 292-2087
Email: Submit Form
Hours
Mon-Fri
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM or scheduled as needed
Build with Us
Our team of professional engineers and CMT experts look forward to learning how we can help you build Virginia Beach and beyond. Request a proposal or contact our branch manager to get started.
Construction & Engineering
Careers in Virginia Beach, VA
Want to join an elite team? As an ENR Top 500 professional service firm with 16 locations across the Southeast and Midwest, we’re committed to the pursuit of excellence and finding innovative solutions for our customers. This culture of community and prioritizing relationships has been essential to our success and hitting our 25-year anniversary milestone. We are looking for a select few team players to join our unique culture.
What We Do
Building & Earth office provides a full range construction materials testing (CMT) services including Laboratory and Field Testing, Soil Testing, Asphalt Testing and Concrete Testing.
Asphalt Testing
- Superpave Mix Evaluation
- Stability & Flow
- Marshall Density
- Bulk Specific Gravity
- Extraction/Gradation
Concrete Testing
- Compressive Strength
- Flexural Strength
- Unit Weight
- Mix Design
- Splitting Tensile Test
Field Testing
- Compaction and Moisture Testing of Soil and Base
- Foundation Observations
- Concrete testing including Slump, Air Content, Compressive strength
- Masonry Testing and Observation Services
- Asphalt Testing Services
Soil Testing
- Modified & Standard Proctor
- Swell Testing of Plastic Soils
- Classification Tests (Gradation/Atterberg Limit Tests)
- California Bearing Ratio
- Limerock Bearing Ratio
Our drilling and coring services team has vast knowledge of testing and evaluating subsurface conditions and materials.
- Split Spoon and Shelby Tube Sampling
- Rock Coring
- Concrete Coring
- Mineral Investigation
- Borrow Pit Investigation
- Well Monitoring
- All-Terrain Drilling Capabilities
To avoid the cost and stress of dealing with hazardous materials Building & Earth provides Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) as well as lead and asbestos surveys.
- Geological Investigations
- Site Selection Evaluation Studies
- Phase I ESA
- Phase II ESA
- ESAs to comply with National Environmental Policy Act
Our professional geotechnical engineers possess significant experience with the unique subsurface geological conditions of each region we service.
- Geotechnical engineering
- Geotechnical consulting
- Geotechnical Engineers staffing
- Subsurface exploration
- Geophysical seismic site classification
- Dynamic soils properties (seismic and cyclical)
- Ground penetrating radar (GPR) studies
- Site excavation planning including dewatering design
- Engineering geology/geologic studies
- Mechanically-stabilized earth fill design
- Sinkhole exploration and remediation recommendations
- Impoundment liner design
- Field permeability testing
- Field soil strength testing
- Geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring
We offer a broad array of special inspection services including: structured steel inspections, masonry inspections, coatings inspections, roofing inspections, pavement inspections and failure investigation and analysis.
Structural Steel Inspections
- Certified Welding Inspectors
- Audit of plant and field procedures to determine conformance
- Destructive and nondestructive testing
- Welder and procedure qualification
- Prepare and evaluate welding procedures
Masonry Inspections
- Reinforcing steel observation
- Preparing and testing mortar and grout specimens
- Concrete block, brick and masonry prism testing
- Observation of conformance with construction documents
- Absorption and Efflorescence
Coatings Inspections
- Fireproofing-thickness, density, adhesion/cohesion
- Intumescent Paint
- Paint – wet and dry film thickness
Roofing Inspections
- Roofing Inspectors
- Evaluation of roofing materials and specifications
- Application and conformance monitoring
Pavement Inspections
- Pavement management services
- Pavement Condition Surveys and tests for functional and structural distress
Failure Investigation and Analysis
- Evaluate distress in architectural and structural materials
- Provide litigation support and expert services
Building & Earth is dedicated to providing the most current, innovative technology to satisfy our clients’ demands for more useful information utilizing minimally invasive techniques.
- Seismic Site Classification utilizing shear wave analysis (Re-Mi)
- Non-invasive studies utililizing StructureScan/UtilityScan ground penetrating Radar (GPR)
- Floor Flatness Profiling utilizing FACE Dipstick Device
- Thermal Image Scanning utilizing FLIR
- Slip Resistance Testing
- Concrete Floor Gloss Testing (Static Coefficient of Friction)
- Condition Survey of Structures
Living & Working in
Virginia Beach, Virginia
There’s a reason this coastal town is a favorite for visitors and locals alike. Positioned right where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is a small city rich in history and full of attractions for any interest. The area’s beaches are the site of some of the first landings of Captain John Smith and his party, and years later, gaining control of Chesapeake Bay was a pivotal win for soldiers during the Revolutionary War.
Today, the city of Virginia Beach is divided up into seven unique districts: Sandbridge, Pungo, Oceanfront, Chesapeake Bay, Town Center, Inland, and the ViBe Creative district.
One of the main draws of Virginia Beach is its namesake: the beach itself. The city features miles of pristine shoreline, and the iconic Virginia Beach Boardwalk, stretching for three miles along the oceanfront, is a hub of activity with restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Other major attractions include the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, First Landing State Park, and the Military Aviation Museum.
Virginia Beach is also home to several military bases: NAS Oceana, Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek/Fort Story, and NAS Oceana Dam Neck Annex. As home to the largest concentration of military personnel outside of the Pentagon, it’s no surprise that the United States military is the area’s largest employer. The city’s economy is diverse, supported by industries such as military, tourism, technology, biomedical sciences, and advanced manufacturing.