Meyer Engineers, Ltd.> News

News

November 15, 2023Meyer Engineers Names Donovan Duffy President

Meyer Engineers announced today that Donovan Duffy will lead the engineering and architecture firm as its president effective January 1, 2024. Duffy succeeds Rick Meyer, who has served as president since 2000. Meyer will remain with the company as a principal focusing on business development and mentoring.

“Donovan understands the facets of our firm and what’s necessary in today’s marketplace to help our clients succeed,” said Meyer. “He has also earned the respect and trust of his coworkers. I’m confident that combination will lead to great things for Donovan and Meyer Engineers.”

Duffy began his career as a structural engineer designing offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. After obtaining his MBA from the University of New Orleans’ executive program, Donovan worked for a civil engineering firm specializing in water and wastewater treatment and transmission. Duffy joined Meyer Engineers in October 2017 as a project manager assigned to a wide variety of design projects.

Meyer was purchased in December 2022 by Thompson Holdings, which is also parent company to Thompson Engineering, Watermark Design, and Thompson Consulting Services. The Thompson companies employ nearly 600 people providing engineering, architecture, and disaster response solutions from offices in eight Southeastern states.

“I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of Rick and Chub Meyer and continue the legacy they have built over the last 65 years,” said Duffy. “Our new partnership with Thompson creates exciting opportunities for Meyer in Louisiana and beyond and I am looking forward to leading our team as we enter this next phase in our company’s history.”

About Thompson The Thompson companies operate in eight states throughout the Southeast. Thompson's nearly 400 employees serve clients from California to Puerto Rico. Thompson Engineering is a multi-disciplined engineering firm celebrating 70 years in 2023. Watermark Design Group is an architecture and planning firm. Thompson Consulting Services is a rapidly growing leader in disaster recovery services.

About Meyer Engineers Established in 1965, Meyer Engineers is an architectural and engineering firm that helps communities, non-profits, and businesses thrive. Meyer has completed numerous projects throughout south Louisiana for federal, state, and local agencies as well as the private sector.

About Thompson Holdings The Thompson Holdings companies provide engineering, architecture, and disaster response solutions. Thompson Engineering is a multi-disciplined engineering firm celebrating 70 years in 2023. Watermark Design Group is an architecture and planning firm. Thompson Consulting Services is a rapidly growing leader in disaster recovery services. Meyer Engineers specializes in architecture, engineering, construction management, and construction engineering and inspection services.


December 6, 2022Thompson Holdings, Inc. Acquires Meyer Engineers, Expanding Louisiana Presence

Thompson Holdings, Inc. (Thompson), a family of companies providing engineering, architecture, and disaster response solutions, announced today the acquisition of Meyer Engineers. Meyer Engineers specializes in architecture, engineering, construction management, and construction engineering and inspection services to clients in the federal, transportation, industrial, and municipal markets. Established in 1965, its 60 employees share the same core values as Thompson companies and focus on innovative, quality solutions to solve its clients’ needs.

“Increasing Thompson’s Louisiana and Texas footprint is a key point in our strategic growth plan,” said John Baker, Chairman of Thompson. “Meyer Engineers has a long and respected history of excellence in the New Orleans area and will be a valued partner in our westward expansion.” The Thompson companies currently offer services in eight Southeastern states

“Thompson and Meyer have a lot in common, most importantly a longtime commitment to excellent client service,” said Rick Meyer, who will continue in his role as President of Meyer Engineers. “This next step in Meyer’s evolution allows us to expand and diversify the services we offer. Meyer employees will also benefit from the support Thompson provides as an employee-owned company.”

Meyer Engineers joins Thompson Engineering, Watermark Design, and Thompson Consulting Services as Thompson affiliated companies. With the acquisition of Meyer, Thompson’s Louisiana presence expands to more than 85 employees in the Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and New Orleans metro areas.

About Thompson The Thompson companies operate in eight states throughout the Southeast. Thompson's nearly 400 employees serve clients from California to Puerto Rico. Thompson Engineering is a multi-disciplined engineering firm celebrating 70 years in 2023. Watermark Design Group is an architecture and planning firm. Thompson Consulting Services is a rapidly growing leader in disaster recovery services.

About Meyer Engineers Established in 1965, Meyer Engineers is an architectural and engineering firm that helps communities, non-profits, and businesses thrive. Meyer has completed numerous projects throughout south Louisiana for federal, state, and local agencies as well as the private sector.

Meyer Engineers joins Thompson Engineering, Watermark Design, and Thompson Consulting Services.


March 2022ACECL 2022 Award for Green Infastructure Design

March 2022 / Meyer Wins Award for Green Infrastructure Design at Children’s Hospital Meyer Engineers, Ltd. won the award for Waste and Storm Water at the American Council of Engineering Council’s (ACECL) Engineering Excellence Award Ceremony. Meyer designed the Green Infrastructure Improvements as part of LCMC Health’s $300M expansion to renovate the Children's Hospital campus. Meyer Developed a green infrastructure plan that included a unique mix of stormwater best management practices – landscaped bioswales, subsurface stormwater tanks, and pervious pavement.


July 2021Meyer Praised for Work on Lloyd B. Johnson Law Enforcement Training Facility

Meyer Engineers, Ltd. was recognized by the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office for their work on the Lloyd B. Johnson Enforcement Training Facility. The $9 million training facility is a 21st century shooting complex as well as an educational center that provides both seated classrooms and hands on training. Meyer was selected by the Sheriffs Office as the architectural firm tasked with providing feasibility, assessment, demolition, and new building design.

Meyer selected Adrianna Eschete as the lead contract architectural project manager for the job. In addition to being a licensed architect, Adrianna is both a certified U.S. Concealed Carry Association Training Counselor and The Well Armed Woman Counselor. This background gave Adrianna the inside knowledge needed to help design the multi-million job. Meyer coordinated with the owner to provide a state-of-the-art facility where members of both the police force and public may train in firearms. In addition to the shooting complex and classrooms, the facility provides a fully serviced kitchen, exercise room, locker rooms with showers, and office spaces. The facility also has its’ own power source, allowing the Sheriff’s Department to employ it as an emergency operations center (EOC) as well. Design challenges included providing a multi-directional shooting range, outlining a building area with limited right-of-way, and coordinating with the various systems to be housed in the facility. Meyer provided a design that would house and protect the HVAC systems for the range, manipulate the acoustics, and promote safety all within budget.


July 2020David Dupre elected Chairman of ACECL

David Dupre, P.E. and Vice President of Meyer Engineers, has been elected Chairman of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana (ACECL) for 2020-2021.

As ACECL Chairman, David will preside over all meetings of the Council and of the Board of Directors. The Council is a business association of over 120 Louisiana engineering firms committed to advancing the private practice of consulting engineering, enhancing markets for private engineering services, educating the public on the importance of infrastructure investment, and promoting sound business practices within the industry and its client base.

David Dupre has been a member of the ACECL Governors Board of Directors for 10 years.


December 2019Meyer Recognized for Work on Veterans Cemetery

Th American Council of Engineering Companies of Lousiana (ACECL) recognized Meyer Engineers, Ltd. in the Small Projects category for their work designing the master plan and first phases for the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery. The cemetery was constructed to offer a variety of burial options for our United States Military Veterans. Site development included grading, drainage, a detention pond, burial sites, road, parking lots, decorative metal fence, entrance gates with gate operators for security measures, landscaping and an irrigation system.

The project team provided site analysis, conceptual alternatives, architectural floor space and building code analysis. The Master Plan developed has provided capacity to serve the Veteran population for approximately 250 years. The design and master plan had to be completed in an extremely tight schedule of only 5 months. Read more about the project here.


September 2019St. John Lucy Levee Trail Project Breaks Ground

Representatives from Meyer Engineers, Ltd. were pleased to attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the first section of a St. John the Baptist Parish west bank levee trail. The Lucy Levee Trail extends 1 mile along the top of the Mississippi River west bank levee. Read more about it here.


June 2019Tammany Trace Tunnel Begins Construction

Meyer Engineers, Ltd. is pleased to announce the start of construction of the long awaited Tammany Trace Tunnel under LA 59. Meyer designed the $3.5m project to improve both vehicle and bicycle safety. The project removes a dangerous at-grade crossing of the Tammany Trace bike path while also flattening out LA59's severe S-curve into one more managable for motorists. The project was accomplished with funding from both LADOTD and St. Tammany Parish. Read more about it here and here.


April 2019Lasalle Baseball Fields Turf Ribbon Cutting

Meyer Engineers, Ltd. was proud to attend the ribbon cutting for the Lasalle Park Baseball Fields Turf Project. The $1.4m project was designed by Meyer, and added major improvements to 4 existing baseball fields. Artificial turf and French drains were installed in the infields, and new sodding and drainage in the outfields. The new and improved fields will provide a better playing surfaces for the players, minimize field downtime due to weather, and decrease maintenance for the Parish.

Since the park hosts a regular rotation of adult and youth baseball and softball leagues, scheduling was a major focus of this project. The design was completed under a tight, fast-tracked schedule, and constructed while keeping a minimum of two fields in use at all times.

Read more about the project and see additional photos on Jefferson Parish’s website here.


August 2018MSY North Terminal Nears Completion

Meyer Engineers, Ltd. was pleased to offer Plan Review Services for the $993.7 million New Orleans International Airport (MSY) North Terminal and its associated expansion projects. Meyer was retained by the City of Kenner as the lead code reviewer for the project and tasked with reviewing thousands of plan sheets and specifications for compliance with the International Building Code (IBC), Kenner building code, zoning code requirements, and any other applicable regulations.

Since the project was a design/build, review and coordination were done while the expansion projects were being designed and constructed. Due to the vast size and complexity of the projects, meetings and reviews were conducted at Design Development, 30%, 60% and 100% Construction Documents as well as addendums during construction. Meyer coordinated with Kenner and airport administration, Kenner Council, Kenner Public Works, Code Enforcement, Planning & Zoning, State Fire Marshal, airport design engineers, contractors and many other departments and agencies as necessary. Meyer reviewed engineering plans, including the design and drainage calculations for the drainage pumping station and its associated site. Meyer also reviewed architectural plans for code compliance and coordinated with sub consulting firms for structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and traffic related review. Meyer not only reviewed the drawings for the terminal and concourse buildings but also reviewed the drawings for the associated expansion projects: a jet fuel farm, two-1,000 car parking garages, a radio communications tower, central utility plant, blue water disposal station, solid waste disposal building, and a taxi holding lot and refreshment station.

After being slated for an October 2018 opening, the terminal was expanded from 30 to 35 airline gates, including new gates for international airlines. These proposed changes were incorporated into the design and reviewed while construction was underway. The new terminal and its associated expansion projects are now expected to open in February of 2019. Read more here.


January 2018Meyer Recognized by ACI for Outstanding Concrete Engineering

The American Concrete Institute Louisiana Chapter recognized Meyer Engineers, Ltd. for Excellence in Flat Work for the Tremont Eastbound Rest Area on I-20 during their 2017 awards ceremony. Additionally, ACI-LA awarded the project 2nd place in the overall concrete category. Meyer designed and oversaw construction for both the architectural and engineering portions of the $11.6 million project. Read more about it here.


December 2016Lafitte Auditorium Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Meyer Engineers, Ltd. was honored to join the Town of Lafitte and Mayor Tim Kerner at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Lafitte Auditorium. The 18,000 square foot building, designed by Meyer, features a main assembly hall, a full service kitchen, two full bars, a bridal suite for a bride and her attendants, and a performance stage for bands and community plays. It incorporates state-of-the-art, energy conscious lighting and air conditioning systems. Funding for the building came from several sources, all gathered together by Mayor Tim Kerner.

The ribbon cutting was bitter-sweet for Kerner. This new auditorium replaces an original auditorium, built during the term of Tim Kerner's father, the late Mayor Leo Kerner. Hurricane Ike’s flood waters destroyed the original auditorium in 2008. “My daddy’s building may be gone, but he would have been really proud of this new, modern version of what he and the men of this town built; he would have approved,” Kerner said.

On hand to help the mayor cut the ribbon were the entire Lafitte Town Council, members of the Jefferson Parish Council, and hundreds of the citizens of Lafitte.