When Fletcher Grow graduated from James Madison University with his degree in engineering, a future in geotechnical work had not been on his radar at all.
It wasn’t until a conversation with Brian Mitchell at Townes Site Engineering that he started to find his niche. With a multi-disciplinary engineering degree, Fletcher could have gone anywhere.
Luckily, finding a role in geotechnical engineering was the perfect fit, and he hasn’t looked back since. Stepping into the office on the first day in a suit and tie, Fletcher found everyone else dressed for work on site or in the lab. Picture a team in work boots, not penny loafers. Luckily, he hasn’t needed the suit since.
Fletcher has grown his skills through extensive on-the-job experience. He even still considers his very first project to be his favorite.
Townes was working diligently on the geotechnical work for a Subaru Car Dealership off of Ruffin Mill Road when Fletcher joined the team. He recounts the excitement of watching the project transform from a bare plot of grass to a fully operable commercial space.
Now that excitement of growing communities and an ever-changing pace is a given every Monday through Friday.
Geotechnical engineering often takes place behind the scenes, yet it forms the crucial foundation of all construction. It takes an in-depth investigation of existing land to figure out how to transform it into a usable space for a developer.
Just because a piece of land is empty, doesn’t make it viable for new construction. Townes utilizes soil mechanics, geology knowledge and engineering principles to help navigate pre-construction, building and quality assurance.
“Every day is a brand new day for us,” Fletcher explains. Handling a good mix of bigger and smaller jobs keeps the entire department on their toes.
That variety of projects is also always developing at different paces. While a subdivision might be in pre-construction, Fletcher may also be working on a roadway project that’s in a monitoring phase.
It’s a constant flow of prepping roads for paving, ponds for filling, sites for building foundations and more.
And all of that work needs meticulous documentation. On a rainy day, you’ll usually find Fletcher in the office getting everything recorded and written down. Other times he may be out in the field or back at the lab where field samples are being analyzed.
Sometimes a brand new day at Townes can start earlier than expected with Fletcher and team working to monitor, document and record non-business hours tasks like early morning concrete pours on job sites. There’s no such thing as a dull day in the geotechnical department.
We often state that there are no high towers at our engineering firm. Our leadership members aren’t barking orders behind closed office doors. They’re in the thick of the projects, collaborating with other team members and lending a helping hand.
Philip Melita is an excellent example of this. He became director of the geotechnical engineering department in 2016. After years of working together, Fletcher describes Philip as “the man” and “my mentor.”
Melita’s reputation goes beyond great engineering skills, Fletcher explains he’s very business savvy. And that savvy shows, what used to be a 2-3 person department has expanded into an almost 24/7 full-scale operation.
The geotechnical team has even grown into needing their own office, just down the road from the rest of the team in Midlothian. The new office was renovated and expanded specifically for geotechnical tasks. There’s a concrete and soils lab, industrial space and offices. Our firm is even aiming to keep growing the number of staff in the office and in the lab.
Geotechnical work isn’t exactly the most typical office environment. There’s a lot of work with soil, concrete and sediment.
It can get dusty and messy for sure. Fletcher explains that the mess creates a perfect duality with the engineering tasks. “Engineering organizes the chaos,” Fletcher said. It all works in a perfect symphony. There’s a science behind the dirt that helps tie everything together.
But it’s not all dirt and dust, Fletcher says his experience at Townes has been all about the people he’s worked with along the way. “Some of these people have been doing this for such a long time that you get such a wealth of experience,” he said.
The department is learning from one another as they collaborate on projects. Fletcher says, “ every day is such a rich moment.”
There are team members who have been in the field for decades. Fletcher says they make it look easy, but he understands to not rush into anything, “it takes a long time to become an expert.”
The work is rewarding at every level. There’s growth and development always around the corner. Most importantly, Fletcher says he feels like he’s valued by the team and respected on the job site.
Geotechnical engineers are faced with challenges every day. They’re thinking out of standard operating procedures to find solutions. Challenges can even come from changes that contractors need made.
When Fletcher draws back on memories of challenging projects, there’s one that really sticks out. Townes worked to help build a roadway through a swamp. It’s not uncommon to encounter soggy landscapes in Virginia but you don’t see a road built through one every day.
At first glance, it felt like a difficult, if not impossible task. Fletcher was impressed by how Townes leadership and the well-established contractors collaborated on the project and made the goal come to life.
On the job site, everyone was digging up nothing but mud and saturated soils, trying to figure out just how they were going to get heavy dump trucks out there. Together the engineers worked toward solutions on stabilizing the area, helping contractors best navigate the swamp. Out of a nasty wetland, came a firm and stable runway-style road that really helped the area around it.
Fletcher says some of the challenges are what make the job fun. “We’re kids at heart that get to play with really big toys and run around in the mud… There is a science and a whole industry behind this.” Each day he sees smart people getting to bring value to the community.
Wondering what it’s like to work with or for Townes Site Engineering? Get in touch with us to meet the team and learn more.
