WATERFRONTS
AN INTRODUCTION TO MSA’S WATERFRONT SERVICES
As lifelong boaters, we understand the allure of water and the need for access. As planners, designers, and engineers, we are dedicated to embracing waterfronts and strengthening the connection between land and water for all of our clients. It’s simply what we do, and what we enjoy doing.
MSA’s waterfronts team includes professionals skilled at developing your dreams into reality. Our planners, landscape architects, designers, engineers and surveyors provide a comprehensive team for your project. Our waterfront specialists includes contributing authors to the recently-revised “ASCE Manual No. 50: Planning and Design Guidelines for Small Craft Harbors.” As a group, we have over 75 years of waterfront development experience, and as members of several industry organizations, we stay current with issues and codes that affect designs and costs.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE | RIVERS, LAKES AND COASTS
Designing for environmental challenges like coastal storms, ice events, floods and droughts requires a strong, time-tested blend of experience and technical knowledge. We’ve designed for flood and flow conditions on many of our great rivers—the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio and Cumberland—and these projects have successfully withstood design level events. Our Great Lakes projects have endured ice conditions, fluctuating water levels, and wind events without failure. And our coastal projects are designed to survive hurricanes.
Planning
We listen to our clients and help translate concepts into reality. Understanding the needs for a successful operation, we discuss your goals and develop a road-map for their success.
Engineering
Marina and associated waterfront development projects are different from most upland projects. Our engineers understand the challenges and have the experience to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions for your marina needs.
Permitting
Obtaining permits from regulatory agencies can be a prerequisite to successfully completing a marina project. Our team has developed supporting data, communicated effectively with regulators, assembled the applications and in turn has successfully obtained permits throughout the United States.
“What sets them apart from most design firms is the understanding of development and of the actual construction process. They listen to the clients’ concerns and needs and use the understanding that comes from years of specialization.”
- Operator/Marina General Manager, Alton, ILStrengthening the relationship between land and water.
VISUALIZATION SOLUTIONS
The ability to visualize, understand and share project details with your community in a variety of formats are an invaluable technique that helps guide your project plan along. In addition to plan sheets, our team utilizes enhanced, engaging graphics and three-dimensional illustrations. These visualizations bring the plan to life, helping tell the project’s story. They’re also a valuable cost estimating tool, and are a tool to market both new developments and renovations of existing facilities.
“MSA takes an idea expressed verbally and makes it into something that all can visualize.”
- Mayor, Clarksville, TN
PROJECT PLANNING
Our team partners with you from the inception, championing your project vision, assisting with feasibility studies to analyze your project’s potential, and advising on funding sources and project enhancements to successfully compete for resources.
GRANT ACQUISITION
Obtaining financial support can mean the difference between completing a marina and having an unrealized dream. Our team of grant writing professionals can develop grant acquisition and funding approaches that work for you.
