Our Story
It all begins with the curious & companionable
Jim Reid . . .
Jim hung out his shingle in 1953, and the City of Edmonds hired him to serve as municipal engineer. Other Snohomish County cities soon followed suit. Jim and LeRoy Middleton, who joined the firm the next year, had a way of developing lasting personal relationships that led to continued business.
That story repeated itself through the years. By the time the firm was known as Reid, Middleton and Associates, in 1960, it had become a trusted advisor to local school districts, ports, developers. Each decade since, we’ve grown to respond to market demand and adapted to ever changing technology, adding Waterfront Design, Airport Engineering, and Structural Engineering to the services we offer. As our services expanded, so did our client base, to include ports and cities and state and federal agencies across the Northwest and beyond.
Reid Middleton has stayed close to its roots – investing in people who care about doing a good job and how projects turn out. To us, the measure of our success is that people want to work with us again and again. Our business is personal.
I thought about what engineering meant to my dad. And, while the product was always quality, the process involved integrity and that’s how my siblings and I grew up in a household that valued honesty and integrity and as a byproduct, hard work.
Guiding Principles
Community Involvement
Timeline
1953
Jim Reid Founds the Firm
Jim Reid starts the firm that is to become Reid Middleton. His first project is for the City of Edmonds serving as the agency’s Municipal Engineer. He later serves in similar capacity for the Cities of Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and Hermiston (where he grew up).
1953
Client #7 - Port of Everett
Our first project for the Port of Everett is writing specifications for the repair of the step bulkhead at Pier 1. We work continuously with the Port over 6 decades.
1954
LeRoy Middleton Joins the Firm
Survey Practice established when LeRoy Middleton joins firm. Mr. Middleton was very active in the Survey community and in the Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW). He was a historian and established the Edmonds-Snohomish County Historical Society. LeRoy was also a recognized expert in Indian Treaty land boundaries.
1955
First Military Project & First project at Paine Field
First project at Paine Field for the US Air Force before property is transferred to the County. We continue to work at the Airport today.
1956
First work for Edmonds School District
Begin working for the Edmonds School District providing survey services. Today, we continue to work with the School District and recently completed civil engineering design for the New Lynnwood High School which has won several awards.
1960
In 1960 . . .
Reid Middleton becomes a Corporation with Jim Reid as President and LeRoy Middleton as Vice President.
1960
John Olsen joins Reid Middleton
Coming to the firm from WSDOT where he had designed the Snohomish County reach of Interstate 5, John was with Reid Middleton for over thirty years. He was integral to building the waterfront practice at Reid Middleton and renowned for his work region-wide.
1961
Stevens Memorial Hospital
Conduct street vacation project for Stevens Memorial Hospital.
1966
Reinhart Jung joins firm
Reinhart later becomes the Airport Group Director and led the practice much of his career with the firm. He is the longest term employee and still here in 2016.
1971
Airport practice established
Ken Reid and Paul Vick were leaders in the airport practice in the early years; Reinhart Jung joined the group a few years after it was ‘official’.
1971
Waterfront practice established
1973
US Navy design work
Selected to design support facilities for the US Navy’s Trident submarine system at Bangor Torpedo Station Keyport.
1974
First Project in Alaska
Conduct first survey project in Alaska for the Bureau of Land Management.
1977
Leroy Surveyor of the Year
LeRoy Middleton named Surveyor of the Year by the Land Surveyors Association of Washington.
1978
United States Post Office Contract
Awarded term contract with the United States Post Office for environmental assessments or statements – results in work at dozens of sites in western United States.
1983
First female engineer hired
The first female engineer is hired – Janet Proulx. The following year, Karen Miles and the year after that Kelli Owen. Now, 25% of the engineers in the firm are women.
1983
Mary Anne Lord Hired
Mary Anne Lord is hired as Financial Manager and named CFO in 1989. She transitions the role of CFO to Simeon Alejo in 2012 but continues to serve part-time as Controller.
1985
First Navy ID/IQ Contract
This contract is a marketing coup in a very competitive environment and positions Reid Middleton for what is to become a robust practice.
1987
Jim Reid retires
34 years after founding the firm, Jim Reid retires. His legacy continues on and the principles that he built the firm on – integrity, professionalism, hard work, service – remain the core of the firm’s principles today.
1987
New president
Tom Nack becomes the second President of Reid Middleton.
1988
Leroy Middleton Retires
1989
Big Move, New Name
Main office moves from Edmonds to Lynnwood and our name changes to Reid Middleton, Inc.
1989
Boeing Flightline
1991
Anchorage, Alaska Office Opens
Reid Middleton establishes presence in Alaska. The focus of the office changes over the years, from a primarily waterfront design practice to a market leader in structural engineering.
1992
Civil Engineering Group
Establishment of a growing relationship with the Department of General Administration, now Washington Department of Enterprise Services.
1993
Hugh Townsend becomes Reid Middleton’s 3rd President
Hired in 1985 as a structural engineer, Hugh Townsend becomes the Waterfront Group Director in 1988, then moves into role of President.
1994
Jim Reid, Firm Founder, passes away
1994
Surface Transportation Group established
Bill Goodwin is named Director.
1995
Kobe EQ Reconnaissance
First reconnaissance participation
1998
Big Move
Main office moves from Lynnwood to south Everett – its current location.
1999
First Seismic Retrofit
Gray’s Harbor County Courthouse damaged in 1999 Satsop Earthquake.
2001
Tester Road Roundabout
First roundabout designed by Reid Middleton. Project was award-winning and first roundabout in Snohomish County.
2001
Ken Andersen moves back home to Alaska
Ken becomes Manager of the Anchorage office. His extended family of some 400+ Alaska natives means he cannot go anywhere without running into someone he knows. He returns to Everett in 2016.
2001
Nisqually Earthquake
2004
Thea Foss Waterway Esplanade, Wharf, & Marina
2004
University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) Library Opens
This unique, award-winning building was designed with sloping and curving exterior walls that maximize exposure to the views of the surrounding Chugach Mountains. Reid Middleton was the structural engineer on this unique building that is one of the highlights of the UAA Campus.
2006
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Seismic Retrofit
This $250 million seismic & security upgrade project was Reid Middleton’s largest project in its history.
2006
Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) Seismic Retrofit – REAP Developed
The Rapid Evaluation and Assessment Program is an important tool empowering facility managers to quickly assess the condition of their building after earthquakes. REAP helps to address uncertainty and improve decisions.
2007
Bob Galteland named 4th Reid Middleton President
Bob joined the firm in 1991 with a background as a civil engineer for the US Navy. His understanding of the military was integral to building the firm’s robust federal practice in place today. He was the Civil Projects Group Director prior to becoming the President.
2010
NAVFAC NW Kitsap – Silverdale, Bachelor Enlisted Quarters kicks-off
This award-winning project is the largest Design-Build project in Reid Middleton history.
2011
Lifetime Achievement Award for Leroy Middleton
LeRoy Middleton receives Lifetime Achievement Award from LSAW. He passes away in 2012.
2014
San Diego Office Opens
Official opening of our San Diego office.
2016
David Stierwalt named Anchorage office Manager
2019
