Latest News

The Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA) held a members-only networking event on March 8, 2016 to welcome WSSC’s New General Manager & CEO, Carla Reid.Soltesz was the corporate sponsor for the event. Jim Soltesz, Soltesz President & CEO, introduced Ms. Reid.The event had excellent attendance. Representing WSSC at the event were Tom Street (Deputy General Manager), Joe Mantua (Deputy General Manager), and Mike Harmer. Ms. Reid spoke about her role in the agency and issues impacting the building and development industry, followed by a Q & A discussion for all members.Soltesz is a leading civil engineering firm in the Washington Metropolitan Area and an active member of MBIA.

Soltesz once again celebrated and supported Red Nose Day, a national campaign dedicated to benefitting children in poverty. Through comic relief and entertainment, the day raises awareness and funds to support children and young people in poor and needy communities throughout the U.S. and the world.Soltesz employees from each of the offices joined in the effort, sporting red noses and laughter throughout the day. Today’s activities are one of the many ways the firm gives back to the community, a commitment that carries throughout the organization’s efforts of design, volunteering, advocacy, and investment.To learn more about Soltesz’s steadfast commitment to the community, visit the firm’s webpage: http://solteszco.com/inside-soltesz/community-involvementMore information on the Red Nose Day campaign is available here: http://rednoseday.org

It is with great sadness that we inform you that one of our beloved Associates, Jeff Retterer, has passed away. Jeff had been an employee of Soltesz since 2014, but more importantly, he had been a friend of the firm for more than 30 years. He was a terrific guy, a well-respected colleague and a strong mentor for all of us here at Soltesz. He will be sorely missed.Per Jeff’s wishes, the family will have a private, family only, gravesite gathering. Rather than flowers or other gifts, the family is suggesting donations to the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health: http://johnritterfoundation.org/Please keep Jeff’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

Soltesz is recognized and ranked #7 in the Washington Business Journal's 2016 Top Landscape Architecture Firms List. Soltesz’s Landscape Architect team has provided landscape architecture services on numerous projects throughout the region including: Ingleside at King Farm, Fenwick Station, Holy Cross Hospital, Halsey Field House, Shady Grove Hospital, Citron Apartments, Bowie State University, Burtonsville Shopping Center, Bowie Mill, and Downtown Silver Spring. Landscape architecture efforts also include integrating the design into stormwater management features, forest conservation efforts, and open space design, an innovative concept developed by their professional team.In addition to the firm’s ranking as a Top Landscape Architecture firm, Soltesz ranks as #16 in the Washington Business Journal’s 2016 Top Engineering Firms List. Soltesz provides innovative civil engineering design, planning, landscape architecture, and surveying services.

Soltesz is proud to have worked on the Transient Wounded Warrior Lodge at Walter Reed, which was recently selected as a Grand Award winner at the 2015 Engineering Excellence Awards, sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Virginia. The $66 million, 138,000 square-foot facility serves as a transitional home and treatment center for Wounded Warriors, who often come from the Warrior Transition Unit at Walter Reed for a three to six month duration prior to returning home.  The facility ranges from 4 to 8 stories high and includes both suites and studio apartments.  One wing features a 5,000 square-foot green roof, providing outdoor recreational and contemplative spaces for the occupants with a putting green and covered picnic area.Soltesz served as the civil engineer for this project, providing stormwater management and erosion and sediment control design, following the newly-implemented Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) Environmental Site Design Guidelines.  Stormwater managements design efforts included the green roof and six Micro Bioretention facilities spread across the site.Soltesz has a wealth of experience with military projects, including academic buildings, office headquarters, overall base complex design, housing, parking lots, recreation, master plans, and base relocations.Soltesz has provided civil engineering services for the recently-completed U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC, Walter Reed National Medical Center, Ft. Detrick, Indian Head, U.S. Naval Academy, and Washington Navy Yard.  Other military housing projects include Summerfield Naval Housing in Landover, Maryland, which included more than 1,200 dwelling units across 234 acres, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC.James Soltesz, Soltesz President & CEO, stated: “We are extremely proud to have provided services for this incredible project. This facility will serve many wounded veterans who have served this Country.”To learn more about Soltesz and the services offered, please visit our website: www.solteszco.com.

Soltesz employees had much to celebrate at the firm’s annual company dinner at the Sunset Room in National Harbor earlier this month. With an absolutely wonderful venue, guests joined for an evening full of cocktails, great food, and outstanding views of the Potomac River while reflecting on the accomplishments of the last year. Highlighted during the event were Soltesz’s certified and highly utilized in-house training program, employee awards and milestones, showcased projects, and company events and initiatives within the local community. Jim Soltesz, President and CEO, had the following to say regarding the company dinner: “We’ve hired some excellent staff and I am particularly impressed with the younger professionals that have come into the company over the past year. In addition, the training programs, awards, and new projects are truly outstanding and a testimony to the hard work we’ve all put in.” Soltesz looks forward to building upon the firm’s 36 years of history within the Washington Metropolitan Region and continued success moving forward with innovative civil engineering, planning, environmental sciences, and surveying services.

The Maryland Building Industry Association’s (MBIA) Prince George’s County Chapter held their annual Legislative Breakfast this week at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland. The event was attended by MBIA members, government officials, and local politicians, providing the opportunity for industry professional and government officials to discuss key issues and concerns. Ken Dunn, Managing Member of Soltesz, LLC, and Chairman of the MBIA Prince George’s County Chapter, chaired the event. Other speakers included Jim Coleman of Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation and Andrea Harrison, County Council Member for District 5.Mr. Dunn presented the “Quality of Life Award” to Mary Giles, Associate Director of Prince George’s County Department of Permitting Inspections and Enforcement (pictured above).Soltesz is an award winning regional civil engineering firm, serving the Washington Metropolitan Area since 1980. The firm is an active and highly involved member of MBIA. Ken Dunn has served the Prince George’s County Chapter since 2012.

Soltesz, Inc. has been recognized by the Alliance for Workplace Excellence with the 2016 Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval Award. The award exemplifies Soltesz’s support for the quality of life for employees, their families, and the community-at-large. This is the eleventh time Soltesz has received the award, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to a family friendly and progressive work environment.The firm will celebrate the award at AWE’s Annual Awards Luncheon, among 60 other award winning companies. AWE is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the number of excellent workplaces within the business community through education and recognition, enhancing the quality of life for citizens and empowering economic growth.Soltesz has a commitment to excellence that begins with employing talented, energetic and driven professionals. As a well-established and progressive company, Soltesz provides excellent benefits, professional development, and a creative work environment supportive of employees. To learn more, contact Kris Pettit at kpettit@solteszco.com.

Washington Adventist Hospital celebrated the groundbreaking on its new hospital in White Oak, Maryland last week. The new hospital is located at the White Oak Science Gateway, adjacent to the FDA Headquarters, which seeks to serve as a clinical cornerstone for bioscience and healthcare innovation, serving the community.Representing Soltesz at the Groundbreaking Ceremony were Jim Soltesz, President & CEO, and Jeff Retterer, Associate & Project Manager. Mr. Retterer is the Civil Engineering Project Manager to Washington Adventist Hospital for this project. Soltesz is providing civil engineering, planning and surveying services for the project.The new hospital is a result of the relocation of Washington Adventist’s healthcare facility in Takoma Park. The new location in White Oak is in the center of the hospital’s primary service area and is located along major interconnecting roads. This will make the hospital more central and more accessible to all of its patients and communities in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.The hospital’s modern design focuses on sustainability and innovative healthcare solutions and will be a LEED Silver structure when complete in 2019. Landscaping and natural light design techniques are being implemented to create a natural healing environment.Read more about the new hospital at http://ourcommunitytransformed.org/.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh has signed Executive Order Number 82, reforming land use departments.  The legislation relocates engineers and zoning enforcement personnel and increases empowerment among team leaders to improve the permitting and zoning process. Soltesz is proud to have be utilized as a consultant in analyzing the County’s land-use procedures. As a leading civil engineering firm in the Washington Metropolitan Region, Soltesz is well versed in the regulatory challenges and permitting process required for zoning approvals. The firm provided recommendations for streamlining initiatives to the County to better serve its residents and customers.County Executive Schuh is proposing additional legislation to further reform the land use process, including limiting the number of planning and zoning reviews and delaying the public works agreement phase in subdivision developments.Click here to read more about the land-use reform initiatves.