LJA Engineering, Inc. is the largest local employee-owned civil engineering firm in Houston. (Source: Houston Business Journal).
The company's history dates back to 1972, when John "Dutch" Lichliter established The Lichliter Company which evolved into LJA Engineering & Surveying in 1997.
The company has enjoyed phenomenal growth since becoming LJA. The number of employees grew from 47 to 225, and in addition to its headquarters in Houston, LJA has expanded its Texas presence with an office in East Houston, The Woodlands, Austin and San Antonio.
From the beginning, LJA has kept pace with the times, recognizing the importance of innovative engineering solutions and visionary leadership. The company stands by its mission statement: "To establish LJA in our chosen disciplines as the premier engineering firm in Texas by providing high quality, innovative and cost-effective services to our clients."
LJA's earliest projects included First Colony, a 9,300-acre master-planned community at US 59 and Highway 6; The Woodlands, a 25,000-acre master-planned community north of downtown Houston; and Steeplechase, a 1,000-acre development in northwest Harris County.
Landmark projects dating from the 1980s through the present include the prestigious Barton Creek Development in Austin, the Flat Bank, Oyster Creek and Stafford Run flood control project in Fort Bend County, The Woodlands Waterway, the Brays Bayou Federal Flood Control Project for Harris County, and major land development projects including Telfair, Aliana, Shadow Creek Ranch and Sienna Plantation.
LJA's Public Infrastructure Division has seen significant growth in recent years, with clients ranging from the Texas Department of Transportation to the City of Houston. The merger with SCL Engineering in 2006 added to the division's expansion.
The company is managed by a board of directors - consisting of President Calvin T. Ladner, PE; Senior Vice President James E. Moehlman, PE, RPLS; and Senor Vice President Jeff P. Collins, PE, PMP - and an 11-member advisory committee.