MLA Engineering

What MLA Engineering does

MLA Engineering is a Seattle-based structural consulting and design firm founded in 1999 by Michael Leonard that delivers engineering services for complex building projects across the Pacific Northwest, the broader United States, and select international markets. The firm's core offerings include structural design for concrete, steel, masonry, pre-stressed concrete, wood, and cold-formed steel framing; seismic evaluation and retrofit under ASCE 41 and FEMA guidelines; facility assessment; value engineering; and adaptive reuse engineering. Its specialty practice covers aquarium and zoo structural design, including watertight reinforced concrete vessels, life support system coordination, and underwater viewing structures, executed through BIM/Revit workflow and RISA, ETABS, and SAP2000 analysis tools.

The firm serves a diversified client base spanning county and state government (King County, City of Bellevue, U.S. Army Department of Defense, WSDOT-adjacent projects), zoos and aquariums (SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, New York Aquarium, St. Louis Aquarium, Houston Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo), healthcare providers (Northwest Kidney Centers, Kaiser Permanente), education (University of Washington), and private developers. Revenue is generated on a project-by-project professional services basis with fees negotiated per scope; no software product, subscription, or platform business exists. Over 80% of business comes from repeat clients, and the firm maintains active marketing through its project portfolio, industry press coverage, and trade award recognition (ENR, AGC, AIA).

Name

MLA Engineering

Legal name

MLA Engineering, LLC

Website

https://mlaengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MLA Engineering is a Seattle-based structural consulting firm founded in 1999 that designs aquarium, zoo, government, healthcare, and private building projects, specializing in watertight concrete design for marine facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Structural Engineering Consulting: Professional services revenue generated from providing structural engineering design, consulting, and construction administration services on a project-by-project basis. Projects range from small building designs to large-scale public infrastructure and specialized aquarium/zoo facilities. Fees are typically structured as one-time project fees for specific engagements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

MLA Engineering is a structural consulting and design firm that delivers professional structural engineering services for new construction, renovations, and specialty facilities. Core offerings include structural design across concrete, steel, masonry, wood, cold-formed steel, and foundation systems, seismic evaluation and retrofit per ASCE 41 and FEMA guidelines, facility assessment, and value engineering. The firm is differentiated by specialized aquarium and zoo structural design, including watertight reinforced concrete vessel design and life support system coordination, delivered primarily through BIM/Revit workflow.

Product overview

MLA Engineering is a structural consulting and design firm that provides engineering services rather than a software product. Their core offerings include Structural Design Services (concrete, steel, masonry, wood, cold-formed steel), Seismic Evaluation/Improvements/Retrofit, Facility Assessment, and Value Engineering & Analysis. The firm specializes in specialty structural design for aquariums, zoos, and aquatic environments (such as watertight concrete pool design and life support system coordination), as well as public infrastructure (libraries, fire stations, community centers) and private buildings (multi-family residential, healthcare, commercial). They also offer Adaptive Reuse Engineering for repurposing existing structures. The services are delivered through professional engineering staff using BIM/Revit, RISA, ETABS, and SAP2000 software tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Structural Design Services Structural engineering design services including concrete, steel, masonry, pre-stressed concrete, wood and heavy timber, cold-formed steel, earth retention and deep foundations, with BIM/Revit workflow modeling, drafting, and coordination for clients including architects, contractors, and government entities.
• Seismic Evaluation, Improvements & Retrofit Services Structural risk identification, seismic evaluation and retrofit per ASCE 41 and FEMA guidelines, design solutions for structural deficiencies, and historic structure preservation for existing buildings.
• Facility Assessment Services Evaluations of existing structures and development of concept options for improvements, supporting owners in planning renovations, retrofits, and adaptive reuse.
• Value Engineering & Analysis Services Multi-disciplined value analysis and constructability review that assists owners in making informed decisions on cost, schedule, and constructability across project alternatives.
• Aquarium & Zoo Structural Design Specialized structural engineering for aquatic environments, aquariums, and zoo exhibits including watertight concrete vessel design, life support system coordination, and underwater viewing structures for public and private zoological institutions.
• Public Building Structural Design Structural design services for governmental infrastructure projects at county, state, and federal levels including libraries, fire stations, community centers, transfer stations, and parks facilities.
• Private Building Structural Design Structural engineering for private sector projects including multi-family residential, commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, and specialty structures for developers and private institutions.
• Adaptive Reuse Engineering Structural engineering for repurposing existing buildings including seismic evaluation, historic preservation, and sustainable renovation solutions that extend building life and preserve embodied energy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of business comes from return clients, demonstrating consistent client satisfaction and repeat engagement.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Parsons-Brinckerhoff, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLA Engineering was retained as a subconsultant by Parsons-Brinckerhoff, Inc. to provide structural condition assessment and design services for the Amtrak Station relocation project at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma, Washington.
• Portico GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLA Engineering served as structural subconsultant for Portico Group on multiple zoo and aquarium projects including Fresno Chaffee Zoo African Adventure Exhibit, providing structural design and consulting from schematic design through construction completion.
• Miral (for SeaWorld Abu Dhabi)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLA Engineering served as Specialty Structural Engineer on the SeaWorld Abu Dhabi project in partnership with Miral, SeaWorld, AECOM, and PGAV for what became the world's largest marine-life aquarium.
• GLY Construction (Group Health LINAC project)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMLA Engineering provided shoring design for contractor GLY Construction on the Group Health LINAC renovation project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100079644517155
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mla-engineering-pllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MLA Engineering