Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC), one of the Southeast's leading multidisciplined architecture and engineering firms, has bolstered its expertise with the acquisition of South Coast Engineers (SCE), a nationally recognized coastal engineering firm based in Fairhope.

SCE, founded in 2007, has built a reputation for excellence in coastal engineering, resilience and nature-based solutions. The firm's team, led by Scott Douglass, PhD, PE, BC.CE, Bret Webb, PhD, PE, BC.CE, and Thomas "Beau" Buhring, PE, brings a combined 75 years of experience to GMC. Notably, Douglass and Webb are two of only 73 Board-Certified Coastal Engineers in the U.S., highlighting their prominence in the field.

According to a news release, the two firms share a history of collaboration spanning more than two decades, including work on significant projects such as Dauphin Island's East End Beach and Dune Restoration. By officially joining forces, GMC strengthens its ability to deliver innovative solutions in shoreline protection, resilience and coastal ecosystem restoration.

"We have worked with GMC for over 20 years and are proud to be able to make our partnership official," SCE founder and president Douglass said in the release. "We are excited to bolster the firm's services by adding coastal engineering, as we continue to serve our communities and clients and expand our reach even further through this new venture."

SCE's portfolio includes a wide range of coastal projects, from bay and beach shoreline erosion solutions to coastal highway and bridge design, marina and port projects, and seawall and revetment engineering. The firm's extensive work throughout the Southeast and beyond has earned it a strong reputation for delivering effective and sustainable designs.

"We are thrilled to have Scott, Bret and Beau joining GMC. Their nationally recognized team will allow us to expand our capabilities in shoreline protection, resilience and coastal ecosystem restoration," said Lee Walters, GMC Regional Vice President. "We honor all of the tremendous work SCE has done over the years and are excited about the opportunities we have together with them leading our coastal engineering practice."

With offices across the Southeast, GMC was named ENR Southeast's 2024 Design Firm of the Year. The firm offers a broad spectrum of in-house services, including architecture, civil and transportation engineering, environmental services, landscape architecture, planning and disaster recovery.

The SCE team will integrate into GMC's operations, with Douglass and Buhring joining the Daphne office and Webb joining the Mobile office. This strategic move aligns with GMC's commitment to providing comprehensive services to clients across the region while meeting the growing demand for coastal engineering expertise.