Ground Support PLLC is committed to providing innovative and cost-competitive designs for all types of temporary shoring and permanent earth retention/ground reinforcement systems, as well as specialty foundation systems.

Ground Support is based in Redmond (Seattle), Washington, and is dedicated to delivering high value to our clients through a thorough knowledge of all types of earth retention and foundation systems, and the detailed application of geotechnical and structural engineering principles to address special situations. Our clients include specialty and general contractors, commercial developers, and commercial and public agency owners.

We understand the performance, applicability, advantages/disadvantages, and construction methods and costs of these earth retention and foundation systems. This understanding allows us to identify the most appropriate system for a specific application and prepare designs that are both functional and constructable.

Ground Support was co-founded by R. John Byrne, P.E., Ph.D. and Chris J. Wolschlag, P.E., Ph.D.

John Byrne is a civil geotechnical engineer with over 25 years of experience in the civil, waste, and mining industries. He is the lead author of the FHWA Manual for Design and Construction Monitoring of Soil Nail Walls and co-author of the FHWA Soil Nail Inspector’s Manual. He is also the author of GoldNail, one of the most widely used soil nail wall design computer programs in North America. He has taught approximately 40 seminars on earth retention design to state and federal transportation agencies around the United States, and has been lead designer on numerous earth retaining wall systems of all types.

Chris Wolschlag is a civil geotechnical and structural engineer with 7 years of consulting experience in the fields of earth retention and foundation engineering. He is the lead structural contributor to the FHWA Manual for Design and Construction Monitoring of Soil Nail Walls. He has designed numerous soil nail, anchored wall, and other specialty wall systems, as well as mat, drilled shaft, and micropile foundation systems. He is the inventor of the Suspension Wall System (patent pending) and has also designed a variety of specialty foundation systems.

John Snow is the CAD Manager for Ground Support, with 16 years of experience in geotechnical illustration and cartography, providing illustration and design for hundreds of soil retention, site design, and environmental projects.