About
Discover the people, expertise, and values behind Geoterra Engineering & Construction Consultants.
14 +
Years of
Experience
- Meet Richard Negri, P.E.
Meet Richard Negri, P.E.
Structural engineering often becomes most visible when a concern appears—a bowing wall, sagging floor, altered beam, or permit review that raises questions about how a building is supported. Richard Negri has built his career helping clients understand those
conditions, evaluate practical options, and make more informed decisions before moving forward.
Richard is a licensed Professional Engineer and Principal Engineer of Geoterra Engineering & Construction Consultants, a Baltimore-based architecture and engineering firm serving clients throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area and Washington, DC. His work includes engineering consultations, structural assessments, residential foundations, renovations and additions, rehabilitation of older buildings, permit-ready design, and technical support for residential and appropriately scaled commercial projects.
With experience spanning both existing-building evaluation and new design, Richard brings a practical perspective to each project—connecting what is observed in the field with the engineering and documentation needed to define a clear path forward.
"Professionalism you can expect, reliability you can count on."
- About Richard Negri
Who Is Richard Negri?
Richard holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and is both a licensed Professional Engineer and a certified Project Management Professional. His career has spanned several distinct areas of professional practice. He began in the private sector performing
subsurface explorations, laboratory soil testing, and construction special inspections involving soils and concrete. He later worked in state highway infrastructure, where his responsibilities included pavement design for the Maryland Department of Transportation,
before transitioning to federal military construction projects that included the development of geotechnical specifications.
Today, Richard brings that combined experience to Geoterra’s residential and lightcommercial practice. His background in field exploration, materials testing, construction observation, public infrastructure, engineering design, and project management provides a broad technical perspective when evaluating existing buildings, foundations, renovations, and new construction. It allows him to consider how soils, materials, structural systems, project requirements, and construction conditions may influence the
project as a whole.
- Professional Journey
A Career Built On Real-Word Experience
Geoterra Engineering & Construction Consultants
- Principal Engineer
- September 2022–Present
Richard leads engineering design and execution for residential rehabilitation and renovation projects throughout Baltimore. Richard manages project budgets, schedules, and technical quality on every job. Richard serves as a technical assistance provider for the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative. The Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative is administered in partnership with the Maryland Community Investment Corporation.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Civil Engineer, GS-0810-12/06
- 2016–2022
Richard directed field surveys, soils investigations, and laboratory testing programs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Richard authored technical memoranda on site characterization, foundation design, pavements, and embankments. Richard wrote specifications for military construction (MILCON) projects. Richard provided technical oversight through construction, not only through design
MDOT State Highway Administration
- Civil Engineer, TE-2
- (2014–2016)
Richard served as lead design engineer on multiple projects across Maryland. Richard developed pavement and geotechnical recommendations for the Maryland Department of Transportation. Richard reviewed design-build plans for compliance with state engineering guidelines. This role is where Richard learned to write specifications that hold up to regulatory scrutiny, a skill that carries directly into residential permitting work today.
The Education Behind the License
Richard earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Morgan State University (2007–2012). Richard also earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park (2013–2015). Richard’s graduate studies focused on geotechnical and structural design, the two disciplines that most directly determine whether a home’s foundation, walls, and framing can safely carry the loads placed on them.
Licensed Where It Counts
Richard is a licensed Professional Engineer in four jurisdictions:
Maryland PE license #45588.
District of Columbia PE license #40000113.
New Mexico PE license #24188.
Texas PE license #148528.
Licensed & Professionally Connected
- Professional Standing
Commited To The Engineering Community
Richard maintains active membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and the Project Management Institute (PMI), reflecting an ongoing commitment to the engineering and project management standards that shape his work.
Geoterra Engineering & Construction Consultants also holds DBE/MBE/SBE certification #23-303, which qualifies the firm to take on publicly funded and community reinvestment projects across Maryland and DC
- How Its Work
A Clear Process For Every Project, Built With Precision.
From initial consultation to project completion, we provide clear guidance and practical support every step of the way.
- Why me
Why Do Homeowners and Businesses Work With Him?
Structural engineering reports can read like they were written to be filed away, not understood. Richard’s approach is different: explain the problem in plain language first, then back it up with the calculations, code references, and site data that make the recommendation defensible if a permit office, contractor, or future buyer ever asks.
That combination, technical rigor paired with a genuine willingness to explain the reasoning, is why client relationships with Geoterra tend to outlast a single project. Richard mentors junior engineers the same way he talks to clients: walk through the “why,” not just the “what.”
Explain the problem in plain language first, then back it up with the engineering that makes it defensible
Ready to Move
Your Project Forward?
Schedule your initial consultation today, and we’ll help identify the right next steps for your project.