Our Story |

Our Story

Founded in 1981, our mission is to provide the best in engineering and science in coastal, riverine, estuarine and ocean environments. Baird is one team worldwide, dedicated to bringing our clients our expertise and passion on every project. Baird is built by innovators, pioneers and visionaries who proudly and consistently serve our clients with professionalism, dedication, and creativity. Our team is always looking for new opportunities to help create a better future for our coastal resources and communities.

Baird has worked exclusively ‘where water meets land’ in river, estuary and coastal environments for almost four decades. We are an organization of scientists, engineers and designers specializing in professional services exclusively for projects at the land-water interface. We undertake projects ranging in size from small planning studies to designs of large development projects with construction costs in excess of $150 million.

Baird has developed a key philosophy as a firm that distinguishes us from our competitors. We are dedicated to integrating the scientific components of a project with excellence in design and engineering. Our niche modeling expertise is applied frequently, we are experienced and efficient at doing the work, we understand the limitations and uncertainties associated with these techniques, and how they translate into decisions on the ground. This blend of expertise provides Baird the ability to deliver innovative and cost-effective solutions on very complex and challenging projects.

Scientists and engineers participate on all our projects from concept through analysis and modeling to design implementation. Our success is founded on our ability to communicate with each other in a clear and open manner. We embrace the discipline to listen to, and to understand, the needs and views of our clients and of stakeholder groups.

Our History

Baird CEO Kevin MacIntosh talks about Baird’s values and culture

Baird started out as a unique organization with three people in one office. We have evolved into a worldwide organization with 12 offices in five countries. Our entire focus is now and always has been on providing outstanding coastal engineering and science with professionalism, dedication, and creativity for each and every client. We remain committed, humble, and focused in our quest to become the world’s preeminent company recognized for creative solutions where water meets land.

Baird has always been a place to “live” versus work. We choose the word “live” as participating here requires passion, focus, hard work, talent, creativity and basically being immersed in anything and everything where water meets land. We have set very high standards for everyone. These are necessary if we are to sustain our international reputation, and commitments to our clients, both internal and external.

Baird is about colleagues, clients, family and friends, and the more they become indistinguishable the more likely you are to have a very rewarding life and career. How you choose to incorporate the various participants and activities is entirely up to you. We provide an open door in terms of exercising the freedom to define your personal and professional careers and tackle new opportunities through our challenging projects, R&D program, mentoring, company retreats, and various other team member activities.

The future potential for “Baird” is absolutely extraordinary if you consider our reputation, expertise, and most of all our incredible team distributed around the world. Align that with an international focus on climate change, risk and resilience, and the need for specialized services in basically everything ‘water’ and we are in a very unique and incredibly exciting space.

Ultimately Baird is about developing relationships as well as demonstrating leadership. We focus on project development and delivery for our clients as “One Team” worldwide. And our clients (internal and external) are an integral part of our overall team on every project.

We look forward to hearing from you, especially if you have a unique coastal challenge or are interested in a dynamic career!

Our Commitment

Passion

We are enthusiastic, committed, and passionate engineers, planners and scientists. We love this work and eagerly take on such opportunities. Our leading scientists and engineers have extensive experience not only in technical tasks and project management, but also in communicating to diverse audiences.

Servicing the Bigger Picture

Baird has extensive experience in the coastal zone in natural and urban environments throughout North America and overseas. We are keenly aware that our science and engineering knowledge may ultimately save lives and we know what must be done to satisfy society’s broader social and economic objectives.

Experience

Our senior professionals are internationally recognized for technical solutions founded on science, practicality and economics. This is the basis of our success.

Client Testimonials

We are very proud of our clients and the work we have done for them. At Baird we understand that we are in the business of providing a service and that our clients expect sound engineering and science, a relationship based on trust, and a commitment to their project.

“We’ve never missed a deadline with them. Every project they’ve delivered has been on budget, on time. In fact, on a couple of them, they underspent the budget. They treat our money as though it were their money.”
- Mike DeLong, Project Manager, Acheson Ventures LLC
“The value that Baird brings transcends the end product. It’s the whole process that gives you the add-on value. Baird’s people have a genuine interest in ensuring the result is something that will be appreciated by all. The project has brought new dynamics to a coastline that was starved for developmental ideas. It has lifted the entire area to a whole new standard.”
- Dr. Leo Brewster, Director, Coastal Zone Management Unit, Government of Barbados
“The newest science that’s out there doesn’t often get applied to projects, whether you’re dealing with government scientists or especially consultants. In contrast, it seems like the folks at Baird -- many of whom have advanced degrees -- have their thumb on the pulse of the cutting-edge stuff and the ability to apply it in engineering practice.”
- Jim Selegean, Coastal/Hydraulic Engineer, United States Army Corps of Engineers – Detroit District
“We value Baird’s ability to deliver a project from the concept stage through construction. The biggest firms would be more apt to throw in a group of specialists to work on one piece and then another group for another phase. That’s an advantage Baird has over firms that compartmentalize things… They know all the headaches from the beginning. They know the client, what the client expects, how we work.”
- Dave Simonelli, President of Dredging Operations, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company
“They’re very open and honest, and I never felt that I was getting anything but the straightforward truth, whether I wanted to hear it or not. Baird told us exactly what the problems were or what the challenges would be, and essentially then said ‘Now let’s get together to solve the problems.’ Getting it right at our company means safely, with high quality, on schedule and on budget. And Baird consistently exceeded our expectations.”
- Chris Beaumont, Chief Advisor - Projects (Construction), Technology & Innovation, Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium, Inc