Steele Foundation’s Morgan Eddy Shares Cautionary Case Study at Geo-Virginia 2025

Steele Foundation Vice President and Partner Morgan Eddy, PE, MSc, delivered a technical presentation at the 2025 Geo-Virginia Short Course 2025: Geotechnical Engineering Case Histories Conference in Smithfield, VA, from June 23–27. Hosted by the Virginia Geo-Institute Chapter of ASCE, the short course featured practitioners and academics sharing case studies and knowledge gained from challenging geotechnical engineering projects. Eddy’s talk, “Lessons from the Lateral Failure of a Nominally Sized Retention System,” provided attendees an inside look at how a routine excavation project went awry, with costly consequences.

The case study focused on a braced excavation system which failed after minor field modifications and unanticipated freeze-thaw cycles at a project in Washington, D.C. Though the compromised section accounted for less than 9% of the overall contract value, the failure triggered more than $500,000 in combined remediation, legal, and delay-related costs at the time of the project, more than a decade ago. Eddy’s presentation emphasized that it wasn’t a dramatic design, or construction, flaw that caused the issue, but rather a cascade of small decisions and overlooked variables that ultimately overwhelmed the system.

“We can’t rely on past experience alone or gut checks in the field,” said Eddy. “When conditions shift or assumptions change, you need qualified professionals to re-evaluate the system. Sound engineering demands both technical rigor and real-time awareness.”

Eddy outlined critical lessons learned, including improved protocols for temporary bracing, better weather monitoring, and team-wide accountability. He also shared how Steele Foundation has since evolved its internal processes, treating temporary systems with the same rigor as permanent works.

A Virginia Tech alumnus and registered Professional Engineer in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., Eddy has been with Steele Foundation since 2007. He is widely known for his innovative leadership and has served as editor for Geo-Strata, the ASCE Geo-Institute’s flagship magazine.

The GeoVirginia committee offers access to the full library of 2025 session presentations for a modest fee. To gain access, contact Morgan Eddy, who will coordinate with the committee to facilitate your request.