History

"A History of Quality and Integrity"

In September of 1954, Spalding DeDecker & Associates (SD&A) was born in a small store front office on Woodward Avenue in Birmingham, Michigan.  SDA’s founders, Vernon Spalding and Frank DeDecker, began a partnership with a simple verbal agreement, a handshake, and an oath to focus on quality in workmanship and integrity in client service.

The firm’s first project consisted of subdivision lot grading plans for a local builder in Lansing.  By 1955, one project had turned into 40.  Land developers engaged the firm for a variety of large and small subdivisions.  The firm’s first bridge design project was for the Macomb County Road Commission.  These initial projects opened the door to increasing opportunities.  SDA became Clinton Township’s consulting engineer in 1956, hired its first two employees, and relocated to a larger facility on Woodward Avenue. 

As the company grew, SDA provided engineering and surveying work for many municipalities including the cities of Warren, Southfield, Farmington, Livonia, and Troy, and Mt. Morris, Macomb, Washington, Chesterfield, and Harrison Townships.  By 1968, the staff had reached 20 as the firm continued to expand its services and build its client base.

With the retirement of Frank DeDecker in 1994, the firm was converted to a 100% employee-owned business, giving each team member a vested interest in the success of the company and ultimately, our clients. 

In the summer of 1995, SDA opened its first Detroit office and maintains its Detroit presence today to serve Wayne County clients.

In 1996, SDA purchased vacant land in Rochester Hills, Michigan and built a larger office to house its growing Oakland and Macomb County operations.

In 2003, SDA was awarded its ISO 9001-2008 Certification.  This certification translates into a clear vision of the organization’s future. It means SDA is committed to establishing measures to ensure customer satisfaction and communicating customer needs and expectations throughout the organization.

In 2009, Dietrich, Bailey and Associates, PC joined the SDA family, adding landscape architectural services and expanding our civil engineering and surveying client base. 

In 2012, San Antonio, Texas based Coyle Engineering, Inc. joined the SDA family.

SDA currently employs more than 80 talented individuals with a wide range of skills and expertise.

Headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, SDA has regional offices in Detroit, Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. SDA also has multiple field offices in Michigan and Ohio. SDA offers a diverse core of engineering, surveying, and construction engineering services for municipal, land development, transportation, and water/wastewater projects. SDA also offers full pavement management and landscape architectural services.