GRL Engineers Celebrates 50 Years of Deep Foundation Innovation
In 1976, George Goble, Frank Rausche, and Garland Likins established Goble & Associates Inc., a specialty engineering firm built on research conducted at Case Western Reserve University. What began as a small startup located above a grocery store would eventually contribute to the development of a worldwide industry centered on dynamic measurements for deep foundation quality assurance.
The company later became Goble, Rausche, Likins & Associates in 1984 before adopting the name GRL Engineers, Inc. in 2002. Through each stage of its evolution, the firm maintained its focus on providing timely testing services and results to support deep foundation installation and quality assurance.
From Research Project to Global Industry
The origins of GRL Engineers can be traced to research involving dynamic measurements of deep foundations. The work of Goble, Rausche, and Likins helped establish methods that could provide engineers and contractors with valuable information about foundation performance during installation.
The company transformed that research into specialized engineering services, helping advance the use of dynamic testing within the deep foundation industry. Its early work laid the groundwork for technologies and practices that would become increasingly important for evaluating foundation installations.
A Legacy Built on Testing and Results
Although the company’s name changed over the decades, its core emphasis remained consistent. GRL Engineers continued to focus on testing services designed to provide useful information when it is needed during deep foundation projects.
Timely testing and results can play an important role in foundation construction, where installation conditions and foundation performance need to be evaluated as projects progress. By providing specialized engineering support, GRL Engineers has remained connected to the practical needs of contractors, engineers, and other professionals working with deep foundations.
Celebrating 50 Years
The 50th anniversary marks five decades since Goble & Associates Inc. was founded in 1976. From its beginnings as a small specialty engineering firm, the organization grew alongside an industry that increasingly relied on dynamic measurements for deep foundation quality assurance.
The milestone also reflects the lasting influence of the research and engineering work that established the company’s foundation. GRL Engineers’ history demonstrates how specialized research can develop into practical engineering services with applications extending across the deep foundation industry.
As GRL Engineers reaches its 50th anniversary, the company continues a legacy that began with three engineers and a research project at Case Western Reserve University. Its evolution from Goble & Associates Inc. to GRL Engineers, Inc. illustrates five decades of continued involvement in deep foundation testing, engineering, and quality assurance.
2026 State of Practice Seminar Tour: The Final Stretch
2026 State of Practice Seminar Tour: The Final StretchThe 50th anniversary comes alongside GRL Engineers’ 2026 State of Practice Seminar Tour, highlighting the company’s continued engagement with the deep foundation engineering community. The seminar tour provides another opportunity to share knowledge and discuss developments in foundation testing and practice as the industry continues to evolve. Read Full Newsletter
