The Firm

The Firm

Blackwood Associates, Inc. is an Architectural and Planning firm located in Fairmont, WV. MSES Consultants, Inc., is an Engineering firm located in Clarksburg, West Virginia, providing all engineering disciplines.  The two firms have partnered to become the largest full service architectural/engineering provider in West Virginia.

BAI/MSES offers a combined professional staff of over 80 people, with registered architects, engineers, LEED accredited professionals, scientists, technicians and support personnel.  BAI/MSES is a single source that can provide the professional disciplines required for a project. Professional services are managed and performed by full-time, in-house registered personnel out of the Fairmont, Clarksburg and Huntington offices.

Our History

Blackwood Associates, Inc. was originally established as a West Virginia Corporation in 1959. The firm was incorporated as L.D. Schmidt & Son, Architects and Engineers, under the direction of the late Louis D. Schmidt.  In 1967, James Blackwood joined the firm as an intern architect and project designer. In 1972, James Blackwood became vice-president of L.D. Schmidt & Son and then assumed the presidency of the Corporation in 1975. In 1981, the Corporate name was changed to Blackwood Associates, Inc. Architects and Planners, to reflect the practice ownership.

Since that time, the firm has maintained leadership in the design of state-of-the-art educational, governmental, medical, residential, recreational, commercial and historical adaptive reuse facilities. BAI has successfully completed over 600 projects with a construction value in excess of $600 million in the last 20 years.

BAI/MSES is familiar with all aspects of new construction, renovation, build-out design, life safety codes, BOCA codes, and Federal and State codes and ordinances.  In addition, we maintain LEED accredited professionals in both architecture and engineering disciplines to meet quality and performance standards.

BAI/MSES recognizes the importance of computers for complete and efficient project organization, communication and document management. All word processing, design, drafting, building analysis, virtual reality, and websites are developed by the firm using cutting edge technology.  This same technology allows BAI/MSES to provide an Owner with project work product in a usable format at the completion of services.

As part of our value added services, BAI has been developing project design websites for over 12 years which has significantly improved project communication. During design development, our websites are used to feature project updates, renderings and floor plans for review, as well as preconstruction site photography and site plans. Construction website information is updated during the building process on a regular basis.

MSES Consultants, Inc. - Engineering & Environmental

MSES Consultants, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary engineering, architectural support, environmental, planning, and project management firm, headquartered in Clarksburg, West Virginia. We have amassed 32 years of successful project experience, serving private and public clients since our initial founding as a small, 3-person environmental consulting firm in 1976. MSES expanded rapidly to become a provider of total engineering and environmental services by the year 1978, and we have seen our ranks swell, with a current professional staff of 70, including registered engineers, Certified Industrial Hygienists, asbestos inspectors, asbestos air clearance monitors, lead based paint risk assessor, professional land surveyors, and a diverse roster of professionals, scientists, and support personnel.

MSES personnel have completed more than 10,000 assignments to date. We have been heavily focused on building construction, renovations, and project management since our founding in 1976. Many of our projects have involved site selection studies, designs (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, civil. structural, mechanical, lighting, fire systems, security, and telecommunications), inspections, geotechnical investigations, assessments and reviews, environmental sampling and analysis, property evaluations and appraisals, and project management services throughout West Virginia and surrounding states. MSES also has the ability to address environmental issues that may occur during construction.

As our clients' needs have grown through the years, we have grown too. Today, MSES is a diversified planning, engineering, earth, safety, industrial hygiene, and environmental consulting firm offering a broad range of services. The MSES staff follows the highest professional standards and the results of their endeavors can be seen in more than seven states. Whether your project is large or small, unusually complex, or routine, MSES' professionals can work with your organization to outline the precise mix of services that will best accomplish your project goals.