Melissa Shea

Melissa Shea is Principal and Managing Director of Structural Engineering in Walter P Moore’s Washington, DC office. She brings together expertise from across the practice to help clients evaluate competing design, business, and performance priorities and make informed decisions. Working closely with owners, designers, builders, and technical specialists, Melissa guides collaborative teams in developing thoughtful, buildable solutions that align with client goals and create lasting value.

Melissa specializes in the delivery of complex healthcare and science and technology facilities, where structural decisions must account for patient experience, specialized equipment, operational continuity, constructability, and long-term performance. She uses data and digital tools to assess options through multiple lenses, including embodied carbon, cost, constructability, and alignment with broader project objectives. 

Her experience also extends across aviation, commercial, sports, cultural, and public-facing facilities. Known for translating ambitious ideas into practical structural solutions, Melissa works across disciplines and throughout design and construction to clarify choices, resolve coordination challenges, and maintain momentum. Her healthcare work includes Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Wonder Tower, VCU Health Adult Outpatient Pavilion, and Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center.

Walter P Moore Inclusion Council
Co-Chair

American Institute of Steel Construction
Member

Stanford University, Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, Design Construction Integration

The College of William & Mary, BS, Physics, International Relations