Matthew Loos, PE

📐Professional Engineer 📕Author 👶🏻Father 🏉Rugby Wing 🌿LEED AP & 🎧 Host of The Placemaking Podcast (@PlacemakingPod)

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

Welp, submitted an LOI for vacant land in a mid-sized downtown area.

This is the first step for me as I make a journey into RE Development as a practicing Civil Engineer 👷‍♂️

Will continue to build this 🧵 as the journey continues to encourage others thinking of making the leap

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

@realEstateTrent This is what I tell my team of engineers all the time. Focus on the little things (consistent and timely communication foremost) and we beat out 90% of the competition.

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

@SimpleCRE 1,000%
Much more fulfilling to check off the list and see completions rather than just “busy” work.

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

Most people think development starts with construction.

It doesn’t.

It starts with:

📋 Due diligence
📐 Zoning
💧 Utilities
📝 Easements
🌊 Floodplains
🚧 Site constraints

The projects that look “easy” are often the result of months (or years) of invisible work.

What’s something about your profession people never see?

#Development #CivilEngineering

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

One thing I’ve learned from working on projects across Arkansas:

People don’t remember infrastructure.

They remember places.

🌳 A park
🚶 A comfortable sidewalk
🚲 A trail connection
🏛️ A public plaza

The engineering matters because it creates the foundation for those experiences.

What’s the most memorable public space in your city?

#Placemaking #UrbanDesign

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

After more than a decade in civil engineering, here’s one lesson that keeps proving true:

The hardest part of a project is rarely engineering.

It’s alignment.

🤝 Owners
🏛️ Cities
⚡ Utilities
🚧 Contractors
🏘️ Neighbors

The technical work is often the easy part.

Getting everyone moving in the same direction is where projects succeed or fail.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve seen derail a good project?

#Leadership #CivilEngineeri

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

@bobbyfijan 100%

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

@seandsweeney Thanks Sean! Made it through permitting so riding a pretty good high at the moment but I’m sure the construction will bring me back down ha.
Hope you’re doing well by the way!

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

@YIMBYLAND We’re starting to look at this here in NW Arkansas. It’s wild how much land religious institutions own and honestly how willing they are to take on projects like this.

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

@seandsweeney Thanks! Subdivided a single family lot into 3 smaller lots with two story detached townhomes. Got to start somewhere!

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

It’s been a while since I’ve been active here.

For those who are new:

🏗️ Civil Engineer
📐 Site Design Group Leader at Olsson
📍 Licensed PE in AR, TX, and OK
🚶 Passionate about urban design, walkability, and great places

Most of my day is spent helping turn ideas into real projects.

Lately, I’ve also started pursuing small-scale development myself.

I’m looking forward to sharing lessons from both sides of the table—the engineer and the developer.

What are you working on right now?

#CivilEngineering #UrbanDesign

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

ust finished Building Optimism by @Cobylefko 📚—a must-read that reshaped how I see the built environment 🏙️.

“Optimism is a choice. It’s also a design tool.”

Big thanks to Wes Craiglow for the gift. Highly recommend!
#Placemaking #UrbanDesign #CityBuilding

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

I’m excited to see where this journey leads. Looking forward to the next steps in this process and the positive impact it can have on Centerton’s future!

#ULINWA #Placemaking #DowntownDevelopment #SmallCitiesInitiative

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

Just wrapped up a great few days serving on the Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) for the Centerton Downtown Master Plan RFQ as part of Urban Land Institute Northwest Arkansas Small Cities Initiative. Centerton is at a pivotal moment—rapid growth without a true downtown -

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

A huge thank you to the stakeholders who shared their insights during interviews, helping us better understand the community’s vision and needs. Walking through the existing downtown and exploring the possibilities for a new town center was inspiring.

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

Great catching up with @Cobylefko and hearing him share insights on building people-oriented neighborhoods with our @UrbanLandInst chapter! Always inspiring to see the passion and vision he brings to the table. #Placemaking #SustainableCommunities #ULI #NWA

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

Huge thanks to Ozark Regional Transit for providing a much needed lift making my commute much easier! Thanks to Olsson for providing the full Bike Rack as well!
#Trailblazers #Engineering #SustainableCommunities #NWArkansas #NWARealestate

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

Thrilled to share my inaugural bike ride experience in Movement May, courtesy of the Trailblazers Organization! 🚴‍♂️ As a civil engineer deeply invested in transit solutions, exploring trails for transportation and commuting was a natural fit.

[Matthew Loos, PE @MatthewLoosPE1]

The ride underscored the vital role of multi-modal transit in our communities, promoting sustainability and accessibility. Looking forward to leveraging this momentum to advocate for more bike-friendly infrastructure!