RICK’s story began with a planner committed to long-term thinking and community-focused planning.
This article begins our 70th anniversary series, a decade-by-decade reflection on how RICK has grown and evolved.
Long before the firm was founded in 1955, that community-focused philosophy was guiding Glenn Rick’s work in San Diego. As the city’s long-time Planning Director, he led zoning efforts and played a central role in some of the most recognizable projects in the San Diego region. He brought that same approach to the firm he founded in 1955 with his sons, William (Bill) Rick and Wallace (Wally) Rick.
Glenn Rick originally moved to San Diego in 1927, hoping to work in homebuilding. When the housing market collapsed, he took a job in the newly formed City Planning Department and worked under Kenneth Gardner, who had been hired to update the City of San Diego’s comprehensive plan. Glenn Rick quickly moved into a leadership role, and by 1928, he was named City Planning Director and began implementing citywide zoning ordinances and infrastructure improvements.
Glenn Rick wasn’t interested in quick fixes. In interviews, he often talked about long-range issues like traffic congestion, water supply, civic buildings, and park access. He believed San Diego’s planning decisions should reflect the needs of both its communities and the natural environment. That mindset played a key role in shaping Mission Bay, a landmark project he influenced that ended up redefining San Diego’s waterfront.
In the years after World War II, the city was growing quickly, and San Diego’s leaders were looking for a way to strengthen the local economy and attract visitors. Mission Bay was identified as one possibility, although the area was mostly undeveloped marshland at the time. Critics dismissed the idea, describing it as a “mud-hole” and comparing the proposal to Coney Island. But Glenn Rick envisioned something completely different: an open, natural waterfront built for recreation, community, and long-term public benefit. He spent the following years working to bring that vision to life, focusing on a layout with space for water activities and greenery, along with very selective commercial development. His long-range approach helped shape Mission Bay into a defining part of San Diego’s waterfront. That legacy was formally recognized in 1979, when the City of San Diego renamed the Ventura Bridge to the “Glenn A. Rick Bridge” in his honor.
In 1955, after years in public service, Glenn Rick retired from the City of San Diego and opened a firm with his sons, Bill and Wally. They called it Glenn A. Rick and Sons, a name that reflected the family’s direct involvement. The firm later became Rick Engineering Company—and today, it’s known as RICK. Bill focused on civil engineering, Wally led surveying, and Glenn brought his experience in planning. Together, they built a firm shaped by public service, technical skill, and practical design.
Today, Mission Bay stands as a defining part of San Diego’s landscape, influenced by decades of planning decisions guided by communities and the surrounding landscape. RICK grew alongside that vision, with a continued focus on thoughtful planning and community impact.
As part of our 70th anniversary series, we’ll continue sharing the history and growth that have shaped RICK over the decades. Watch our news feed for future articles as the story of RICK’s history unfolds.