Abstract: A beachfront wave energy dissipation structure is disclosed. The structure has a plurality of vertically stacked parallel plates having two lateral edges, a shore-facing edge, and a water-facing edge, and a plurality of columns disposed between and connecting the plates. The columns are laterally and longitudinally distributed so as to impede free passage of waves between the plates. The shore-facing end of the bottom-most one of the plates preferably is supported at an angle in the range of 10 degrees to 30 degrees from the horizontal, so that the structure can be positioned with the plates angling upwardly away from the water. The plates reduce in longitudinal dimension from the bottom to the top of the stack, and are arranged in step fashion rising in the direction away from the water-facing edge.