A wall system includes a counterfort retaining wall forming at least one tier of the wall system, the counterfort retaining wall including counterfort beams and wall panels. The wall system further includes a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall, the MSE wall positioned above the counterfort retaining wall. A bottom layer of the MSE wall is positioned above the counterfort beams of the counterfort retaining wall. The wall system further includes a plurality of fascia panels spaced horizontally from a face of the MSE wall and the wall panels of the counterfort retaining wall.