After a recent screening of the movie "SpOILed," some of Cannon's employees took stock of the role oil plays in lives of Americans. Most agree that we, as a nation, need to move away from oil consumption, but what does that really mean? This insightful and provocative movie will certainly make you re-consider every thing that you thought you knew about oil and the oil industry. Take a moment to check it out and find out just how "SpOILed" you might be.
November 2011 marks a significant point in the Final Design of 21st Street Improvements for the City of Paso Robles. After months of hard work, the design phase for this project has reached 60% completion. Cannon team members, along with the design firm SvR, arborists A&T Arborists, and Geotechnical engineers for Earth Systems Pacific celebrated the achievement of assisting the City in designing the first “Green/Complete Street” on the Central Coast.
21st Street is known for frequent flooding, poor pavement, and inadequate facilities for bicycles and pedestrian traffic. These conditions are the result of historic runoff from the Mountain Springs Creek watershed along with subsequent development of the urban areas over the course of several decades. To improve the situation, the City of Paso Robles in partnership with the Central Coast Low Impact Development (LID) Initiative and SvR Design Company (SvR) developed a conceptual design for a green/complete street and stormwater enhancement project along 21st Street between Vine Street and Riverside Avenue. Cannon was selected to continue the design and implementation of the project. Goals for the project are to reduce the frequency and severity of street flooding, increase groundwater recharge, improve the quality of stormwater runoff reaching the Salinas River, sediment removal, reduction of traffic speeds with traffic calming devices, shade the street with trees, re-map the 100-year corridor, and promote infill and redevelopment.
Implementation of the “green street” stormwater management and “complete street” traffic calming goals are critical. Anticipated stormwater, sewer, and street improvements include: stormwater bio-retention and bio-filtration areas; daylighted creek channel; storm drain pipes/culverts; an artistic energy dissipation structure; replacement of an aging sewer line; traffic calming for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, coordination and installation of a new pedestrian crossing within the railroad right-of-way; intersection bulb-outs for reduced pedestrian crossing widths; flashing LED crosswalks; street furnishings; ornamental street lighting; pervious pavers; engineered soil mixes and open channel plantings; and street trees.
Deemed as the future of street design, Complete Streets integrate spaces to simultaneously and safely accommodate cyclists, pedestrians, public transport, and motorists in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The City of Paso Robles decided to adopt a Complete Street design for 21st Street to increase pedestrian and bike use, promote safety, and increase traffic calming.
Cannon is excited to be part of this project which is certain to be model for other municipalities as they work to create roadway systems that adhere to the Complete Street parameters. California Legislation was signed in 2008 which requires cities to integrate Complete Street policies into their general plans (AB 1358).
Cannon’s scope of work includes preliminary and final design; railroad right-of-way coordination; subconsultant coordination; preparation of plans, specifications, and construction estimate; and preparation of exhibits for public outreach. Cannon also collaborates with the City, Arborist, Landscape Architect, and Geotechnical Engineer in completing the final design for this green/complete street project.
Groundbreaking for this momentous project should begin in Spring of 2012.
November 2011: 35 Years of Engineering, Surveying, and Design
Since 1976, we’ve been building relationships, designing dreams, and exceeding expectations all in your back yard. During this time, Cannon has provided reliable responsive solutions to clients in development, infrastructure, energy, and institutions.
We are proud to see the projects that we’ve been part of throughout California and know that our projects speak to our reputation for excellence. We invite you to look through our website to see what can be accomplished in 35 years.
October 2011: Engineers Raise Funds for Two More Water Well in Africa
In October, employees of Cannon celebrated two major milestones: the one-year anniversary of their Well Worth It campaign and meeting their goal to raise funds for two more water wells in Africa.
The campaign began when a few employees were discussing the need for water wells in developing countries. “As engineers, we work on large-scale, complicated water projects all the time,” said Jeff Spannbauer, a Senior Associate Engineer and Water Resources Specialist at Cannon. “To learn that nearly a billion people are living without access to clean, safe drinking water was particularly striking to us. We felt like we had to do something.” And, now, just one year later, Cannon has raised $21,065 to fund clean water projects.
“After our initial success of raising $10,000 in 2010, we knew that the goal of building two wells in 2011 was a bit ambitious,” said Liz Moody, Cannon’s Marketing Director. “We were truly inspired by the generosity and support we received from the community. Because of the outpouring of support, we hit our target two months before our deadline. Funds continue to flow in and we’ve started a third fund for 2011.”
How did they meet their goal? Cannon sponsored different fundraising events throughout the year. Initiatives included two garage sales, a drive-thru barbecue, and a jewelry sale.
Plans for future fundraising events are already underway.
July 2011: Cannon Awarded Construction Management For Guadalupe Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade
Cannon was selected to provide Construction Management servicesfor the City of Guadalupe’s Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade.
Through the voter-approved Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Grant (IRWMP) - Proposition 50 - the City of Guadalupe is upgrading their treatment facility, which is a $4.75 million project. This project will bring the City’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) into compliance with the RWQCB permit; prepare the City for future upgrades, such as meeting the criteria of Title 22 water re-use and recycling; and make operation and maintenance easier.
To meet specific requirements, Cannon’s construction management and inspection team must work within a compressed timeline and very tight budget. The scope of work on this project includes upgrading headworks, improving and replacing key machinery; grit removal system with associated piping and controls; AIPS pond conversion to Biolac System, construction of two new integral clarifiers and a new blower aeration system; and sludge handling facilities. The sludge handling facilities include a dewatering sludge screw press and new waste (WAS) activated sludge pumps.
Since the WWTP cannot afford many shut downs, Cannon is implementing a systematic, meticulous planning and management process to accommodate continual operation of the existing facilities during construction.
On July 20, 2011 Cannon team members and the local community opened up their wallets and filled their bellies to raise awareness and funds for clean drinking water projects around the globe.
Over 165 table-ready Tri-Tip Dinners were prepared in an effort to raise funds to build two wells in Sub-Saharan Africa to provide clean drinking water for rural villages. Each dinner served a family of 4 to 6 people and came complete with a whole-trimmed tri-tip, beans, bread, and salad. By the end of the event, more than $4,300 was raised, providing enough funds to complete one well and start on a second.
A huge "Thank You" goes out to all who generously gave and came out to support of our initiative for clean water. Your local participation will have a global effect.
On April 24, 2011: The Santa Maria Valley YMCA's 17th annual Tri-For-Fun triathlon took place Saturday, following opening ceremonies at 7:30 a.m. About 200 athletes swam one-quarter mile, then rode either 12.5 or 17.9 miles and finally ran 3.1 miles along the course.
Several Loose Cannons were among those to take top honors. Reynaldo Jaimes, Ron Hunt, and Jesse Russell tied for first place in their division on the long course with an impressive time of 1:45:55. In addition, Betsie and Mai Wilson finished in 2nd place in their division, Clay Bradfield's team took 2nd place, and Gary Wilson came in 4th in his division on the long course.
Cannon was a major sponsor of this event hosted by the Santa Maria Valley YMCA.
Once again, Cannon associates demonstrate that it is "Well Worth It" to pool their time and resources to help others gain access to clean drinking water - and it's fun too!
Cannon's 2011 Well Worth It Campaign is off to a great start. Cannon employees, families and friends, rolled up their sleeves, cleaned out their closets, and brought in their best baked goods for a garage sale and bake sale event held May 7, 2011.
Once the dust settled and the last supporter left the sale, this massive effort brought in $1700. This year, Cannon's goal is to fund two new wells in sub-Saharan Africa. At $5000 a well, they are well on their way to reaching that goal.
This is just the first of many fundraising events planned for 2011. Future events include a drive-thru tri-tip barbecue, a rummage sale, and a "Night-Out."
For more information about this event or other "Well Worth It"events, contact Liz Moody, lizm@cannoncorp.us.
On April 24, 2011: The Santa Maria Valley YMCA's 17th annual Tri-For-Fun triathlon took place Saturday, following opening ceremonies at 7:30 a.m. About 200 athletes swam one-quarter mile, then rode either 12.5 or 17.9 miles and finally ran 3.1 miles along the course.
Several Loose Cannons were among those to take top honors. Reynaldo Jaimes, Ron Hunt, and Jesse Russell tied for first place in their division on the long course with an impressive time of 1:45:55. In addition, Betsie and Mai Wilson finished in 2nd place in their division, Clay Bradfield's team took 2nd place, and Gary Wilson came in 4th in his division on the long course.
Cannon was a major sponsor of this event hosted by the Santa Maria Valley YMCA.
SAN LUIS OBISPO - Cal Poly's newest student housing complex, Poly Canyon Village, has been honored with the Innovator Award by Student Housing Business magazine.
The honor was given to Poly Canyon Village architectural designer Niles Bolton Associates for the category of Best New Development: On-Campus. The award was presented April 13 at the Interface Student Housing Conference held in Austin, Texas.
Poly Canyon Village boasts 615 apartments with 2,661 beds, as well as 1,926 parking spaces and 11, 255 square feet of retail space. Cal Poly is home to the largest student housing program in the California State University System, with more than 6,200 residents.
Poly Canyon Village is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Cannon provided civil engineering services for the project, including the preparation of grading, drainage, improvement, and on-and off-site utility plans. Cannon also assisted with surveying, environmental permitting, and LEED certification for the complex.
About the U.S. Green Building Council:
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Buildings in the U.S. are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent of water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
About LEED Certification:
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 40,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising nearly 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 117 countries. In addition, nearly 10,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 38,000 more homes registered. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
Article reprinted from Cal Poly News, April 14, 2011.
April 2011: Loose Cannons Continue to Tackle New Challenges
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2011
Contact: Liz Moody
Phone: 805-544-7407
Santa Monica, California, April 2011: Twenty-five cycling enthusiasts took part in the SLOMO 200 Bike Ride, starting from Cannon's office in San Luis Obispo and ending at Cannon's office in Santa Monica.
With temperatures in the 30s, the Loose Cannon Team began their adventure on Friday, April 8, 2011. The 75.51 mile trek took them through the hills of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. After a brief stop at Foxen winery, they ended the day's journey in Solvang where, wet and nearly frozen, they rested for the night.
After regaining their strength for the next leg of the ride, on Day 2 the Team conquered an 81.87 mile trek from Solvang, through downtown Santa Barbara all the way to Ventura. From Ventura they rode to Port Hueneme where they finished for the day.
Day 3 was a quick 51.12 mile trip on the PCH/Hwy 1 from Port Hueneme, through beautiful Malibu, and ending at the famous Spitfire Grill in Santa Monica. Here, they were joined by fellow Loose Cannon well wishers for a proper finish line celebration, lunch, and libation.
All in all it was a complete success and enjoyed by everyone involved.
San Luis Obispo, CA. In early November of 2010, a few employees of Cannon - an engineering firm in San Luis Obispo - were discussing the need for water wells in developing countries. Less than two months later, Cannon had raised over $10,000 through donations, enough to build two wells in Ethiopia later this year.
How it Began
"Our firm works with public and private agencies on large-scale, complicated water projects all the time," said Jeff Spannbauer, a Senior Associate Engineer and Water Resources Specialist at Cannon. "To learn that nearly a billion people are living their lives without even having access to clean, safe water was particularly striking to us. We just felt like we had to do something."
"A few of us had this wild idea that we'd try to raise $5,000 so a well could be built," said Susan Roberts, Principal Engineer at Cannon. "Then the idea got a little wilder: we decided to try to raise all the funds by the end of the year - less than 8 weeks away."
Spannbauer, Roberts and Liz Moody, Cannon's Marketing Director, agreed to set up a fund at charity:water.org. "Charity:water was a good fit for what we wanted to do," Moody said. "They're dedicated to addressing this global issue and they turn your donation into action. For $5,000, they identify the community that needs the water well, make the arrangements, and build the well. We really like that they have private funds to support their organization's overhead, so 100% of the money we donate goes directly into the construction of the wells. And, they have a website feature set up so we could monitor our incoming donations at any time."
How it Grew
A grass roots effort from start to finish, the three employees enlisted the support of their firm's internal employee network, The Loose Cannons. Word spread. Donations began to trickle in. More employees got involved, and flyers promoting the cause began to appear on bulletin boards, in emails, even in the employee restrooms. For several years, Cannon has had a campaign in place to match any employee's contributions to charity, and the water well was no exception. Every donation to the water well fund was immediately matched by the firm.
With the holidays just around the corner, an "All I Want for Christmas is Clean Water" campaign was launched. Employees began mentioning the water well to their friends and families. More donations were received. More and more employees checked charity:water's website to see how Cannon's donations were adding up. Slowly, milestones were reached and surpassed. After five weeks, $1,750 had been donated. After six weeks: $2,100.
But with only a few days remaining in 2010, it didn't look as if they'd hit the $5,000 milestone by year-end. And then, on December 30th, the last $320 that they needed were donated, and Cannon's employees celebrated.
And then, before the building erupted in cheers for a second time, it got very, very quiet. An anonymous donor had just added another $5,000 to the account, enough to build a second well.
"We were worried we wouldn't raise enough funds," said Moody. "Then those last few donations came in and put us over the top, and we were so thrilled with what we'd accomplished. All of us were so happy at that moment - really, genuinely happy to be part of a community like this - and then that big anonymous donation came in. It just blew us away."
The Reaction
"I never cease to be amazed by the people who work here," said Mike Cannon, CEO and President. "The way they aligned themselves with this cause makes complete sense, considering how much expertise our company has in this realm. But the real joy was watching them work at this, watching the enthusiasm and participation build, and watching the momentum of the whole thing just continue to snowball. When that donation that put us over our goal came in on December 30th, we had a building full of people with goosebumps."
Roberts agreed. "We all hear about how much better it is to give than to receive," she said. "But until you've actually been able to witness a group of people working so hard to give, you can't really understand just how inspiring it can be."
"I went into engineering," Spannbauer said, "because I wanted to make a difference. I do that every day designing pipelines and roadways for local communities, but I knew - I think we all know - that we have a lot more to give than just a good day's work at our jobs."
The Wells
The two water wells that the extended Cannon family has funded will be built later this year. charity:water has identified two communities that will benefit most from these wells, and arrangements for construction will begin soon. When completed, each well will provide clean, safe water for 250 people.
What Comes Next
The Cannon employees have found a cause they truly believe in, and plan to continue funding water wells for years to come. They have set an initial goal of funding one to two wells per year, and have already begun the 2011 campaign. If you're interested in participating, visit: http://mycharitywater.org/loosecannons_2011.
San Luis Obispo, CA, August 23, 2010 - Cannon, a California-based consulting firm, recently announced that Dean Russu, PE, has joined the firm as Director of the Construction Management (CM) Division. For 34 years, Cannon has served municipalities, energy clients, and schools and institutions providing construction management, observation, contract administration, and resident engineering, as well as project design and permitting.
With over 20 years of experience, Dean Russu brings extensive experience in the construction of bridge structures, highways, local roads, utilities, and water resource projects. He is an expert in multi-discipline and multi-agency coordination involving environmental, health and safety, utilities and local agencies.
As the CM Division's expert in contract administration, Kathleen Pence brings over 23 years of experience in funding administration, contract compliance, coordination with State, County, and Federal regulatory agencies, permitting, construction administration and bid support, as well as Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Plan preparation and compliance.
Also working in the CM Division is Patrick Riddell, PE. He brings over 10 years experience in the design and construction of public infrastructure. He is an expert in street and utility improvements, multi-agency coordination, grading and drainage analysis, and storm water hydraulics.
Some of the projects currently undertaken by this Division include the Expansion of the Pismo Pier Promenade in Pismo Beach, Theater Drive Realignment in Paso Robles, and an oil/gas Pipeline Abandonment project in Monterey County.
"The extensive background and experience this team brings to our clients are formidable," said Mike Cannon, PE, President of Cannon. "We look forward to the continued growth and success of this Division".
Founded in 1976, Cannon brings responsive reliable solutions to clients in water resources, streets and highways, energy, education, and military. Staff of professionals includes civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers; licensed land surveyors; instrumentation and controls (SCADA); construction managers; funding administrators; and planners. Offices currently include San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and Santa Monica, California.
July, 2010; San Luis Obispo, California - Educating future engineers is a top priority at Cannon, a California-based engineering consulting firm. Cannon has long partnered with Cal Poly to encourage and inspire students. With many Cal Poly alumni in the ranks, including company president Mike Cannon, the Cannon-Cal Poly partnership has allowed employees to give back to their alma mater.
In 2010, Cannon was a major sponsor of the Cal Poly Concrete Canoe Team. The Concrete Canoe Competition provides students with a practical application of the engineering principles they learn in the classroom. After placing first or second in the regional competitions, the best and brightest students from 22 top engineering schools matched wits and skills in the national finals, hosted by Cal Poly. Cal Poly placed first in the National Concrete Canoe Championship in June.
This year marks the first time a school has hosted and won the competition simultaneously. In addition to supporting the Concrete Canoe Team, Cannon supports Cal Poly with Courses. For the past five years, several Cannon employees have volunteered their time and expertise to help faculty member and other practicing professionals design Cal Poly's Civil Engineering Senior Design Course. Cannon professionals are Section Instructors, Guest Speakers, and Interview Panel Members.
In 2006, a new Senior Design sequence was implemented to correct the deficiencies and problems in the original program. This design provided a more valuable learning experience for the students. Course content was selected to ensure that each senior had an opportunity to acquire a variety of professional skills that are used on a daily basis by civil engineering professionals.
The result of this new capstone design experience has exceeded the expectations of its designers. Assessment data collected since 2006 shows that the new course has fostered learning and enabled graduating seniors to be better prepared for the practice of Civil Engineering. Cal Poly's submittal entitled "Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice through Capstone Design" was awarded one of six 2010 NCEES awards.
The NCEES Engineering Award recognizes engineering programs that encourage collaboration between students and professional engineers. All EAC/ABET - accredited engineering programs were invited to submit projects that integrate professional practice and education. The winners were selected by a panel of NCEES members and representatives from academic institutions and professional engineering organizations.
Since 1976, Cannon has been providing professional consulting services to clients in water resources, streets and highways, energy, education, and military. Our staff of professionals includes civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers; land surveyors; instrumentation and controls (SCADA) specialists; construction managers; funding administrators; and planners. Our network of offices currently includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and Santa Monica, California.
PASO ROBLES, Calif., May 25, 2010 - The City of Paso Robles received awards and glowing accolades for improvements made to the South Vine Street. The project, which included widening the existing two traffic lanes; adding two, 5-foot wide striped and colored Class II bike lanes; and installing curbs, gutters, drainage improvements and traffic calming measures along the route, won awards from the American Public Works Association (APWA) as well as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The awards included the following:
2010 Transportation Project of the Year $2-10 million, APWA
In addition to being the southern entrance to the City, the Vine Street corridor is an integral part of the community's thoroughfare as it is one of the two local streets that connect the City to the south. The project not only aesthetically enhances the southern entrance and exit to the City, it also adds safer recreational opportunities by providing new bike lanes which help access to the City's beautiful western vineyards.
Through a collaborative design process, community outreach with the SLO County Bicycle Coalition, and creative design solutions, the City and Cannon were able to design South Vine Street to be a desirable travel route for bicyclists, tourists and the City's residents.
The project included several sustainable measures to preserve and protect the environment. These measures included reusing the existing asphalt; maintaining historic drainage patterns; minimizing the development footprint; all while enhancing and promoting alternative transportation.
Innovations in technology were also significant in the design and construction of the bike lanes. The colored slurry seal created a durable and safe surface for bicyclists, and a more visible distinction between vehicular and non-motorized traffic.
Funding for the project came from a combination of Federal and State Grants programmed by San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) and administered by the City along with Caltrans Local Assistance Division.
The City of Paso Robles selected Cannon to do the engineering design and construction management for this project. Rockwood General Contractors was the contractor.
Santa Maria, California, March 25, 2010 - All it took was an introduction letter from U.S. Army 2LT Jake C. Bradfield of the 3rd Platoon, A Troop/1-91 Cavalry, 173rd Infantry Brigade (Airborne) in Afghanistan to inspire Cannon employees to give. After hearing about many of the simple things our servicemen and women are unable to get, many things that we take for granted, employees collected, packaged and sent everything from dried fruit to body wash.
"The big hits were the stockings, the washcloths and the motorcycle magazines. The dried fruit was eaten in about an hour. The toiletries are always exciting...I will say that you should feel very good for making the men's lives a little easier. You brought them great cheer and thoughts of home," said 2LT Bradfield.
After the initial response, Cannon employees set up an ongoing support program to continue sending care packages to the 3rd Platoon. Packages will be sent quarterly and anyone that wants to contribute to this effort can send supplies to any one of Cannon's offices.
This is just one of several ways Cannon supports servicemen and servicewomen. They have donated to the Village Dirtbags annual Christmas Bikes for Kids program that provides bikes and helmets to families of Vandenberg Air Force Base's deployed service members. They have also donated to the Balfour Beatty Foundation whose mission it is to honor those who protect and serve our country by assisting returning service members who have become disabled, and by offering educational scholarships to children of active duty military members who reside in our communities.
"These brave young men and women give so much for our country," said company president Mike Cannon. "It is our obligation and privilege to show them support in their efforts."
Who is Cannon? Since 1976, Cannon has been providing professional consulting services to clients in water resources, streets and highways, energy, education, and military. Our staff of professionals includes civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers; land surveyors; instrumentation and controls (SCADA) specialists; construction managers; funding administrators; and planners. Our network of offices currently includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and Santa Monica, California.
Loose Cannon's Support the Santa Maria Valley YMCA Tri-For-Fun
Santa Maria, California, April 24, 2010 - Over 20 Loose Cannons will dive into their next big adventure when they participate in the Santa Maria Valley YMCA 16th Annual Tri-For-Fun Triathlon. The sprint triathlon consists of a ΒΌ mile swim, 12.5 or 17.9 mile bike ride, and a 5k run. Organizers are expecting over 350 participants this year.
Cannon is a Bronze Sponsor of the YMCA Tri-For-Fun, and will be providing a bottle of cold water to each participant. This is just one way that Cannon promotes a healthy lifestyle among employees, friends, and family.
(QUOTE from Clay Bradfield) "My wife and I have been participating in the triathlon for years," said Loose Cannon, Clay Bradfield. "I am looking forward to sharing this experience with my co-workers this year."
The Tri-For-Fun Triathlon is a great community event bringing families, friends and for the Loose Cannons co-workers together to celebrate living a healthy lifestyle.
Who is Cannon? Since 1976, Cannon has been providing professional consulting services to clients in water resources, streets and highways, energy, education, and military. Our staff of professionals includes civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers; land surveyors; instrumentation and controls (SCADA) specialist; construction managers; funding administrators; and planners. Our network of offices currently includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and Santa Monica, California.
Who are the Loose Cannons? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy; Jill too. While we work hard, we play hard too. Don't get us wrong, we're not athletes. That's not what Loose Cannons is about. It's about doing things together, as a team that we might not try on our own. Year after year we go beyond where we thought we could, stretching our minds and bodies (and hamstrings) with extreme challenges.
Sacramento - With more than 200 attendees (peers and colleagues combined), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) presented awards for the 2009 Outstanding Civil Engineering Project Awards for the State of California. Among the recipients was California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo who was awarded Outstanding Sustainable Technology Project of the Year for the Poly Canyon Village. Scott Bloom, Housing Facilities Manager, and Mike Cannon, President of Cannon, received the award as owner and engineer of record for the project.
This award follows a string of accolades the University has received for the recently completed Poly Canyon Village. This spectacular new campus development which opened to students in 2008 is the single-largest construction project in the history of the CSU system. With 2670 beds, this housing complex includes three residential neighborhood areas on 30 acres north of Brizzolara Creek at the base of beautiful Poly Canyon.
The design-build team committed to delivering the project one year earlier than requested in the RFP, and established a goal of achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) -NC Gold certification including sustainable design concepts for the project. As such, Poly Canyon Village is the first LEED certified project on the Cal Poly campus and the largest LEED certified project in the California State University system. Some key sustainable concepts include the following:
Natural ventilation in the residential units to reduce energy use.
Radiant heating panels for the cooler months.
Drought tolerant native plants to significantly reduce water use.
Covered bicycle storage for over 25% of the village occupants to promote alternative modes of transportation.
Bus stop near the Village Center.
Open space equal to twice the size of the project's building footprint.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., February 19, 2010 - The San Luis Obispo County
Regional Airport is one of nineteen airports nationwide to secure a
federal grant that will increase service and make the airport more
competitive.
"Receiving this grant is great news for the future of our County and the
airport," said Michael Cannon, Chair of the San Luis Obispo Air
Transportation Alliance (SLOCATA), an advocacy group that has been
instrumental in helping the airport. "These federal dollars will help
attract service for new routes. The importance of this award to local
businesses cannot be understated - they are the lifeblood of our
communities."
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the airport a $500,000
grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program. In
July 2009, the DOT solicited applications from small communities
interested in securing a grant for air service development and whose
benefits are expected to continue growing after the initial
expenditures. 84 communities in 38 states applied from this grant pool
of $6.5 million dollars, and the airport was the second largest
recipient in the nation out of 19 awards. It is the only airport in
California to receive such an award for this year's program.
"It comes down to jobs and infrastructure. Our airport is an economic
engine of the region and contributes approximately $177 million in
annual impacts. Since our County is far from the metro centers of the
State, improving air service has great benefit to our business community
and all travelers. Air service is particularly vital in SLO County which
relies upon tourism and the wine industry as some of its largest
employment sectors. SLOCATA supporters have worked very hard since 2008
to collaborate with tourism organizations, the SLO Chamber of Commerce
and other chambers to achieve several successes. The award speaks highly
of the competiveness of our airport." said Michael Manchak, president of
the Economic Vitality Corporation, a partner organization of SLOCATA.
The grant application was submitted by the San Luis Obispo Regional
Airport with support from SLOCATA, a group of local business leaders who
understand the importance of a sustainable and competitive local
airport. Working closely with airport administration, SLOCATA obtained
letters of support from many elected officials including Congressman
Kevin McCarthy, Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman Lois Capps, and
Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee. Congressman McCarthy's office announced the
grant after a meeting with the Department of Transportation Secretary.
ABOUT US SLO County Air Transportation Alliance (SLOCATA)
An advocacy group for the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport aimed
at helping to retain and attract airline service and the future of
airport infrastructure. Founded in 2008, SLOCATA is comprised of
business leaders from throughout the County who understand the
importance of a sustainable and competitive airport. www.sloevc.org/airservice
Economic Vitality Corporation
Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC) is a local non-profit economic
development organization that provides business resources throughout San
Luis Obispo County. The EVC stimulates the local economy by helping to
generate jobs, increase investment in the community and promote the
start-up, growth and attraction of businesses. 805.788.2012 www.sloevc.org
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
It is the oldest and largest voluntary organization in San Luis Obispo
County. Serving the needs of 1,400 members, for more than 105 years the
Chamber has been dedicated to the economic health of the City of San
Luis Obispo. www.slochamber.org
January: Cannon Helps Save A Whale During the Super Bowl
Those with a sharp eye may have noticed that the Avila Pier was featured in a Super Bowl commercial. The premise of the commercial involved three young men returning a live Orca whale to the ocean after a bachelor party. The three raced down a winding road and out to the end of the Avila Pier--coming to a skidding, spinning stop which propelled the whale into the bay.
Last September, the production crew approached the Port about using the Avila Pier. Cannon provided an analysis of the pier structure to assess the forces associated with the fast moving SUV. The production crew's biggest question: "How fast can we go?" Cannon's response: "It is not a question of how fast you can go, but how fast you can stop." Cannon structural engineers evaluated the gravity and deceleration loads, the weight of the vehicle, and the constructed capacities of the pier elements and their connections. Strengthening options were limited by strict coastal construction requirements. Commercial:
After a recent screening of the movie "SpOILed," some of Cannon's employees took stock of the role oil plays in lives of Americans. Most agree that we, as a nation, need to move away from oil consumption, but what does that really mean? This insightful and provocative movie will certainly make you re-consider every thing that you thought you knew about oil and the oil industry. Take a moment to check it out and find out just how "SpOILed" you might be.
21st Street is known for frequent flooding, poor pavement, and inadequate facilities for bicycles and pedestrian traffic. These conditions are the result of historic runoff from the Mountain Springs Creek watershed along with subsequent development of the urban areas over the course of several decades. To improve the situation, the City of Paso Robles in partnership with the Central Coast Low Impact Development (LID) Initiative and SvR Design Company (SvR) developed a conceptual design for a green/complete street and stormwater enhancement project along 21st Street between Vine Street and Riverside Avenue. Cannon was selected to continue the design and implementation of the project. Goals for the project are to reduce the frequency and severity of street flooding, increase groundwater recharge, improve the quality of stormwater runoff reaching the Salinas River, sediment removal, reduction of traffic speeds with traffic calming devices, shade the street with trees, re-map the 100-year corridor, and promote infill and redevelopment. 
Thank You For Your Help!
May 2011: Cannon's Associates Come Together for Clean Water
April 2011: Cal Poly's Poly Canyon Village Recognized as Best New Development
April 2011: Loose Cannons Continue to Tackle New Challenges
San Luis Obispo, CA, August 23, 2010 - Cannon, a California-based consulting firm, recently announced that Dean Russu, PE, has joined the firm as Director of the Construction Management (CM) Division. For 34 years, Cannon has served municipalities, energy clients, and schools and institutions providing construction management, observation, contract administration, and resident engineering, as well as project design and permitting.
PASO ROBLES, Calif., May 25, 2010 - The City of Paso Robles received awards and glowing accolades for improvements made to the South Vine Street. The project, which included widening the existing two traffic lanes; adding two, 5-foot wide striped and colored Class II bike lanes; and installing curbs, gutters, drainage improvements and traffic calming measures along the route, won awards from the American Public Works Association (APWA) as well as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The awards included the following:
"These brave young men and women give so much for our country," said company president Mike Cannon. "It is our obligation and privilege to show them support in their efforts."
Sacramento - With more than 200 attendees (peers and colleagues combined), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) presented awards for the 2009 Outstanding Civil Engineering Project Awards for the State of California. Among the recipients was California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo who was awarded Outstanding Sustainable Technology Project of the Year for the Poly Canyon Village. Scott Bloom, Housing Facilities Manager, and Mike Cannon, President of Cannon, received the award as owner and engineer of record for the project.
