Michael Baker International Raises Awareness for Global Hunger Relief Through Participation in Orange County Canstruction® Event
Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services put its engineering and architectural expertise to work this year, raising awareness for global hunger relief through companywide participation in local Canstruction events.
To support Canstruction’s innovative fundraising exhibits and events designed to raise awareness of the ongoing problem of hunger around the world, Michael Baker fielded teams in regional competitions in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Pa. and Irvine, Calif. The company’s participation in the three events led to donations to local hunger relief organizations of more than four tons of food from Michael Baker’s structures.
Fifteen team members from the company’s Irvine office participated in the most recent 2016 Canstruction Orange County competition. This is the sixth year that Michael Baker’s Irvine office has competed alongside other architectural and engineering firms in Orange County to design and build thematic structures made entirely out of canned food. The completed designs were on display for review by both judges and the public. Following the event, Canstruction donated all canned food used in the creation of the displays to the Orange County Food Bank for distribution to families in the community.
Michael Baker’s Canstruction entry, “Gotta Feed ‘Em All,” was designed as a tribute to Pokémon. The structure took 15 team members more than six hours to complete. It stood 10 feet wide by 10 feet long and eight feet tall and was comprised of more than 5,000 cans of food collected by Michael Baker team members.
“Michael Baker’s continued participation in this event makes it clear that they place a high priority on helping the less fortunate in our communities,” said Mark Lowry, executive director of the Orange County Food Bank. “We’re always excited to see the structure they create and enjoy seeing the public’s appreciation of the hard work and creativity that goes into bringing their vision to life.”
“I am proud of our team members’ commitment of time and energy in support of this worthwhile cause in our community,” said Mike Tylman, Irvine Office Executive for Michael Baker International. “Our ongoing involvement in the local Canstruction competition demonstrates how ‘We Make a Difference’ in the communities we serve. We are proud to put our expertise to work for such an important cause.”
Recognized as an innovator in promoting global hunger relief, Canstruction hosts annual competitions and exhibit events in more than 150 cities around the world, leading to the collection and donation of nearly 40 million pounds of food to the needy since 1992. The American Institute of Architects, Can Manufacturing Institute, and the Society for Design Administration support Canstruction in this important effort.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International is a leading global provider of engineering and consulting services, which include planning, architectural, environmental, construction, program management, and full life-cycle support services as well as information technology and communications services and solutions. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions in support of U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker International has more than 6,000 employees in more than 90 locations across the U.S. and internationally. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com.
