Shannon & Wilson
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Geotechnical engineering, Environmental services, Consulting |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Founder | William L. Shannon, Stanley D. Wilson |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Area served | United States, Global |
Key people | Gerard Buechel (President and Seattle Office Manager), Gregory Fischer (Chairman of the Board and Denver Regional Manager) |
| Revenue | $28 million (2003) |
Number of employees | 300–500 (2003) |
| Website | trenchlesstechnology |
Shannon & Wilson, often abbreviated as S & W, is a U.S.-based consultancy specializing in geotechnical engineering and environmental services, with its main office located in Seattle, Washington. Established in 1954 by Harvard graduates William L. Shannon and Stanley D. Wilson, the firm delivers expertise in geotechnical, geological, and environmental disciplines to both public agencies and private enterprises. Its client base spans various sectors such as dam and levee infrastructure, design and construction projects, energy, federal initiatives, industrial developments, real estate, transportation systems, wastewater treatment, and waterfront operations. Notably, more than fifty percent of its workload involves transportation-related retrofit assessments and safety evaluations.
Leadership roles include Gerard Buechel serving as President and Seattle Office Manager, alongside Gregory Fischer who holds the position of Chairman of the Board and manages the Denver regional office. The company maintains a global presence with a workforce ranging between 300 and 500 employees and reported revenues of $28 million in 2003.
The organization’s strategic approach focuses on offering a broad spectrum of services encompassing natural resource stewardship, geophysical investigations, geographic information systems (GIS), hydrogeology, mining engineering, seismology, and sustainability consulting. This diversified portfolio underpins its competitive positioning in infrastructure safety assurance and environmental regulatory compliance within its chosen markets.
Founding
The company was established in 1954 under the encouragement of geotechnical engineering pioneer Arthur Casagrande, who collaborated with both Shannon and Wilson.
Staff
By 1998, employee numbers had grown to 130. However, following the passage of Washington's Initiative 695 and an ensuing recession that reduced transportation budgets, staffing decreased to approximately 90 personnel and remained below 100 for several years. Since then, the firm has expanded significantly to employ over 300 professionals distributed among 11 offices across the United States.
Expansion
Based in Seattle, Shannon & Wilson maintains additional offices in Richland, Portland, St. Louis, Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Denver. The Denver branch was established around the year 2000 to support upgrades on Interstate 25.
Lawsuits
In 2002, the company was involved in legal proceedings concerning property damage caused by landslides on Magnolia Hill; the judgment was rendered in favor of Shannon & Wilson.
Recognition
Each year, Shannon & Wilson sponsors several academic initiatives: the Stanley D. Wilson Memorial Lecture at the University of Washington; the Stanley D. Wilson Fellowship at the University of Illinois; and the William L. Shannon Endowed Fellowship at the University of Washington.
Services
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Contamination / Remediation
- Geologic Hazards
- Natural Resources
- Water Resources
- Design-Build
- Tunneling / Underground
- Arctic Engineering
- Construction Management
- Geotechnical Software Development
Notable projects
- SR 520 Floating Bridge
- Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel
- Link light rail
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge
- Seahawks Stadium
- Seattle Center Monorail
- U.S. Courthouse, Seattle
- Lower Meramec River Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Baumgartner Tunnel
- Boston's Central Artery
- Third Harbor Tunnel
External links
- Seattle-based companies
- Consulting firms founded in 1954
- 1954 establishments in Washington State
- Geotechnical engineering firms
- Civil and construction engineering companies in the United States
- American businesses founded in 1954
- Civil and construction engineering firms established in 1954
- American companies established in 1954
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment