Castle was subcontracted to carry out the civil, design-build work on a nearly $50 million utility infrastructure upgrade under Saint Louis University’s (SLU) 200-year-old campus. This project involved upgrading and replacing 33,000 linear feet of electrical, gas, water, and IT infrastructure throughout the University’s north campus, modernizing and enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the campus’s essential utility services.

The pre-existing, public-private utility conditions were a result of 150 years of various construction efforts, presenting a complex, underground layout, while lacking accurate construction records. By applying subsurface utility mapping and civil information modeling for utility installation planning, our team navigated utility lines and underground hazards, avoiding unexpected delays and cost increases. Excavation methods, including cut-and-cover tunneling and horizontal directional drilling (HDD), pedestrian and vehicle traffic control, and a comprehensive safety program ensured the seamless integration of the new infrastructure without disrupting the University’s daily operations.