Date
Monday, July 28, 2025
Time
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location Name
Room 301D
Name
Anchor Down! Challenges of Upgrading Public and Private Utilities on a 150 Year Old Campus
Track
Construction: Alternative Delivery
Description
Vanderbilt University—home to over 13,000 under and postgraduate students—is in the midst of upgrading and expanding the underground public and private utilities serving the campus. Having just passed 150 years in age, there are numerous known, unknown, active, and decommissioned existing utilities which had to be maintained until new services were activate and all while navigating the challenges of heavy construction on an active campus. Upon completion the Utility Corridor project will provide the campus with upgraded potable water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, chilled water, hot water, steam and condensate, reclaimed water, high/medium/low voltage duct banks, and telecommunications duct banks. The project was procured and constructed utilizing the CMAR approach due to its unique location and inherent challenges with schedule and constructability.
The project scope consists of installing 4.3 miles of underground utilities via both conventional open cut trenching and horizontal directional drilling (HDD). Pipe sizes ranged from 36” to 1.25” and pipe types included HDPE, PVC, RCP, DIP, and pre-insulated steel. Duct banks ranged in size from as small as 2 each conduits to as large as 32 each conduits. Excavations were as deeps as 25 feet.
The presentation will detail the use of the CMAR approach for design and construction of the project, challenges overcome, and lessons learned along the way.