While essentially identical, Pittsburgh’s most iconic bridges built in the 1920s aged differently.

Despite a 10-month delay due to the pandemic, the $49-million, four-story residence hall was completed three months early and under budget thanks to a proactive preconstruction phase design-assist effort, stringent construction protocols and offsite prefabrication of exterior wall and building system components.

Working in a dense urban environment with existing underground utilities without accurate subsurface records led to unforeseen obstacles during excavation.

Despite encountering remnants of previous underground activities in Pittsburgh’s oldest and densest neighborhood, the team built an underground piping distribution system across numerous streets with steep elevation changes.

Construction is underway to replace Commercial Street Bridge, an 861-ft-long open spandrel concrete arch structure that rises up to 85 ft above Nine Mile Run and Frick Park in Pittsburgh.

This $58-million project to build a 138-kV gas-insulated substation challenged the team to work with a site footprint and schedule that were both tight.

The project team was hired to build a 138/23-kV gas-insulated substation and associated infrastructure in the heart of Pittsburgh for electric utility Duquesne Light.

Built in the 1980s, the county’s light rail vehicle maintenance facility needed a complete rehabilitation. Work pits and other sections used to maintain the rail fleet were severely corroded and in a state of disrepair.

Through contacts with Silicon Valley firms, Volpatt Construction is embracing a major technology upgrade. Is it a sign of industry-wide changes?