Gruner
Underground Space Services
As a leading engineering consultancy specialized in Hydropower and Infrastructure Engineering, Gruner has been involved in the design, the assistance during construction and the site supervision of underground facilities since the foundation of the company, more than 150 years ago.
In 1947 Eduard Gruner wrote his technical essay «Journey through the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2000» with the visionary idea of a 50 km long Gotthard Base Tunnel from Amsteg to Biasca with one station at Sedrun. And this project was completed in 2016 …
Why do we have an Underground Space speciality?
The space in populated areas is becoming more restricted than in the past, cities are becoming more densely populated, changes are and will be required in everyday infrastructure to manage:
- the growth of traffic, and increased use of public transport
- the demand for clean water supply, and the subsequent treatment of resulting wastewater
- the need of green energy from renewable resources such as hydropower
At the same time, it is becoming critical, due to global warming and the increased intensity of flooding to manage flood risk. As a consequence, more infrastructure and structures are continuously being moved below the earth's surface, so that they may be built in harmony with the communities and the environment.
Since the beginning, our company’s vision is that the “underground space” should be not just be considered as a solution to fulfilling a particular requirement in a project but it should be considered more holistically as an available resource for Communities. This vision has been confirmed through the many project-oriented engineering services performed to date, always with a long-term view to the future showing a strong commitment to a design that includes an intensive use of underground space for sustainable development.
In our Company, a competent and dedicated team of multidisciplinary Experts, active in different sectors collaborate together to develop all the required diverse and specific services necessary to the sustainable design of underground facilities, for hydropower plants and transport infrastructure (roads and utilities, railway and metros).
What experience do we have?
More than 500 km of tunnels studied, planned, and designed; more than 250 km of safety & Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) installations analyzed and designed in underground facilities; more than 25 caverns and 50 shafts designed. All in many countries worldwide.
Our extensive experience starts with one of the most prestigious projects in the world, such as the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, currently the longest tunnel in the world, and now our experience extends also to specific and small projects developed in detail for our clients.
A competent and customer-oriented approach is always the leading skill of our team in all our projects.