Proven Expert
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 160 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).
Our multidisciplinary expertise
We are a multi-disciplinary company and we offer a complete package of engineering services and independent expertise for transport infrastructure or hydropower schemes during the complete life cycle of these projects, from the planning and feasibility, to design, construction, operation and maintenance and ultimately to the decommissioning.
At the same time, we consider the strict collaboration of all the different competences from all the engineering fields not only useful but also necessary, for a correct and cost-effective comprehensive design of each project, already at an early stage.
At our Clients’ disposal in the company we have an experienced and multidisciplinary team of experts in the following fields:
- geology, geotechnics and rock mechanics
- transport and energy engineering
- tunneling
- geotechnical works
- safety and MEP engineering
- construction and material technology
- construction management and logistics
- health and safety
- environment
- BIM design methodology
- Digitalization
We propose highly digitized services, as our Company has grown by adapting to the market and to the development in technology and innovation in engineering methods. As a result we are leader in the digitalization of construction processes.
Which specific services do we provide?
Our clients benefit from our multidisciplinary teams of experts who have extensive experience in all contractual engineering roles relating to the design and supervision of infrastructure and hydropower projects. Our services include:
Before Construction / in Tender Phase:
- Project Management, including Risk Management
- Feasibility studies & Preliminary Design
- Final & Tender Design
- Technical Proposal for Bids
- Value Engineering
- Comparative Analysis (alternative design solutions, construction methods or equipment)
During Construction / on Site:
- Detailed Design (for Owners or Contractors in “Design & Build”)
- Site Supervision
- Technical assistance on site during U/G works construction
- Contract Management & Claims Management
- Health & Safety
- Quality Control
After Construction:
- As Built Design & Commissioning,
- Due Diligence.
Gruner has specialist experience in Geotechnical works in Switzerland as well as tunnel safety and ventilation services worldwide, please visit the following pages:
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.