DePauw University

DePauw University in Greencastle was founded in 1837 and is one of the oldest nationally recognized liberal arts schools of music in the United States. Known for its beautiful campus and strong academic programs, the university has produced alumni in many prominent fields.

To continue attracting talented students, the university developed a long-term campus master plan focused on improving both the functionality and appearance of the grounds and facilities. A key portion of this plan included the construction of a new multi-sport stadium and practice fields for soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey.

Funded in part by a generous gift from an alumnus, the stadium was designed to serve as the southern anchor of the university’s athletic campus. Because of the significant grade changes around the stadium and athletic fields, several retaining walls were required. These walls needed to accommodate pedestrian access while maintaining the high aesthetic standards the campus is known for.

Plan

Careful planning guided the placement and appearance of the retaining walls throughout the project. The university preferred a patterned wall system that would complement the architectural character of the campus. Segmental retaining walls (SRWs) were also favored due to their efficiency and ease of installation.

The project began as a private bid from selected contractors. F.A. Wilhelm Construction of Indianapolis was chosen as the site construction manager and general contractor. The excavation and site development package was then released for bidding in February 2013.

Initial estimates using a competing retaining wall product came in higher than expected. At that point, local Allan Block producer Reading Rock of Cincinnati began receiving inquiries about supplying materials for the project.

Reading Rock contacted TLF Engineers of Indianapolis to explore submitting the Allan Block Ashlar pattern system as an alternate wall solution.

Design

Around the same time, Atlas Excavating of West Lafayette was awarded the site grading contract. Atlas planned to subcontract the retaining wall design and installation.

To provide a complete solution, Reading Rock partnered with Decorative Paving of Loveland and the engineering firm Civil Design Solutions of Bloomington to develop a wall design and product proposal.

Their persistence paid off when the team was allowed to construct an Allan Block Ashlar pattern wall mock-up on site. The appearance impressed university representatives enough that the system was approved as an equal alternative for final bidding. The Allan Block solution ultimately provided both a lower cost and faster installation due to the efficiency of the block system.

During construction planning, a significant global stability concern was identified. Engineers determined that a seven-tier terraced retaining wall system would be required to stabilize the slopes surrounding the stadium. The walls were designed with select backfill and extended geogrid reinforcement layers to intercept potential global stability slip surfaces.

However, the geogrid reinforcement could not extend beyond a 1.75:1 slope line projecting away from the stadium foundation to avoid undermining the structure during construction. This restriction meant that a portion of the retaining wall could not be built using the standard reinforced wall approach.

To resolve this issue, engineers designed an in-place concrete cut wall at the base of the slope. This footing-type structure measured approximately 4 ft 6 in (1.4 m) deep and 2 ft (0.6 m) wide, providing additional stability by intercepting the potential slip surfaces while maintaining a safe construction slope.

Build

Construction of the retaining walls took place alongside other stadium development activities, making site access and scheduling challenging. Due to the active student environment, site access was closely regulated and monitored. An on-site inspector ensured that construction met all engineering specifications.

Decorative Paving served as the retaining wall contractor and managed several difficult conditions during construction. Heavy rainfall before the start of wall work left the site wet, and much of the project area required structural fill.

Another challenge involved the integration of cast-in-place concrete stairways that cut directly through the terraced retaining wall system. Installing leveling pads and maintaining precise elevations across multiple wall tiers required careful coordination and skilled installation.

Led by Jake Taylor, the Decorative Paving crew successfully aligned all wall segments and maintained consistent vertical elevations throughout the project. The final result was a clean, well-aligned terraced wall system that complemented the new stadium and surrounding athletic fields.

The project ultimately demonstrated the value of collaboration between engineers, contractors, and material suppliers. Through frequent communication and problem-solving, the team delivered a structurally sound and visually appealing retaining wall system that meets the aesthetic and functional goals of DePauw University.