Technical tours

Breaking ground in September 2023, the I-95 Central Access Philadelphia (CAP) Project is a landmark infrastructure project seeking to reconnect pedestrian access of center city Philadelphia to the Delaware River waterfront. This $459 million partnership between PennDOT, the City of Philadelphia, and the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation will reconstruct and expand the existing “cap” over Interstate 95.

Overall, the CAP project is a complex integration of highway engineering, structural bridge design, civil infrastructure, and urban-landscape construction — transforming a highway trench into a cap that supports public space and reknitting multimodal connectivity to the riverfront. With an anticipated completion date in 2029, tour attendees will be right on time to see the project taking shape, while observing the facets of civil engineering work together to enhance Philadelphia for future generations.

PPE required and provided onsite; to include safety vests, hard hats, and ear protection. Tour will begin with a 30-minute presentation at the field office, with a transition to the project site afterwards (roughly a 10-minute walk). All attendees must be dressed in long pants and closed-toed shoes, with a signed indemnity waiver to participate in the tour.

Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station is a unique example of a major transportation facility that combines historic construction with modern infrastructure. Completed in 1933, the station showcases early 20th-century large-scale structural design, including a steel frame superstructure supported by deep foundations constructed over an active rail yard.

This tour will highlight:
• The engineering of long-span spaces (such as the Grand Hall)
• Strategies for mitigating disruption to passengers - between rail operations and the building above
• The integration of track, platform, and drainage systems beneath the concourse

Participants will have a rare opportunity to review ongoing renovation and modernization efforts, focusing on construction phasing, temporary works, accessibility upgrades, and MEP system integration within a 500,000 square foot, historic structure. Emphasizing challenges associated with maintaining continuous rail service while upgrading structural, architectural, and civil systems.

Overall, the visit will provide practical insight into transportation infrastructure design, historic preservation, and complex construction management in a dense urban environment.

PPE required and provided onsite, including safety vests and hard hats. All attendees must be dressed in long pants and closed-toed shoes. This tour includes a short walk from the Pennsylvania Convention Center to the SEPTA Market–Frankford Line station.

As one of the nation’s busiest transportation hubs, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is undergoing major modernization and infrastructure improvements that are shaping the future of aviation operations and passenger experience.  This exclusive behind-the-scenes tour offers attendees a unique opportunity to explore the innovative engineering, operational coordination, and transformative projects that keep PHL running safely and efficiently every day.

The tour will feature three experiences that showcase the complexity, innovation, and operational coordination required to keep PHL running safely and efficiently.  Attendees will explore terminal modernization efforts, observe specialized airport operations from the Ramp Tower, and gain an up-close look at the airfield infrastructure and safety systems that support daily aviation operations.

Please note the following requirements for the technical tour:
• All attendees must present a valid government-issued photo ID upon arrival at the airport.  A real ID or passport is required, and standard TSA protocols will apply. Please note that attendees who do not bring the required identification will not be permitted to participate in the tour, and their tour ticket will be forfeited.
• Attendees must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.
• All participants will be processed similarly to airline passengers and must pass through a TSA security checkpoint.
• All participants will be processed similarly to airline passengers and must pass through a TSA security checkpoint.
• All attendees will be required to submit their full legal name, date of birth, and last four of their social security number (or international equivalent) by noon on January 29, 2026. Please note that attendees who do not submit this required information will not be permitted to participate in the tour, and their tour ticket will be forfeited.
• The group will use a designated special assistance screening line for expedited processing.

During screening, attendees should be prepared to:
• Empty all pockets.
• Dispose of any liquids before entering security.
• Place personal items through the scanner belt.

Please plan accordingly:
• Do not bring sharp objects or prohibited items.
• Bring only an empty reusable water bottle if desired; filling stations are available inside the terminal.
• There will be no storage available for personal belongings during the tour.

The Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) is a landlord port that oversees over a thousand acres of property and port related assets, valued at over $900 million. Within the port you’ll find approximately three million square feet of warehouse space (both refrigerated and non-refrigerated), piers, wharves, deep water berths, pavements, tracks, utilities, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Handling 7.4 million tons of cargo each year, they were named the most productive port in the United States in 2024 and 2025.

Attendees will be shuttled through the expansive port district to make stops at many of PhilaPort’s terminals, and an active construction site if time allows. This tour will offer attendees an inside look at the city’s modernized and historic waterfront infrastructure from the comfort of PhilaPort's minibus.

All attendees must possess a valid photo ID and be dressed in long pants and closed-toed shoes. A safety vest and hard hat will be required to disembark the bus and can be provided to attendees if necessary.

Come get a behind the scenes look at the largest manufacturer of foamed glass aggregate (FGA) in the United States, AERO Aggregates. You’ll get an in-depth view of the manufacturing process that produces FGA; a lightweight, sustainable, and insulating construction material. Due to the very low unit weight of foamed glass aggregate, the applications of this material have grown throughout the civil engineering market. Today, foamed glass aggregates are used as lightweight fill for highways, bridge abutments, retaining walls, foundations, and green roofs, and can also be used as an insulation and drainage for commercial and residential construction. This tour will consist of a presentation describing the process, product applications, and notable projects involving FGA (including the I-95 Emergency Rebuild), immediately followed by a tour of the plant floor.

Transportation and light refreshments will be provided. All attendees must be dressed in long pants and closed-toed shoes. (Optional, disposable face masks will be provided upon arrival.)

The Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems is home to the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership whose mission is to advance the evolving field of sustainable stormwater management and to foster the development of public and private partnerships through research. Through interdisciplinary engineering research—environmental, geotechnical, water resources—the Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems (VCRWS) engages with society to create resilient solutions to global water challenges.

Join us for a tour of Villanova University’s nationally recognized resilient stormwater infrastructure research facilities. Attendees will visit ongoing field and laboratory research projects focused on sustainable stormwater management, green infrastructure, and water quality improvement, while learning how innovative, data-driven solutions are being applied to address evolving environmental challenges.