Putting a Human Face on Construction
Bulldozers, excavators and backhoes are the tools of the trade for Castle Contracting.
The St. Louis-based civil contractor uses all types of heavy equipment to prepare and manage sites on construction projects that range from hospital expansions to mixed-use developments.
Like most construction firms, however, the heart of Castle isn’t found on huge steel machines. It’s the people who operate, maintain and support them. These individuals work tirelessly—often in less-than-ideal conditions and with little fanfare.
I recently had the opportunity to collaborate with JM Films in capturing on-the-job perspectives from Field Manager Roy Hardester, who graciously allowed us to tag along during his daily visits to Castle jobsites. Roy also oversees the company’s emergency services team, whose recent work involved repairing a water main break at Ladue Middle School. This team worked through the night to fix the leak, along with a second leak that occurred as they were pressurizing the line the next morning. Thanks to their efforts, everything was back in service that afternoon, enabling the school to reopen the following day.
This work might not be glamorous—or even visible to the general public—but it’s vital to ensuring the places and spaces that people rely on remain safe, accessible community assets.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to help Castle put a human face on construction careers. As the skilled labor shortage continues to hinder the entire construction industry, I believe this is key to attracting new talent who will build and enhance our communities.