Urban Demolition

PHOTO: DELTA GROUP

DELTA GROUP

COUNTRY Australia

PROJECT Department of Lands Demolition, Civil and Remediation Works

CLIENT Built

Delta carried out works to the heritagelisted Department of Lands Building, which was constructed between 1876-1892) in Sydney. One of the city’s most outstanding Victorian structures, this project demanded a sensitive approach to preserve historical integrity.

The works included structural demolition, excavation and basement retention, as well as the installation of transfer beams, heritage salvage and the removal of lifts, roof, lead-painted walls, ceilings, mezzanine floors; and hazardous materials. All of the above was carried out while maintaining heritage features. ■

PHOTO: DESPE

DESPE

COUNTRY Italy

PROJECT Hotel Michelangelo

CLIENT Stellina 9

Located in near Milan’s Centrale railway station, the former Hotel Michelangelo, comprised an 18-storey hotel tower from the 1960s and two newer extension buildings – a rectangular building with nine floors and a four-storey flat building surrounding the two larger buildings. Despe was contracted to take down the structures safely. with minimum disruption, and very quickly.

The contractor utilised its TopDownWay (TDW) demolition method to bring down the hotel tower, and traditionally deconstructed the nine-storey building. In just 4 months, the TDW system enabled the hotel to disappear, and for it building components to salvaged for reuse.■

PHOTO: HOMRICH

HOMRICH

COUNTRY United States

PROJECT Detroit Waste Energy Facility

CLIENT City of Detroit

Homrich was contracted to dismantle the Detroit Waste-to-Energy Facility (WEF) in Michigan, used to process 2,800 t of waste a day. The scope of works included the deconstruction on the site's boilers, smokestacks and other large components. After salvaging usable equipment, utility disconnection and environmental abatement, Homrich used high-reach excavators and other specialized equipment to take down the structure, without causing disruption to the surrounding area. The process also included rigorous dust and noise control measures to protect nearby residents.

The final structure on the site, a 100smokestack, was explosively imploded. ■

PHOTO: MGL CONTRACTING

MGL DEMOLITION

COUNTRY United Kingdom

PROJECT Pilgrim’s Quarter

CLIENT Bowmer + Kirkland

MGL Demolition (MGL) played a crucial role in transforming Newcastle City Centre by delivering the enabling works for Pilgrim’s Quarter. MGL was contracted to undertake the demolition and remediation of the 13,500 sq m site, clearing the way for redevelopment.

The site’s challenging location, surrounded by busy roads and with the Tyne and Wear Metro vent shaft and tunnel underneath, added complexity to the project. Working near a live hospitality venue also presented challenges. Detailed planning and collaboration with all stakeholders were essential for success.

Dex Car Park, Commercial Union House and Bamburgh House were all demolished. Carliol House was partly demolished, but its 3,150-sq-m Grade II-listed façade was retained.

The four structures were of different types and ages, ranging from seven to eleven storeys. The demolition methodology involved floor-by-floor techniques, high-reach demolition, remotecontrolled demolition robots and extensive soft strip and asbestos removal. ■

PHOTO: WARD DEMOLITION

WARD DEMOLITION

COUNTRY New Zealand

PROJECT 1 Queen Street

CLIENT LT McGuiness

1 Queen St is a 20-storey building in the busiest tourist and shopping area of Auckland, New Zealand.

Ward’s team was tasked with stripping each floor from the bottom to the top, followed by the roof and lift shaft. The building was occupied during the early stages of demolition, which meant strict regulations on noise and vibrations, and all services having to remain live throughout the building during the strip-out phase.

Ward utilised capture nets and self-climbing screen systems to protect the high quantity of pedestrians walking past. 320 spandrels and 1,700 panes of glass were removed from the street-facing exterior of the building, alongside feature columns that protruded one metre away from the building. ■