National Demolition Association Recognizes Environmental Projects Making Significant ‘Quality of Life’ Impact
Doylestown, PA (PRWEB) March 19, 2014 -- The National Demolition Association (NDA) presented the 4th annual Environmental Excellence Awards in February at the NDA’s 41st Annual Convention in Las Vegas. The 13 companies recognized performed demolition projects that demonstrate significant environmental conservation and community improvement.
“The Environmental Excellence Awards recognize NDA member companies which are true leaders in the area of environmental stewardship,” said Michael R. Taylor, CAE, Executive Director of the NDA. “Environmental stewardship is one of the demolition industry’s primary missions, and these winning projects help illustrate truly dramatic efforts our members have made to make this a reality and improve the quality of life in their communities. By removing abandoned housing, demolishing dilapidated industrial facilities, preparing commercial space for productive reuse, maximizing recycling opportunities, and cleaning up toxic waste sites, demolition companies are making way for fresh vibrant places to grow.”
The winning projects are:
Project: Armstrong Industries Ceiling Recycling Program, Nationwide
NDA Member: Armstrong Industries, Lancaster, PA
Armstrong’s Ceiling Recycling Program keeps ceiling materials out of the waste stream.
Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program is the first of its kind in the ceiling industry. The ceiling recycling goal is to reduce the environmental impact of new buildings while they are still on the drawing boards. Armstrong is encouraging designers to take into consideration everything from product design and raw material selection to how products are manufactured and delivered to the job site when weighing their impact on the environment. Since its inception in 1999, the Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program has recycled more than 123 million square feet of ceiling materials, diverting them from the waste stream.
Project: Demolition and remediation of Merck Flint River Plant, Albany, GA
NDA Member: Brandenburg Industrial Service Co., Chicago, IL
Brandenburg Industrial Service Co. cleans up environmental hazards on 100-acre site enabling future development.
Brandenburg Industrial Service Co. subcontracted to O’Brien & Gere for the demolition, asbestos abatement and environmental remediation of the former Merck Flint River Plant located in Albany, GA. Work included the demolition and disposal of more than 5,000 tons of hazardous concrete, more than 10,000 gallons of impacted water, incineration of 200 tons of hazardous sludge, decontamination of all equipment, removal of all underground utilities, demolition of the main waste water treatment plant, and the crushing of more than 25,000 tons of concrete and asphalt to be sued as onsite fill. In addition, Brandenburg removed tons of contaminated block and asphalt. Within the 100-acre footprint of this project site, Brandenburg encountered and disposed of formaldehydes, methylene chloride, toluene, benzene, ethanol, and ethylene glycol improving the site for future development.
Project: Worcester Clock Tower historic reuse, Worcester, MA
NDA Member: Costello Dismantling, West Wareham, MA
Costello Dismantling saves historic clock tower.
Costello Dismantling deconstructed the 65-foot historic clock tower built in 1877 at the former Worcester State Hospital by hand, cataloging each piece so that the tower could be rebuilt in a different location on the site. Each stone in the tower was numbered, photographed and catalogued for reconstruction. Although the Victorian-era facility was officially closed in the early 1990s, with demolition taking place over the years, the administration building’s clock tower was one of the last remaining features of the original complex and was to be preserved. Following the meticulous dismantlement of the clock tower by Costello, it will relocate on site as part of the new $300 million, 300-bed Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital.
Project: Dust Control Program for Doyle Drive removal, San Francisco, CA
NDA Member: Dust Control Technology, Peoria, IL
Dust Control Technology develops a successful model to control dust in large-scale open-are projects.
Dust Control Technology developed a comprehensive dust control plan for the removal of Doyle Drive in San Francisco. Built in 1936, Doyle Drive is being replaced by the new Presidio Parkway that will provide dramatic views of the Presidio National Park and San Francisco Bay. With a 57-hour window for project completion, Dust Control Technology developed a comprehensive dust suppression plan using eight large-scale atomized misting machines to prevent all visible dust from the project area. The Doyle Drive project was a model for large-scale, open-area demolition dust control demonstrating the effectiveness of atomized mist technology.
Project: Demolition at Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
NDA Member: Lloyd’s Construction Services Inc., Savage, MN
Lloyd’s Construction Services’ combines demolition and art.
During Lloyd’s Construction Services’ selective demolition of Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center, the company was able to showcase the reuse of materials from the project by Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillagas that served as a model on how to effectively find outlets for seemingly unwanted materials so they can be truly appreciated by others. The artwork created not only shed light on global social issues but environmental ones as well, highlighting the positive aspects of recycling and reuse from the demolition environment.
Project: Demolition and remediation of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, CA
NDA Member: Tetra Tech, Pasadena, CA
Tetra Tech removes radiologically contaminated structures from Hunters Point.
For the demolition of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco, Tetra Tech developed a unique U.S. EPA sampling method, allowing for a two-day turnaround that produced defensible radiological data using gamma spectrometry. This quick turnaround sped up the remediation of radiologically contaminated structures and equipment onsite.
In all Tetra Tech demolished nine major buildings and structures, 850 feet of railroad track, 700 cubic yards of asphalt, 350 cubic yards of concrete and 1,525 feet of sanitary and drainage and sewer line. In a model for community involvement the company partnered with a local civic group that trained people from the community to work onsite. 100% of Tetra Tech’s direct hire craft labor at Hunters Point was from the local area.
Project Decontamination of chemical weapons facility, Anniston, AL
NDA Members: URS Corporation, San Francisco, CA; Spirtas Wrecking Co., St. Louis, MO
Decontamination technique keeps thousands of tons of scrap metal out of landfills.
Using very high-pressure Nitrocision technology, URS Corporation and Spirtas Wrecking decontaminated the ANCDF Chemical Weapons facility in Anniston, AL. The technology used pressured liquid nitrogen to remove up to a half-inch of internal concrete surfaces that had come in contact with various chemical agents. The extensive cleaning effort undertaken by the two firms allowed the recycling of thousands of tons of steel, copper and other alloys rather than disposing of them as hazardous waste.
Project: Decommissioning and demolition of Chemical Manufacturing Facility
NDA Members: Adamo Demolition Company, Detroit, MI; Bierlein Companies, Midland, MI: Louisiana Chemical & Demolition, Kenner, LA; Ontario Specialty Contracting, Buffalo, NY; Winter Environmental, Norcross, GA
Large project highlights industry teamwork, safety standards and commitment to environmental stewardship.
CH2M HILL’s project at a chemical facility is a testament to safe, sustainable project execution in the decommissioning and demolition industry. Since early 2012, general contractor CH2M HILL has orchestrated a project team consisting of Adamo Demolition, Bierlein Companies, Louisiana Chemical & Demolition, Ontario Specialty Contracting and Winter Environmental to decommission and demolish facility units and associated infrastructure deemed obsolete or outmoded. The project team has worked safely to decommission, demolish and recycling more than 15,750 tons of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and has expended more than 240,000 man-hours while maintaining an excellent record of safety and environmental compliance.
About the National Demolition Association
The National Demolition Association is a non-profit trade organization representing approximately 800 U.S. and Canadian companies and many international firms that are involved in the demolition process. Membership includes demolition contractors, general contractors, civil engineering firms, and recycling, landfill, and salvage operations. The association’s efforts help members stay abreast of environmental, regulatory and safety matters, keep regulators informed about issues facing the industry, increase public and industry awareness, and provide members with networking opportunities and information on the latest technical advances in equipment and services. The website is http://www.demolitionassociation.com.
Photos available: elva(at)alvare(dot)com
Kathleen McNicholas, Alvare Associates, http://www.alvare.com, +1 (610) 520-6140 Ext: 208, [email protected]
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