In order to evaluate the safest and most efficient means to complete the project, R. Baker & Son utilized the services of a licensed Professional Engineering firm to perform several engineering analysis tasks.  The engineer evaluated the structural integrity of the building with respect to the proposed method of demolition as well as an evaluation of floor loading for various pieces of demolition equipment (skid steers and Brokk robotic demolition machines).  Utilizing the engineering report as well as input from R. Baker’s internal demolition and asbestos abatement experts, it was decided to perform the work in a phased approach starting from the top and working down.  This top down phased approach was also in compliance with NYC variances and ensured that the building was stable throughout the process and did not require any temporary bracing or shoring.
The phased approach to the work was closely coordinated and allowed abatement and demolition to be conducted simultaneously.  Working down from the roof, the demolition crews removed all loose items from the floors including desks, cabinets, partitions, etc.  Once a floor was completed, the abatement crew would then enter and perform abatement of all non friable asbestos containing materials (ACM).  The demolition crew would then come back to remove all sheetrock and drop ceiling so that the abatement personnel could come back in to properly abate the friable asbestos materials (mostly pipe insulation).  The wrecking personnel then came back to remove all remaining items and expose the building beams which had ACM waterproofing which then needed to be abated.  Finally, once all ACM was properly abated, the demolition work crews went back to the top of the building to manually demolish each floor.
Demolition crews utilized various hand tools to accomplish the demolition as well as specialized demolition equipment which included skid steers with demolition hammer and bucket attachments and Brokk 90 hydraulic breakers.  Material was removed from the building via elevator shaft and debris shoots on the outside of the building.
As per NYC rules, Mechanical demolition commenced once the structure had been hand demolished to under two stories in height.  R. baker & Son utilized several large 100,000 + hydraulic excavators with demolition attachments (hammers, grapples, pulverizers) to demolish the remaining portions of the main building as well as the two smaller 1 story buildings.  Dozers, skid steers and front end loaders were also utilized to facilitate the demolition, sorting and loading efforts.
Once the building was demolished to grade, the slabs and foundations of the subfloor of the main building was also demolished.  Care had to be taken to not demolish the sidewalls as these concrete structures needed to remain to provide support for surrounding soils (nearby structures or sidewalks could have been undermined if the soils gave way).  Once the slab and foundation were removed, geotextile was then installed with a layer of pea gravel.  The remaining portion of the subfloor was backfilled and compacted with clean fill materials back to original grade.
The one UST and one AST were also demolished and removed from the site.  The tanks were properly drained and cleaned prior to excavation or removal.  The tanks were then cut up on site utilizing an excavator with shear attachment and then sent offsite for scrap metal recycling.
The project was completed in 12 months without incident or injury.
About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, Inc.
R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services is the premier specialized contractor for dismantlement, decommissioning and in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.  The veteran owned company has been in business since 1935, has over 100 employees, an exemplary safety record (We have actively participated in 4 projects that received VPP OSHA safety awards) and is financially strong (bonding capabilities over $10 Million).  Capabilities include total plant and facility dismantlement, decommissioning, demolition, plant relocations and re-installations as well as and machinery moving, millwright services and onsite concrete crushing.
We demolish infrastructures for many reasons. It may be to give way to a better building in terms of design and foundation, or to get rid of structures that block a beautiful view. Whatever practical reasons we have behind that decision to hire a demolition team, it is important that we know the demolition options that are available for us. Here in the area of Tampa Bay, there are five major ways of doing a demolition be it a residential or commercial one.
Manual demolition is typically used for small-scaled residential demolition. This is the type of demolition done for single to double story houses. But since people want residential demolition to be done in the soonest time frame possible, manual demolition is usually coupled with another type of demolition which is the mechanical one.
As its name suggests, mechanical demolition uses machines such as bulldozers, rams, excavators, and cranes to tear down structures. Aside from being used for residential demolition, this method is also applicable for larger commercial structures that do not exceed ten stories high. For commercial demolition of this sort, demolition teams normally make use of wrecking balls. These are the big metal balls we see in movies. These are swung by large cranes.
Another method used for residential or commercial demolition is the process called undermining. Undermining removes the foundational structures found near a building’s base. This is a delicate procedure which is more commonly used for commercial rather than residential demolition primarily due to practical reasons.

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