Cleveland State University - University Center Demolition

Cleveland State’s existing University Center, opened in 1974, is soon to be no more. Independence Excavating was awarded the demolition contract in early 2008 to make way for a brand new $55 million student center which is scheduled to open in 2010. However, there was a large amount of work to be completed before demolition work could begin. The doors closed for the last time on March 17 to allow CSU to move the many offices and university departments to their new locations before the project began in early April.

Asbestos abatement, performed by Precision Environmental, began on April 7 with salvage and interior demolition work proceeding as areas were cleared. In addition to work inside the building, there were two pedestrian bridges over E. 22nd Street to be demolished and two 30-ton HVAC units, valued at approximately $250,000 each, to be salvaged from the roof for future use. The units were originally designed to be moved in three pieces, but we were able to team up with All Erection & Crane Rental, Lifting Gear Hire and R.V. Coleman Trucking to safely move each HVAC unit (nearly 30’ square and more than 12’ tall) in one piece from the building, down Euclid Avenue, E. 18th Street and Chester Avenue, and into a storage area.

Demolition of nearly 15,000 cubic yards of heavily reinforced concrete in the five-story building shell has now begun with our CAT 245 excavator using the Hi-Reach boom and pulverizer attachment, along with several other large excavators in addition to smaller equipment. Once the building is brought down to grade, everything must be processed and hauled off-site so the existing foundations can be removed to allow for construction of the new building. In addition to the demolition work, there is more than 15,000 cubic yards of on site cut /fill, layback and backfill to be completed for the site to be brought to the new grades and shoring installed for the next package of work.

We have been very fortunate to work with an excellent team of construction professionals from top to bottom on this project, starting with Cleveland State University, Heery International, and Braun & Steidl Architects. Due to their efforts and the outstanding fieldwork of our crews and subcontractors, we are currently under budget and on pace to have the next package of work start this fall, on schedule.

An important goal of the project is to salvage or recycle more than 75% of all waste and debris generated by the work, in compliance with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program to minimize waste sent to landfills. Each and every load leaving the project must be tracked, and we are proud to say that we are well on our way toward salvaging or recycling more than 90% of all waste!