What Demolition Wrought-Another Tale

I firmly believe that it is essential to highlight the outcomes of our efforts to dismiss the fallacy that demolition is singular destruction. The Fact is that our environmental and demolition work not only betters the environment, but creates economic opportunity. While many would bemoan the closing and subsequent demolition the car dealership in Wauwatosa, the new Dave & Busters will generate additional jobs, enhance the local tax base, and provide a quality venue for residents.

80% of the demolition debris from the former dealership was recycled; additionally, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. removed two buried underground fuel storage tanks. I can definitively state that our company does more for the environment on any given day than most self-proclaimed eco-friendly people achieve in a lifetime.

Below is an article that appeared in the “Biz Times Real Estate Weekly”.

Dave and Busters opens in Wauwatosa

Dallas-based Dave & Busters, a national chain of restaurant and entertainment centers, this week opened its first Wisconsin location at 2201 N. Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa.

The 35,000-square-foot Dave & Busters building was built on a site formerly occupied by a Ewald Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealership.
The Wauwatosa Dave & Busters location has nearly 200 games ( including classic skill and arcade games plus simulators and billiards), 24 flat screen televisions and a high definition projector screen, a full bar, restaurant and two private conference rooms.

“Dave & Buster’s is a totally new concept in the greater Milwaukee area where guests can eat, drink and play under one roof,” said Wauwatosa restaurant general manger Esther Gomez.

On average, Dave & Buster’s stores get half a million guests each year. Most visitors are adults 21 years of age and older.

“People in Wisconsin love to go out and have fun,” said Wauwatosa Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Meg McKenna. “We have been asking for a place like this for a long time. Dave & Buster’s will be a great addition to the community.”

School of Human Ecology

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is getting ready to submit notification for work at the University of Wisconsin School of Human Ecology.

The scope of work involves multifaceted tasks including building demolition, asbestos abatement, selective/interior demolition, and historic salvage.

A small two story brick building approximately 4,264 square feet will be demolished. An additional three story brick building measuring 24,000 square feet will also be wrecked; various historic portions of this structure will be dismantled and preserved.

The School of Human Ecology is a five story building encompassing 76,000 square feet. All five floors will be gutted from floor to ceiling. We will also be responsible for removing/recycling the hydraulic oils from the elevators prior to demolition of the elevator.

This project should begin in the week of March 15, 2010.

What Demolition Wrought

A newswire release today from Marquette University announces the groundbreaking for the new School of Engineering facility. Champion Environmental Services, Inc. was proud to have initiated this project providing building demolition services. Below is the press release from the university.


(Media-Newswire.com) - Marquette University will break ground for a new engineering facility, called the Discovery Learning Complex, Friday, March 5.

“With a history that spans more than a century, Marquette’s College of Engineering continues to educate engineers with the highest level of technical skill,” said Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J., president of Marquette University. “Today we demand even more of our engineers. This new facility will foster the development of the skills we need in the 21st century – innovative thinking, creative problem solving of real world issues, and experience in team dynamics.”

The building will feature an innovative Discovery Learning Laboratory and a two-story engineering materials and structural testing laboratory, as well as other new teaching and research laboratories, common areas for students and office space. The five-story, 115,000 square foot building is being constructed on the south side of Wisconsin Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets. Demolition of several university-owned buildings on the site has been completed, with materials recycled. The new $35 million building is the first phase of a $100 million, 250,000 square foot facility.

The Discovery Learning Complex, being designed and built by Opus North Corporation, is expected to be ready for occupancy by August 2011.

“The time is now to innovate. This facility, a gift to the Milwaukee community, will focus on building an enhanced workforce for Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the United States -- graduates who know and understand engineering innovation and how to quickly embed the appropriate innovation in products the marketplace desires,” said OPUS Dean of Engineering Stan Jaskolski. “Our students and faculty will work with local industries and businesses in the development and design of innovative, real-world products, processes and services. In addition, this showcase facility will inspire elementary, middle and high school students to consider engineering careers as they participate in hands-on, exciting projects and innovative discoveries.”

Jaskolski said the university has raised $70 million in cash and long-term pledges and is aggressively fundraising for an additional $50 million in cash so the entire DLC can be completed as soon as possible.

The groundbreaking ceremony on March 5 will begin at 11 a.m. in parking lot N, in the 500 block of North 16th Street, just south of the construction site. Speakers will include Marquette President Robert A. Wild; OPUS Dean of Engineering Stan Jaskolski; Cara Brigman, a student in biomedical engineering; and Kathy Scherbarth, an alumna who serves on the college’s 41-member National Advisory Council, which is meeting that day.

Mary Pat Pfeil
Senior Director of University Communication

( 414 ) 288-4719 ( office )

The State of the State

February proved to be far busier than what is reflected in postings here. The bid calendar was experiencing so much activity that it was not possible to meet the needs of all the RFP’s. I am hesitant to forecast that a strong first quarter will carry into the second quarter, but I remain cautiously optimistic.

Market indicators remain in an unnerving pattern; one of the more intimidating trends I noted was a triumvirate blend of a strong dollar, positive gold movement, paired with creeping oil – I dare someone to place this scenario into sane context.

While January housing sales posted an increase, numbers also indicated a slight uptick in housing starts yet more bubbles await us. Significant commercial lending is coming due and as a result, many speculate more bank failures. Additionally, consumer spending remains tepid, no significant positive impact coming out of job creation, and European dept reflected in the so called “PIGS” - Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain, point to the potential for another significant economic slide.

Amidst the present state of falling in and out of economic consciousness, many have asked, how does this translate into the types of demolition/environmental work that are coming into our office?

Despondently, public bid work continues to outpace private-negotiated opportunities by a significant margin. Only 18% of all work we have bid so far in the first quarter could be characterized as private. To further indurate the situation is that the folks who are facilitating private deals are no longer entertaining one or two trusted companies to bid a job, we are often battling five to seven competitors for a “nice” deal.

Healthy margins are becoming more and more difficult to achieve yet we remain committed to aggressive positioning. Geographically, a national job order contract with a Fortune 500 company is creating environmental abatement opportunities across the United States. Positioning our company on these abatement jobs will allow demolition opportunities occur – operations are poised to meet these new prospects. We continue to aggressively market our “green” approach to demolition and have advanced new contacts visa via references.