West Lawn - Phase II Milwaukee, WI

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. was awarded the hazardous material abatement, building demolition, and site clearance for Phase II at the Westlawn Housing Development in Milwaukee, WI.

The project involves 29 multiunit buildings. The initial phase will be dedicated to the abatement of asbestos containing floor tile/mastic, fittings on fiberglass insulation, transite panels, window caulk, paper duct wrap, and sink undercoating.

After the apartments are properly abated and receive final air clearances, the demolition crew will proceed with wrecking the units. Champion Environmental Services, Inc. anticipates a recycling rate of nearly 97%.

This effort is part of a larger initiative by The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). According to a press release by WHEDA on December 3, 2010, the project will evolve into “ . . .the North End - Phase 2 development to construct two, five-story apartment buildings totaling 155 units of rental housing. The program requires the property to set aside 20% of its units for low and moderate income residents. Specifically, 31 apartment units in North End - Phase 2 will be set aside for households at or below 60% of Milwaukee's County Median Income”.

Phase I of Westlawn was recently completed by Champion Environmental Services, Inc.

Century City Update

The building separation at Century City is complete. Our selective cut, while an extremely complicated undertaking, proved rather successful. Extensive site work which included concrete slab removal – up to 8 feet thick in some areas – continues. Note the third picture below, the size of the concrete block in relation to the dump truck, this illustrates the magnitude of concrete we have encountered during removal.

Tower Automotive-Century City Pictures

Century City Video

Tower Automotive-Century City

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is kicking off the redevelopment of Milwaukee’s shuttered Tower Automotive property as part of the city's $34.6 million plan to redevelop an 84-acre portion of the site. Most of the area is being transformed into a business park; Spanish train manufacturer Talgo is the first tenet to lease a portion of the development.

Century City will be the new venue for U.S. high-speed passenger rail manufacturing and assembly creating 125 direct jobs in Wisconsin and about 450 indirect jobs through vendors throughout the Midwest.

In January, Governor Doyle announced Wisconsin will receive $823 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to build high-speed rail service to connect its centers of commerce. Wisconsin is receiving $810 million to build high-speed passenger rail service between Milwaukee and Madison, $12 million to improve service between Chicago and Milwaukee, and $1 million to make final determinations on a route between Wisconsin and the Twin Cities – the next step toward connecting Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison with the Twin Cities.

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is proud to support this important economic initiative. Some pictures of our demolition work are below.

Becher Court Apartment Milwaukee, WI

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. has been retained by the Milwaukee Housing Authority to facilitate the environmental remediation and demolition of the multistory Becher Court Apartments located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The project will be broken into two distinct phases.

In the first stage, all asbestos containing material will be properly removed. Additionally, CESI will facilitate the removal of all PCB ballast and mercury. After the environmental abatement, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will defer final sampling/air clearances to the environmental consultant; the consultant acts as a third party quality control monitor – they confirm that we addressed all environmental issues pursuant to DNR, EPA, and OHSA guidelines.

Another environmental challenge also exists in contaminated soil that has been identified on the site. Approximately sixty tons of petroleum dirt will need to be excavated and properly disposed.

The building demolition poses some unique challenges given the height of the structure in relation to nearby – occupied structures. Champion Environmental Services, Inc. has developed a strategic approach which will ensure the safety of our workers and those in proximity of the site. Our unique approach to demolition will allow us to achieve a nearly 90% recycling rate on this project.

Below is a picture of the Becher Court Apartments

Video of Demolition At Marquette University

This video comes to us from John Krejci of the “Daily Reporter”.

Marquette University

Another photograph from our work at Marquette University published in the “Daily Reporter”. Photo credit goes to John Krejci.

Marquette University Demolition

Champion Environmental Services, Inc., in partnership with Opus North, will perform the demolition of four apartment buildings on behalf of Marquette University as part of the new $100 million College of Engineering.

The article below can be found at http://www.globest.com/news/1516_1516/milwaukee/181596-1.html

The author of the article is Katie Hinderer.

"Board Approves $100M Engineering School"

MILWAUKEE-The Marquette University Board of Trustess approved the first phase of the $100 million College of Engineering facility Opus North Corp. has been chosen as the Design-Builder, while Opus Architects & Engineers will serve as the architect of record. Hamel Green & Abramson helped Opus design the project.
Phase one of the project will be the construction of a 100,000-square-foot, five-story building. Four university-owned buildings will be demolished to make way for the new laboratory-focused facility. The building is being constructed using the teaching and research house concept, according to Opus officials. It will have labs, classrooms and student work areas designed to enhance the collaboration between fellow students and staff.

“The facility is organized about a central spine, showcasing dynamic laboratories, and providing collaborative spaces to gather and foster a creative community,” says Terry Helland, director of design architecture for Opus A&E. “The exterior architecture speaks to the lab planning module and the engineering logic of assembly while the repetitive monumental elements and rhythm echo the collegiate gothic architectural vocabulary found elsewhere on campus.”

Marquette University Architect, Thomas Ganey, says “the university expects to break ground for the new building in spring 2010 with initial occupancy planned for August 2011.” The facility will be located on the southwest corner of W. Wisconsin Avenue and N. 16th Street.
Later phases will include a 150,000-square-foot building, which will house classrooms, offices and more labs.

Opus North is a major builder at Marquette. The company is also currently constructing the new Marquette University Law School, set to open during the summer of 2010, and the Joseph and Vera Zilber Hall, a 128,000-square-foot student services and administration buildings, poised to open in November.

Work At Hide House Ready To Begin

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is finalizing paper work and utility cuts in preparation for the asbestos abatement and demolition of the Hide House in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Hide House is a 200,000-square-foot complex that started out as a metal stove and bed factory in 1898; over the years, several additions were added to adapt to the needs of various industrial tenants. The last major construction occurred in the mid-1940s when J. Greenebaum Tanning Co. built the Hide House addition on the north end of the complex.

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will be responsible for the ACM removal of wrapped pipe insulation and floor tile/mastic. Only a portion of the sprawling complex, some 60,000 square feet of building will be demolished in what will be the first phase in a redevelopment effort of the property.

Our commitment to environmental initiatives will be readily apparent on this project as we are looking to achieve minimum recycling rate of 80%.

Work will begin in two weeks. Check back in for pictures and update on this project.

[Photo credits to Google Earth]