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.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Milwaukee Smokestack
This morning, in an unforgiveable subzero wind chill, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. mobilized to start the controlled dismantlement of 186’ smokestack. The proximity of key buildings, nearby rail lines, and above ground industrial service pipes dictated that we rig a robotic Brokk to a crane and work our way down in a top to bottom fashion.
Aggressive winter wind proved frustrating for the crane operator, yet, in time, we were able to sequence an approach that clipped the pace to an appropriate tempo.
The succession of pictures is the raising of the Brokk into place and subsequent production within a half hour. If the winds cooperate, the stack will be down in five working days.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Winter Forecast
A faint optimism stirs within the US demolition industry while an implosive European debt situation keeps the flow of cash in check.
My dim sanguinity emanates from an unusual trend of tighter bid spreads on large private and public bid opportunities. Many firms over the past year left incalculable sums of money on the table in a desperate effort to keep machine moving.
In the cyclical trade tide of everyone waiting to get paid, the following has been a constant factor: demolition contractor fronts hundreds of thousand of dollars to get a job(s) started – subcontractor(s) dutifully perform work – client(s) sits on money owed to demolition contractor – company cannot pay subcontractor(s) - multiple entities enter into threats of liens, collections, and lawyer involvement as weekly payroll difficulties ensue.
When proposals on a million or multimillion job reflect a tight group of companies within $150,000 to $225,000 range and one guy sits at a margin 45% to 75% below the next low number. . .the winner here is essentially absorbed in an act of self inflected attrition.
The unlearned inculcation eventually reaches a critical point; the hemorrhaging of cash is unstoppable.
Incredibly, the few who stood their ground are the few left standing. Equitable competitors are staying tight on the numbers while the low-ball apparitions are starting to fade.
Nonetheless, the overall confidence within one industry contradicts unresolved European debt. The Dow Jones flitters over and under the 11,000 mark (The NIKEI around 10,000 and FTSE has a 200 point ebb/flow) over the last five days like a listless distance swimmer desperate to keep their head above water - the conservation of energy versus the necessary power to move forward is an enigma. These unknown factors dictate that essential-available reserves are kept in check for the foreseeable future.
The collective PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain) have worked through Greek liabilities and as of late, the former Celtic Tiger has been revealed to be a kitten that casted a large shadow. Little ink has been vested on financial predictions concerning Portugal and Spain.
“. . . it was the epoch of incredulity . . .”
My dim sanguinity emanates from an unusual trend of tighter bid spreads on large private and public bid opportunities. Many firms over the past year left incalculable sums of money on the table in a desperate effort to keep machine moving.
In the cyclical trade tide of everyone waiting to get paid, the following has been a constant factor: demolition contractor fronts hundreds of thousand of dollars to get a job(s) started – subcontractor(s) dutifully perform work – client(s) sits on money owed to demolition contractor – company cannot pay subcontractor(s) - multiple entities enter into threats of liens, collections, and lawyer involvement as weekly payroll difficulties ensue.
When proposals on a million or multimillion job reflect a tight group of companies within $150,000 to $225,000 range and one guy sits at a margin 45% to 75% below the next low number. . .the winner here is essentially absorbed in an act of self inflected attrition.
The unlearned inculcation eventually reaches a critical point; the hemorrhaging of cash is unstoppable.
Incredibly, the few who stood their ground are the few left standing. Equitable competitors are staying tight on the numbers while the low-ball apparitions are starting to fade.
Nonetheless, the overall confidence within one industry contradicts unresolved European debt. The Dow Jones flitters over and under the 11,000 mark (The NIKEI around 10,000 and FTSE has a 200 point ebb/flow) over the last five days like a listless distance swimmer desperate to keep their head above water - the conservation of energy versus the necessary power to move forward is an enigma. These unknown factors dictate that essential-available reserves are kept in check for the foreseeable future.
The collective PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain) have worked through Greek liabilities and as of late, the former Celtic Tiger has been revealed to be a kitten that casted a large shadow. Little ink has been vested on financial predictions concerning Portugal and Spain.
“. . . it was the epoch of incredulity . . .”
Former Kenosha Inn
For Chicago-area vacationers who make their weekly pilgrimage to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the former Kenosha Inn is an unassuming site that many have passed coming off of I94 for the scenic trek down Highway 50.
Champion Environmental Services, Inc., has been retained by a private client to demolish the structure in preparation for future development. CESI facilitated a schedule to allow the local fire department and SWAT team to conduct training exercises at the property prior to equipment mobilization.
The project should achieve a recycling rate of 98%.
Champion Environmental Services, Inc., has been retained by a private client to demolish the structure in preparation for future development. CESI facilitated a schedule to allow the local fire department and SWAT team to conduct training exercises at the property prior to equipment mobilization.
The project should achieve a recycling rate of 98%.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Remnants In Wonder Lake
The final vestiges of the Wonder Lake water tower can be viewed below; this morning, a crew dismantled the bottom of the structure support and removed eight concrete footings. Tomorrow’s work will involve loading out the steel scrap, site restoration and sealing the fire hydrant.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
UPR – Another Job
Once again, Union Pacific Rail Road has reached out to Champion Environmental Services Inc. to facilitate the removal of transite wall paneling on the outside of a diesel shop in Melrose Park, IL. An additional quantity of interior transite will be removed totaling 18,000 square feet of transite abatement.
ACM window caulk and associated glazing will also be removed.
ACM window caulk and associated glazing will also be removed.
Smokestack Demolition – Milwaukee
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. has been retained by a private client to facilitate the asbestos abatement and demolition of a182 foot smokestack in Milwaukee, WI.
Given the placement of a powerhouse which abuts the structure, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will employ the use of specialized equipment throughout the project.
A crane will hoist a “Brokk” to the top of the stack; this machine will then be securely attached to the side of the tower. The remote controlled robotic Brokk will slowly dismantle the smokestack one section at a time. An operator on the ground will direct the movement of the Brokk from a safe distance.
Care will be taken to scaffold nearby structures as an assurance that no damage occurs during the demolition process.
Few companies can offer this expert service on highly technical projects.
A Google Earth image of the smokestack appears below.
Given the placement of a powerhouse which abuts the structure, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will employ the use of specialized equipment throughout the project.
A crane will hoist a “Brokk” to the top of the stack; this machine will then be securely attached to the side of the tower. The remote controlled robotic Brokk will slowly dismantle the smokestack one section at a time. An operator on the ground will direct the movement of the Brokk from a safe distance.
Care will be taken to scaffold nearby structures as an assurance that no damage occurs during the demolition process.
Few companies can offer this expert service on highly technical projects.
A Google Earth image of the smokestack appears below.
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