Building #200, a 23-story masonry-clad structure that serves as the operational hub of the hospital complex, was deteriorating. The concealed steel anchors supporting the 1,800-pound concrete "fins" on the exterior were failing, putting several fins at risk of falling. Additionally, the mortar and anchors securing the brick veneer were compromised, causing large sections of masonry to detach from the building. To address these issues, Christopher Glass & Aluminum was contracted to remove the masonry facade and replace it with a glass curtain wall and window system.
Problem: Several major demolition contractors declined the job, and among the few that submitted proposals, most envisioned the typical approach: encapsulating the building in a maze of scaffolding and implementing a complex system of gravity-fed debris chutes. This would necessitate multiple loading and unloading operations before debris could be removed from the site. Crucially, none of the proposals addressed the safe removal of the over 200 precast concrete "fins" from the building or how their plans could be executed while the facility remained occupied and fully operational.
Solution: The engineering team at P&G designed and built a debris hopper and a series of lifting fixtures, enabling swing stage workers to jackhammer the brick veneer. Debris fell onto tightly nestled chutes between the fins, sliding into a hopper attached to a crane that was periodically lowered to the ground for dumping and then hoisted back into position. "Lifting Fork" fixtures allowed workers to cross-drill the precast concrete fins, rig them to the forks, cut them free from their anchors, and safely lower them with the crane. P&G Crane's methods ensured efficient work around all four sides of the building, causing minimal disruption to hospital operations. After the demolition, P&G Crane continued on-site to erect the curtain wall supporting steel and install glass panels. This innovative solution earned praise from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a remarkable feat of civil engineering in a complex demolition project. It is estimated that P&G’s efforts saved the U.S. Government millions of dollars and at least a year in project completion time.