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Demolition/Environmental Engineering

May 30, 2013

NYC's aging, crowded Penn Station, nation's busiest train hub, in desperate need of overhaul

The busiest passenger train station in the United States is a 1960s-era, utilitarian labyrinth in the basement of a basketball arena.

May 16, 2013

Deltera continues work on Hullmark Centre in Toronto

Glass work is progressing on the Hullmark Corporate Centre in North York, Ont.

May 16, 2013

Double Duty

Construction gets closer to the top floor of the second tower at Electric City Phase 1 and 2 condominiums in Toronto, Ont.

May 6, 2013

Using niche markets to develop Sudbury’s condominiums

The condo market is growing in Sudbury — and in some instances it is being developed in unusual places. Take the city’s old General Hospital as an example.

April 26, 2013

Demolition of Windsor’s worst eyesore intricate

It has been a long time coming but abatement and demolition of arguably Windsor’s worst eyesore began in late February and will be completed by summer.

April 25, 2013

Ontario toxic exposure rule upgrades anticipated

The Ontario Ministry of Labour is considering upgrading the rules and guidelines for exposure to toxic substances on construction and demolition sites.

April 18, 2013

Grassroots advocacy a heritage modernism tool

Throughout their lifetime, the perceived cultural value of buildings changes dramatically. When they are new, they are appreciated for being up-to-date, code-compliant, and in general a great improvement over the cramped and dysfunctional facilities they replaced. However, as they age, and acquire the scrapes and bruises of time, they begin to be seen as liabilities. Eventually, however, if they survive long enough, the same building can suddenly become valued as being historic, an artefact.

April 17, 2013

LEED Silver for Kitchener’s WalterFedy building

The downtown Kitchener headquarters of WalterFedy has received LEED Silver certification in the commercial interiors category. Seen above is a view of the lobby.

April 17, 2013

St. Lawrence bridge project is progressing on track

Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Denis Lebel continued his consultation process as he met with mayors from the Montreal and Monteregie regions recently to discuss the new bridge for the St. Lawrence.

April 15, 2013

Goderich rebuilds from the rubble

Just before 4 p.m. on Aug. 21, 2011, a tornado tore through the Lake Huron shoreline town of Goderich, Ont.

April 16, 2010

Ryerson University architecture professors present at Canada Green Building Council symposium in Toronto

At the recent Canada Green Building Council’s annual symposium in Toronto, Ryerson University architectural science professors Mark Gorgolewski and Vera Straka offered advice on salvaging components from old buildings and reusing them in new ones.

April 16, 2010

West Edmonton Mall job requires careful co-ordination for B&B Demolition

Working demolition at West Edmonton Mall is no easy trip but B&B Demolition Ltd., which must do its job with minimal or no disturbance to the surrounding stores and customers. The largest job inside the mall is converting a Zellers to a Winners.

April 16, 2010

Terratechnik Environmental shares details of soil remediation project in Mississauga, Ontario

A former factory in Mississauga, Ontario had contamination across a 1,025-square-metre footprint and ranged in depth from four metres to eight metres below ground surface. How Terratechnik Environmental cleaned it up

April 16, 2010

Demolition in Newmarket, Ontario is helping build affordable housing

JMX Environmental Inc., Maram, the Cannington Group and Priestly Demolition and tearing down buildings on Davis Drive in Newmarket, Ontario to make way for dedicated bus lanes for York Region Transit. Affordable housing group Habitat for Humanity removed materials such as bathtubs, lumber and cupboards for resale.

April 16, 2010

Wheels Inn now reborn as Chatham, Ontario convention centre

Norlon Builders is general contractor for the Chatham-Kent John D. Bradley Convention Centre, on the site of the Wheels Inn in Chatham, Ontario. The shell of the former entertainment building is being kept intact with the interior walls mostly gutted.

April 16, 2010

Ferro Canada demolishes St. Catharine, Ontario block to make way for arts centre

The 1860s Passfield and McIntyre mortuary was the last building demolished to make way for the City of St. Catharines’ $54-million St. Paul Street performing arts centre. Architects Diamond and Schmitt advised that retaining its features would negatively impact on the new design. The demolition work included asbestos abatement.

April 16, 2010

Progreen Demolition tears down two 14-storey Toronto apartment towers

Another block of Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood is vanishing as demolition crews wrap up the takedown of two 14-storey residential towers and nine two- and three-storey townhouses. Ninety per cent of the debris will be recycled.

April 16, 2010

Brokk, Husqvarna and Stanley LaBounty roll out remote-controlled demolition machines

Remote-controlled mechanical demolition is growing in the North American market, spurred by the twin concerns of worker safety and the environment. Vendors include Brokk, Husqvarna AB and Stanley LaBounty. Back injuries and nerve damage are a concern when using jackhammers.

April 16, 2010

Finnish researchers work on robot for sorting demolition waste

The demolition industry is using remote-controlled machines more often in an effort to improve productivity in the face of environmental regulations.For example, The Recycler is a robot being developed by Tuomas J. Lukka and a team of researchers in Finland.

April 16, 2010

Tridel builds new North Toronto Collegiate Institute, incorporating features from original 1904 school

In a deal with the Toronto District School Board, Tridel bought land to build The Republic condominium development plus a new North Toronto Collegiate Institute. In consultations with William Greer, designers CS&P Architects Inc. and Burka Varacalli Architects Inc. architectural features of the old school. REC Demolition is tearing down the old school.

April 16, 2010

Kilmer Brownfield aims to preserve history of Guelph, Ontario manufacturing plant

As Priestly Demolition tears down an industrial site in Guelph, Ontario, Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund has had to work with preservation groups to ensure the heritage components would be saved.