Sept. 5, 2003
University Set To Raze Old Hospital
Project Scheduled to be Completed by Early December
By Thomas
Kohout
The George Washington University is set to begin demolition of
the old hospital Sept. 8 pending final approval of the Universitys
permit. Led by Sigal Construction and local demolition contractor Wrecking
Corp. of America, GW will raze the 55-year-old facility over a 90-day
period, aiming to complete work by mid-December.
Its a two-step procedure to receive a permit for demolition
from the District of Columbia, explained Arthur Bean, director of
construction programs. The first step is permission to start making
the disconnections. Once those have been made and signed off on by the
representing utilities, then you are granted the second part of the permit
and demolition can begin.
Bean explained that the University began work disconnecting the buildings
utilities and removing any potentially hazardous materials after receiving
the first part of the demolition permit last February. Verizon is the
last company left to sign off, and, said Bean, that is simply a matter
of cutting off the wires and terminating the service.
Demolition crews will work from 7 am-7 pm, Monday through Saturday, using
a crane-operated wrecking ball, as well as a claw to pull
the building apart. An on-site processing machine will separate the steel
and break up the large chunks of concrete and stone. The steel will be
sent off to be recycled and the concrete and stone will be reused as aggregate.
Much of the processed concrete and stone, however, will remain on site
to be used to fill the hole.
This is a recycling process not a dumping process, Bean said.
He estimated that by processing the building debris GW will save as much
as $1.5 million while limiting the amount of rubble to be hauled away.
Sidewalks along the east side of 22nd Street and the north side of Eye
Street will be closed to pedestrians as demolition begins along the northeast
corner by the intersection of 23rd Street and Washington Circle. Crews
will gradually work their way toward the corner of 23rd and Eye streets,
using the existing loading docks to remove the debris. Trucks will haul
portions of the processed concrete, stone and steel rubble north on 23rd
Street to Washington Circle, southeast on Pennsylvania Avenue, south on
19th Street, across Constitution Avenue and over the 14th Street Bridge
into Virginia, following a route arranged with the city to ensure the
safest and quickest exit.
Decisions regarding parking around the work site will remain in the hands
of city officials. Bean does expect temporary lane closures at various
points during the demolition, but those are expected to be for brief periods
during non-rush hour times.
Along 22nd Street the hospital extends very close to the street,
Bean said, so crews will close the sidewalks and temporarily block
off a lane to reduce the chance of an accident. As crews get closer to
the edge of the property they will use the claw rather than the wrecking
ball to minimize the debris falling.
After demolition is complete, crews will crack the foundation to allow
for drainage; processed concrete and stone will be used to fill the hole.
The lot will be graded to slope toward the corner of 23rd and Eye streets
to guide water run-off into an existing storm drain. The inlet will be
protected to prevent clogging by debris.
A 6-foot-high temporary wooden fence will be erected along 23rd Street
and Pennsylvania Avenue. The fence will go up after demolition is completed
and will remain in place until a new facility is built. The fence initially
will be painted white, but according to Roger Lyons, executive director,
facilities development, there are plans for the art department to open
decoration of the fence to a student design competition, with winners
chosen internally. Along 22nd and Eye streets there will be a chain link
fence.
A decision about the hospitals replacement is still pending according
to Charles Barber, senior counsel, Office of the Vice President and General
Counsel.
We are still considering our options, said Barber. Our
best estimate is that it would be some sort of multi-use facility, but
we havent had any more specific planning on that.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
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