University of MI Demolishes, Salvages Frieze Building in Ann Arbor

Sept. 28, 2010

Demolition work on the Frieze building on The University of Michigan central campus in Ann Arbor is nearing completion. The North Quad Residential and Academic Complex will be built on the site.

Demolition work began in January and it will be completed by the end of June. Demolition and asbestos abatement work on the project will cost approximately $2 million.

Demolition work on the Frieze building on The University of Michigan central campus in Ann Arbor is nearing completion. The North Quad Residential and Academic Complex will be built on the site.

Demolition work began in January and it will be completed by the end of June. Demolition and asbestos abatement work on the project will cost approximately $2 million.

A total of 267,000 square feet is being demolished. There will be 15,000 tons of debris that will require disposal. There will also be approximately 10,000 tons of hard fill, and approximately 4,500 tons of concrete that will be recycled. Approximately half of the demolished material will be recycled.

Homrich, Inc., of Carleton, is the demolition contractor. Equipment they are using includes: a Komatsu 400 high-reach excavator with a Demo Pro 450 shear/processor manufactured by Genesis Attachments, and a Hitachi ZX850H excavator with a LaBounty HDR 170 grapple and a Geith GT120 concrete processor. A variety of other equipment, including Bobcat skid-steer loaders, is also being used on the project.

"Besides working in the confines of a city environment, challenges include architectural salvaging. The university is being very proactive in making sure that a lot of the architecturally unique components of the building are salvaged," Ken Moberly, project manager for Homrich, Inc., said. They are saving the entire façade of the Carnegie Library, which is part of the Frieze structure and will be incorporated into the North Quad Complex.

The main portion of the Frieze building was built in 1905. A great deal of the structural support was built with Douglas Fir wood, which is also being salvaged.

Walbridge Aldinger is the construction manager for the overall project.

 

Project: Frieze building demolition in Ann Arbor

Demolition contractor: Homrich, Inc., of Carleton

Demolition cost: $2 million