Demolition contractors advance Birmingham arts complex
Demolition contractors are well into their work on Birmingham's 'Big City Plan' which will eventually see the new Library of Birmingham built in a completely regenerated Centenary Square.
Contractors are currently undertaking initial enabling works, followed by a two-stage demolition programme of surrounding buildings. The £193 million library project will integrate its facilities with the nearby Repertory Theatre, so careful measures were taken to maintain the integrity of that.
The demolition works follow careful archaeological excavation of the site to protect its historical legacy. A three-storey building adjacent to the theatre has already been demolished using Brokk demolition robots and demolition of the other structures will continue in the summer of 2011.
The project is predicted to create 28,000 m3 (990,000 ft3) of demolition waste, and contractors have set themselves an aim of recycling 98 per cent of that. It will either be crushed at a nearby recycling factory or ploughed back into the project on site as piling material.
Leading contractor, Tony McLean, said, "We feel it important to demonstrate an unrivalled competence in delivering highly sustainable solutions during environmentally hazardous processes, so it has been doing much more than just recycling to ensure this is the case."
He added that they are using full time dust sweepers to minimise the environmental impact of the work and Vibro-silencers on all equipment to keep noise levels below 85 decibels.
