Fast Forward had a clear perspective how to handle all three phases for this unique demolition project in Los Angeles.
Project Details
Project Type: Demolition
Location: Los Angeles, CA
General Contractor: Swinerton Builders
Contact: Raj Ramanathan
Start Date: 2002
Finish Date: 2005
Contract Value: $437,500
Summary
The Accelerated School is a globally recognized learning center in the heart of Los Angeles. To continue its mission of transforming lives through its innovative and community-based education program, the school embarked on an expansion program designed by architects Marrmol Radziner & Associates.
Swinerton Builders chose Fast Forward for all three phases of the demolition as a result of Fast Forward’s clear perspective on the unique details of this project.
Raj Ramanathan, Swinerton’s Project Manager, stated that Fast Forward’s bid was more complete and addressed more of the specific safety requirements of the project (including asbestos abatement), to the degree that Fast Forward actually found an error in the bid documents and addressed corrective measures. Even though the Fast Forward bid was more comprehensive and detailed, it nonetheless was the most competitive!
When demolishing the existing gymnasium, one of the main challenges was keeping the 35-foot-tall concrete tilt-up walls from falling into a major street abutting the project during demolition. Fast Forward took action, contracting with engineers and shoring contractors to create a city-approved plan for keeping the walls safely in place while heavy machinery chewed them down. When the work shifted from the street to an adjacent building inches away from (and just as tall as) the walls to be demo’d, Fast Forward sliced the wall into 10-foot wide sections and laid them down in sequence.
The next phase of the project involved 10,000 square feet of interior build-out and roof demolition to accommodate the new cafeteria. With careful planning and meticulous attention to coordination, Fast Forward was able to complete this phase (working with and around hundreds of other tradespeople) maneuvering the debris out despite difficult access.
The final phase consisted of removing foundations, asphalt and other site work that were placed for the temporary learning facilities while the school was being built. 65,000 square feet of surface paving and buried foundations were demolished and removed. Like all of the other concrete walls and hardscaping from this project, Fast Forward took these materials to off-site recycling facilities to meet sustainable and green benchmarks.
We’ll let Swinerton Builder’s Project Manager Raj Ramanathan’s words speak for themselves.
Fast Forward provided a full scope of management for the entire project, including a full-time project manager to answer questions, a superintendent that briefed us on the current status, and a full-time foreman on the jobsite.
I was very happy working with Fast Forward – I will use them again!
Raj Ramanathan, Project Manager