Bellsouth Headquarters Building, Birmingham, AL
BellSouth HQ is an operational facility which scope of work entailed interior demolition and the abatement of 700,000 square feet of spray-on fireproofing and an elaborate decontamination unit on each floor giving accessibility to all work areas. A portion of the abatement project was preformed utilizing a series of complex tiered scaffolding and the “dance floor” system which enabled the work to be performed above the operational floors. The complexity of the project required that the Headquarters Building remain operational and occupied while maintaining a low profile with minimal disruption to the building daily operations. The 30-story building was staged in multiple phases consisting of abating (3) floors per phase consisting of the removal of 25,800 square feet of spray-on fireproofing per floor. The project demanded intricate coordination with the building owner and managers, and various trades involved. The project was completed on schedule, within budget and accident free.
Regions City Center, Birmingham, AL
The bulk of the project consisted of the general demolition of construction materials and the abatement of asbestos-containing materials on 10 (ten) executive floors. This work was accomplished over a six (6) month time span. Work was limited to nights and weekends in order to keep the office building functioning without interruption during normal business hours. While demolition and abatement activities were in process, it was discovered that numerous nuts and bolts which hold the exterior window curtain wall onto the structure of the building were missing. Because each of the connections are located in a supply air plenum with asbestos-containing fireproofing over spray, Lakeshore Environmental Contractors assisted Heery International and the consulting firm of WJE Engineering in inspecting, identifying and documenting where the nuts and bolts were missing at over three thousand (3,000) locations in the 30 story building. Under the directions of WJE Engineering Lakeshore Environmental Contractors cut openings in the window knee walls at 300 locations to install new bolts, washers and nuts. This required the relocation of furniture in order to access the knee walls, the abatement of asbestos sheetrock and overspray from each individual location, the installation of new sheetrock, the finishing and painting or installation of vinyl wall covering at each location and the reinstallation of furniture, cabinets or module work cubicles. Again, all work was performed at night or on weekends.
A separate mechanical upgrade project has been under way for the past two (2) years. Part of this mechanical upgrade required new electrical conduit and mechanical piping to be run from the Central Plant in the basement of the building to a Penthouse mechanical equipment area. The new services were scheduled to run up two (2) the thirtieth (30) floor air shafts. It was discovered that these air shafts were contaminated with asbestos fireproofing over spray and pipe insulation. Lakeshore Environmental Contractors successfully installed a complicated scaffold system thirty (30) floors tall in the two (2) air shafts, abated asbestos – containing fireproofing and pipe insulation, provided safe work platforms on this scaffolding for the mechanical and electrical contractors to use in running their systems while keeping sufficient air flow for occupant comfort in these two (2) return air shafts.
Lakeshore Environmental Contractors has also been involved with several other small but specialized asbestos, demolition and construction projects at the Regions Center. These include abatement and core drilling for the installation of new electrical bus duct from the basement to the penthouse, remediation of mold from the air handling units and office areas, the construction of a covered pedestrian walkway at the south street level to accommodate exterior construction work and the demolition of exterior architectural louvers and concrete block wall which were both contaminated with asbestos. The architectural louvers and CMU work were accomplished off of stages thirty (30) floors above street level.
AmSouth Sonat Building, Birmingham, AL
The project involved a 30 story hi-rise in a progressive plan to abate floors as they became available. A crew of 50 Asbestos workers were assembled and mobilized. The project involved the protections of surrounding floors above and below where the abatement was taking place. Each floor was completed within a six-week timeframe. All abatement activities took place at night and on weekends and included the spray back of new fireproofing to specified thickness and densities on the steel structures. The work was accomplished without the knowledge of most 2000 bank employees.
Mold Remediation and General Renovations at HealthSouth Rehab Montgomery, AL
Mold remediation and general repairs and renovations including cleaning and re-insulating HVAC units and chill water piping, installation of electrical fixtures, removing and replacing flooring, exterior repair and replacement of gutters. This project was conducted in an occupied hospital. Work was carefully coordinated with the hospital administration to prevent cross contamination and patient exposure. Following mold remediation, environmental sampling confirmed the project was a success.
Asbestos Containing Material Abatement at LaFarge Cement Plant, Calera, AL
Project Manager for removal of asbestos gaskets, duct wrap and transite siding from the kiln burner floor and the kiln feed end building.
Asbestos Containing Material Abatement at Goodyear Tire Plant, Gadsden, AL
Project Manager for the removal of asbestos pipe insulation and repair of pipe ends. This project involved worker tie off and man lift operations. Scott and LEC have had a long relationship with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in multiple locations including a yearly contract with the Tuscaloosa Alabama Plant.
Regions Center, Birmingham, Ala. – Asbestos removal and cleaning of Return Air Plenums
Removal of asbestos containing fireproofing and pipe fittings from the north upper shaft, north lower shaft, AHU, north tunnel and south tunnel at the project location. The most complicated part of this project required the erection of scaffolding in the two 30 story return air shafts. Asbestos fireproofing was safely abated without disruption of air flow or any daily bank employee activities.
Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc., Huntsville, Ala. – Duct Cleaning
Cleaning and modifying HVAC systems No. 40, 41, 42 and 43. This automotive plant manufactures computer components for the automotive industry. The circuit boards are produced and assembled in a sterile/static free environment. The work was performed 20’ above numerous workstations. The mold remediation was conducted successfully during off hours without any disruption to the sensitive production process.
Regions City Center, Birmingham, Ala. – North and South Sign Installation and Penthouse
LEC provided labor, material and supervision necessary for the removal of asbestos containing water proofing mastic from the concrete beam located outside of the penthouse. This building has a 30-story glass storefront exterior window wall. The exterior window wall is secured to the building structure by bolts, washers and nuts. During an asbestos abatement project of the knee wall HVAC system at the building perimeter it was discovered that numerous bolts and nuts were missing. LEC personnel assisted a building envelope engineering firm in documenting the location of 1,621 missing or loose connection out of the 3,360 total connections. Because these connections are located in an HVAC knee wall with asbestos fireproofing present, the replacement of the nuts and bolts and lock washers had to be conducted under asbestos negative pressure enclosure systems. The work includes the protection of expensive wall and floor finishes, relocation and replacement of office furniture, cutting out sheetrock, replacing nuts, bolts and washers, installing new sheetrock, finishing the sheetrock and painting vinyl wall covering at each location. Work was conducted after office hours with each location returning to its normal state for work the next morning. This work was successfully completed over a 3-month period.
Regions City Center, Birmingham, Ala. – 12th and 14th Floors Water Damage
Cleaning of files stored on the 12th floor because of water damage to the 14th floor. LEC provided labor, materials and supervision necessary for repairs to the 14th floor due to water damage. At 4:00 am on a Sunday morning a 2” domestic hot water pipe failed at a joint on the 14th floor. Hot water flooded the floor until the steam finally set off the fire alarm system. At which time building maintenance shut off the line. Water, however, had already migrated to the lower lobby 13 floors below. LEC personnel immediately responded with water extraction equipment, dehumidifiers and fans to start the drying process and prevent mold amplification. Work took place on all 13 floors with the majority occurring on the 14th floor. LEC replaced water damage building materials as necessary and conducted repairs on the 14th floor. The bank later discovered some water damaged files which LEC removed off site for mold remediation using freeze drying techniques.
