Building Renovation and Demolition

Univeristy of Minnesota - Education Sciences Building

The building was a former mining and mineral research center abandoned electronic equipment and other manufacturing equipment abandoned chemicals at site
Project Background 
Liesch was contracted by Capital Planning and Project Management of the University of Minnesota to assess the environmental issues that would be encountered during building renovation, and to develop a building cleaning plan for implementation prior to renovation. The building was a former mining and mineral research center that had been vacant for a number of years. The environmental issues within the building included: asbestos, lead based paint, lead dust, mercury releases including mercury laden dust, abandoned crushed minerals, abandoned chemicals, abandoned electronic equipment and other manufacturing equipment, sludge and impacted concrete.
Scope of Work 
Liesch developed a demolition plan for all internal structures to be removed as part of the renovation prior to a complete building cleaning. This process would minimize re-contamination risk when compared to cleaning occurring before demolition. Liesch developed the building cleaning specification, which included asbestos removal, chemical and equipment removal, and building cleaning. The specification also included a clearance program outlining clearance standards and testing requirements. During the cleaning process, it was determined that select areas associated with mercury impacts could not be effectively cleaned and an encasement program was necessary. Liesch identified an appropriate product for encasement and coordinated the encasement and subsequent testing of the areas of mercury impacts to document the encasement eliminated the exposure pathway. The site was subsequently cleaned from top to bottom and corner to corner to remove impacted dust as part of the final cleaning. Liesch completed clearance testing at the site and documented that the site was clear for the renovation contractors to safely complete the project.