[via email from Cathie Butler]

(Olympia, WA) Off come the doors … out come the windows … down comes the roof. Next week, deconstruction begins on the former BBQ and Pawn Shop buildings at the west side of the new Olympia City Hall site in the 600 block of East 4th. Deconstruction should be completed by the end of September.

On Tuesday, September 2 at 10:00 a.m., Councilmembers Jeff Kingsbury, Joan Machlis and Rhenda Strub, and City Manager Steve Hall will kick off deconstruction by removing doors on the buildings.

“With deconstruction instead of traditional demolition, nearly 75% of the buildings’ materials will be diverted from the landfill,” says Assistant City Manager Subir Mukerjee, who is overseeing the City Hall project.

When deconstruction is finished, several underground storage tanks and any contaminated soils will be removed. Environmental work at the site is under the direction of the State Department of Ecology to ensure proper handling and disposal of all materials. Deconstruction of the main structure – the former Safeway Grocery – will happen at a future date. It will be timed to coincide with construction of the new City Hall so that some of the materials are reused in the new building.

One of the City’s goals for the new City Hall is to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. Deconstruction and reuse of existing materials is an important factor in achieving LEED certification.

For additional information contact Rick Dougherty, Project Manager, (360) 753-8485.