Hotel Demolition (Part 4), Alexandria

www.pedestrians...
Part 4. Demolition of "The Retreat" conference center in Alexandria, VA. The conference center had been part of the adjacent 30-story Hilton Mark Center Alexandria, but was split off as a separate property in order to be redeveloped. Both had opened for business in 1985.
Produced by John Z Wetmore, producer of "Perils For Pedestrians".

[@MarkB.-mo3lz]

What I'd like to know is, are the elevator cars disassembled and removed before demolition? Along with the elevator motor and counterweights? That must be quite a process to remove.

[@nickruark3693]

Apparently, the operator of this machine has little control of the clamshell based on its waving back and forth and twisting around.

[@tombayless9759]

Seems so be picking the building apart pretty well

[@jimmydickson8854]

You got the wrong attachment you need Shears for that job ,not that light tiny bucket ,old jimmy Aust

[@JohnZWetmore]

They bring in the shears in Part 5.
th-cam.com/video/jt8e4re8L3I/w-d-xo.html

[@buffalobillsfan2649]

What do you do with the rubble after the demolition?

[@constructionwatcher5381]

John can probably tell you in more detail since he's talked to some of these guys on various jobs, but I think it basically goes like this.
You can clearly see in this video that they separate metals and haul them off separately, especially higher value metals like copper and aluminum. They go to a recycler where they are melted down and then made into new stuff. The demo company should get some money for this material.
It's less clear in this video than in some of John's others, but they generally keep the masonry, concrete chunks, and blocks, separate too. They go to a recycler who breaks them up and they are reused for construction materials. I don't know that the demo company actually gets paid for them, but at least it costs to dispose of less then stuff that goes in the landfill.
Everything else goes in a landfill, for which the demo company pays a fee.

[@buffalobillsfan2649]

@@constructionwatcher5381 oh ok thank you for telling

[@JohnZWetmore]

That's right.
Yes, they were separating out the concrete and masonry on this job, too.

[@jonbell2305]

Think this driver needs glasses or a few more hours practice.
Shocking