Los Alamos National Laboratory completes demolition, recycling of former Administration Building

Project finished under budget, ahead of schedule

LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico, October 11, 2011—Los Alamos National Laboratory has completed demolition of its former Administration Building. Demolition of the 316,500-square-foot building that was home to seven Laboratory directors was completed five months ahead of the original schedule and significantly under budget.

"After we removed all regulated, hazardous materials such as asbestos, our team was able to recycle about 95 percent of the building," said Darrik Stafford, LANL’s project director for the demolition.

"At more than 300,000 square feet, this was a sizable undertaking," added John Gallegos of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos Site Office. "I am pleased with the results of this project."

ARSEC Environmental, LLC was the general contractor for the demolition of the structure—four stories plus a basement—which opened in 1956 and closed in September 2008. Norris Bradbury was the first Lab director to occupy the building. Bradbury followed J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Lab’s first director. Bradbury was director from 1945 to 1970.

Project activities started in April 2009. LANL moved its administrative functions and lab directors in 2006 to the National Security Sciences Building, immediately northwest of the former facility.

Demolition of the former Administration Building also helps Los Alamos meet an NNSA directive to reduce its structural footprint, modernize its infrastructure, and provide LANL workers with
safe, energy-efficient facilities. Between 2010 and 2014, LANL anticipates removing nearly 1 million square feet (including the Administration Building) as part of its footprint reduction strategy.

The site of the former Administration Building, in the short term, will become an open area to include sidewalks, low-maintenance landscaping, and parking for about 140 vehicles. Longer term, land also will be available for construction of facilities.

Watch a LANL video about demolition of the Administration Building at http://www.youtube.com/user/LosAlamosNationalLab#p/search/0/BpCydd31DTA.

Used by permission of Los Alamos National Laboratory

About Los Alamos National Laboratory                                                                       Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and URS for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.  Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.

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