News Articles/Press Releases

The following is a representation of a recent article that was featured as the cover story in DEMOLITION & ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACTOR Magazine.  The article has been re-formatted to fit in this web page.  However, the contents have not been altered.  To see a larger representation of the cover picture to the right, simply click on the thumbnail to the right

Eco-Genesis Corp. of Pittsfield, Mass., recently completed it's environmental consulting work at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA), in North Adams, Mass.  Scheduled to open in 1998, Mass MoCa is an extraordinary example of adaptive re-use, involving the conversion of a 27 building historic mill complex into a multi-disciplinary center for visual, performing and media arts.

The project originally was promised funding by Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1989, and was moved rapidly forward since the release of $15.8 million in state funds in 1995.  The contract to conduct a comprehensive hazardous materials assessment at the site and to write the specifications for their removal was awarded to Eco-Genesis in February, 1996.  Eco-Genesis was awarded the construction monitoring contract in August, 1996 by URS Consultants , Inc. of Boston. 

Prior to initiating the renovation  and demolition activities associated with Phase I of the project, hazardous materials had to be properly identified and removed from 11 buildings.  Regulated and hazardous materials identified within the facility, tanks and drums included mercury, freon, poly-chlorinated  biphenyls (PCBs), acids, solvents, degreasers, oils, lubricants, dyes, resins, heavy metals, sludges, chlorinated solvents, colloidal, silica, and cylinders of methyl chloride and sulfer hexaflouride.

Asbestos containing materials included approximately 23,000 linear feet of pipe insulation, 70,000 square feet of transite, and 130,000 square feet of floor coverings.  Approximately 270,000 square feet of failed lead-based paint and approximately 200,000 square feet of paint debris required cleanup.  Information obtained from the assessment detailed the type, location, and quantity of hazardous materials to be removed.  This was incorporated into a Mass MoCA Hazardous Materials Project Manual (Volume II), prepared by Eco-Genesis, which provided specifications for cleanup, removal, and disposal of these materials. 

"Because the majority of the building were being renovated rather than demolished, the lead specification was critical," said Myron Ritrosky, Eco-Genesis President.  "The sheer volume of lead paint debris classified Mass MoCA as a large quantity generator of hazardous waste.  As a result, we needed to comply with strict Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection guidelines that govern  its tracking and disposal."

The most intensive and demanding portion of the hazardous materials removal was the asbestos abatement.  Given the volume of materials, the size of the facility, and the limited time available, an aggressive 14 week schedule was developed around the asbestos abatement work for substantial completion by Christmas, 1996.  A significant amount of intacting of lead paint also needed to be accomplished and accommodated during this period.

"Strategic planning was required to avoid duplication of effort during the removal of such high volumes of lead paint and asbestos in the same area," Ritroski said.  "We also needed to maintain separate waste streams in order to keep disposal costs down.

to ensure that these goals were met, a sequence of work was prepared for each site that would allow significant asbestos abatement and de-leading activities to be coordinated and completed effectively.  As established during Eco-Genesis's negotiations, the asbestos removal and intacting and cleanup would be contained and completed inside one work area.  the finished product would consist of an abated and encapsulated area.  Complete with the prime coat for finishing work.

Together with the Mass MoCA Demolition Project Manual (Volume I), prepared by Bruner/Cott & Associates, a single contract was issued to complete the required site preparations for Mass MoCA.  In August of 1996, Coastal Energy, Inc. of Worcester, Mass., was awarded the hazardous materials removal and demolition contract. 

During the work, the buildings were being completed at a rate of one per week.  This was achieved by maintaining a schedule of two 10-hour shifts per day, with 25 abatement workers per shift, for about 12 weeks.  "Our understanding of compliance issues enabled us to focus on what was required," said Ritroski.  "Time was of the essence: Our plan was intricately woven to respect the time element."

After the remediation phase, the demolition phase of the contract could begin.  Coastal Energy was required to totally gut most of the buildings, leaving only the wood decks and concrete slabs.  To get to the wood decks, in some of the buildings, Coastal Energy had to remove up to seven floors.  The interior demolition involved wall partitions, ceilings up to the wood deck and beams above, as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. 

The project's final stages of hazardous materials remediation were completed recently, with renovations scheduled to begin mid-summer, 1997.  In total, some 5,000 tons of hazardous materials, asbestos, lead-based paint, and debris were removed.  Despite being asked to provide new assessments and specifications based on changes and additions to the scope of work, Eco-Genesis reported only about $15,000 in cost overruns on the original $1.4 million contract (1.1 percent).  I think that's a real testament to our assessment and design capabilities," Ritroski said.