Consolidating assets is not always easy, especially when closing an entire facility. That was the case last year, when GCL Growers, an international solar products company, moved out of a warehouse. In their need to return the warehouse to its original state, the company turned to the Millwright team out of our Portland office.

The task might seem simple to an outside observer: turn the facility back into an empty warehouse to be used for other purposes. The fact that the work took almost eight months to complete is a first indication of the real work required.

The demolition needed to be systematic. Productivity and efficiency were key to getting the project done, and the surrounding area – including the parking lot – had to be kept in shape. From removing foundations and restoring 4,000 square feet of warehouse floor to recovering recyclable materials, our team was up for the challenge.

The Problem: Clean Destruction at Maximum Efficiency

Demolition is, by its very nature, messy. Our task was making sure that by the time GCL Growers handed the facility back to the Port of Portland, it had to be not just cleaned out, but also in top shape. That’s daunting, considering the need to remove 45 crystal grower machines, mechanical rooms, and other equipment.

A second challenge related to the first was the fact that many of the tools typically used during this process leave significant debris, such as a cutting torch, sparking tools, and more. Our team had to stay away from these tools even as they used existing infrastructure and utilities that had to be kept in place.

The Process: Heavy Equipment and Thorough Work

A systematic approach was key from the start. Omega Morgan demolished and removed the 45 crystal grower machines as an assembly line with repeating tasks. That increased productivity and efficiency to stay on top of the timeline.

Our equipment consisted of a 30K warehouse forklift, a 15K warehouse forklift, an IC-200 Broderson Carry Deck, 40 foot manlifts, an excavator and Hoe-ram, and a 35 ton boom truck. That equipment was absolutely essential to remove not just the crystal growers but also piping, transformers, switch gear, HVAC, heat exchangers, argon tanks, generators, and roof penetrations.

To work around the existing infrastructure, the team segregated electrical and mechanical circuits from the manufacturing equipment to return the facility to warehouse condition. Meanwhile, we operated an extensive recycling program that ensured all recyclable items were recovered and not wasted.

Finally, the scope of work included a thorough repair of the parking lot, after the removal of some existing mechanical equipment and equipment pedestals had ripped up the existing concrete.

The Result: Returning a Thoroughly Cleaned Facility

In total, the process of moving our client out of the warehouse took the better part of eight months. More than 4,000 square feet of warehouse space had been cleaned, accounted for, and presented the right way. The work to get there was significant, but well worth the effort.

In the end, GCL growers was able to hand over the cleaned and empty warehouse space to the Port of Portland in shape and beyond expectation. The demolition and restoration was so complete that no sign of either our client or Omega Morgan having ever been there could be found.

This project was a perfect showcase of the versatility of our Portland office. The Millwright team had to thoroughly plan, prepare, and execute a demolition and cleaning job that left little room for error. Its thorough and flawless execution left an impression on both our client and the city to which the space belonged.