The Mall at 163rd Street, Miami, Florida
As part of the redevelopment of this retail property, LVI performed asbestos abatement, interior demolition and demolition of structures. The project consisted of:
- Demolition of one three-story parking garage of approximately 216,000 square feet, one two-story parking garage of approximately 325,000 square feet, and a four-story Mervyn’s department store of approximately 288,000 square feet and approximately 74,000 square feet of common areas.
- Interior renovation of the existing Burdines Department Store.
- Removal of approximately 77,000 square feet of asbestos-containing fireproofing, 7,022 linear feet of pipe insulation, 4,848 square feet of transite material (fireproofing, composite made of asbestos and cement) and approximately 7,558 square feet of floor tile and mastic (a high-strength, adhesive compound).
Hurricane Katrina Cleanup
Gulf Coast region (New Orleans, LA; Gulfport, MS)
During the initial cleanup along the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, LVI had approximately 2,150 workers on the ground in the Gulf Coast region working on cleanup and restoration projects.
LVI’s work included large-scale cleanup projects at hospitals, hotels, resorts, retail outlets, municipal buildings and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Texas. Projects were coordinated out of the company’s Houston regional office, and from office and warehouse facilities and mobile Emergency Command Centers located throughout the affected areas, including a new 27,000-square-foot office and warehouse facility in Saint Rose, La., in support of the activities in New Orleans, and Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss. An 8,000-square-foot office/warehouse facility in Port Arthur, Texas, supported the company’s response efforts in Port Arthur and Beaumont, Texas, and Lake Charles, La., as well as surrounding areas.
The mobile centers in the field featured computers, satellite phone uplinks, bathroom facilities and biometric time keeping systems, which helped facilitate the personnel and payroll requirements of a mobile work force. The company also deployed its own diesel fuel tanker truck to keep its equipment operating. To accommodate its work force, the company used 20 mobile sleepers, located just outside New Orleans, to house 840 workers. The sleepers are equipped with their own power sources, air conditioning and heating.
Aside from the incredible amount of structural damage the areas sustained, of paramount concern to LVI was mold growth due to moisture from the rain, flooding and storm surge, a humid climate, and lack of air conditioning. LVI worked with its clients to assess the damage to their properties and devise action plans to address the problems in the order that made the most sense to prevent further property damage.
Among the projects that LVI was involved with in New Orleans was demolition and cleanup at the Superdome, including air scrubbing and restoring indoor air quality to acceptable levels. Interior demolition, cleanup and mold remediation was completed for Orleans Parish Independent School District. The company also completed demolition and removal of asbestos-containing materials from properties in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes for the Erath Housing Authority. Mold remediation work was completed at Harrah’s Grand Casino’s Gulf Breeze Tower in Gulfport, Mississippi.