Since joining a new firm in January, located in the Clarendon area of Arlington, I’ve been able to enjoy a unique view of some site preparations going on in this high density, high growth urban corridor from my office on the 8th floor. This district is home to a lot of mixed-use, transit-oriented development, and it has changed a lot in the nearly 20 years that I have been in the DC area.
I started out with a firm in this neighborhood, as a matter of fact, and with all the new apartments and condos, and retail buildings, it is very different from back then. This old building was located right at the exit of the Clarendon Metro stop. On my first day at work, they had already demolished the rear parts of the building, leaving only the red brick façade, as shown in the second photo.
Then they began the careful demolition of the façade itself, with these large machines that reached, clenched, twisted, and pulverized the concrete and mortar. Over the course of 10 days, they tore down what remained of the building, with limited interruptions of traffic or street life.
Finally, with the building gone, site work and prep has begun for what’s next on the site – we suspect it is another apartment building with retail on the first floor, like those shown surrounding it in the third photo, although it may be an office tower as well.
Currently, they are in the process of breaking up the old concrete and separating the steel rebar out for recycling. Then the “cleaned” concrete is mixed with soil and ground, and is used as fill for the old basement and foundation areas. It is a sustainable approach – we anticipate that the building will include many “green” elements when it is finished. Over the next year or so, I may have some follow-up reports as the building goes up.
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