Kim Rivera, PE, and Mike Clark, PE, were awarded the NASA Silver Group Achievement Award for supporting NASA during the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Headquarters Building and Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) demolition. The project successfully paved the way for a sustainable working environment, enabling NASA to accomplish their mission.
The KSC Headquarters Building and CIF, built in the 1960s, exceeded their life expectancies and required demolition. The construction team completed the project, which enabled NASA to reduce their facility footprint and operation and maintenance costs. The project spanned 4 years, including environmental hazardous materials abatement, system structure disconnection, hauling logistics, and contract changes. The team demolished the 177,000-square-foot CIF from 2017 to 2019 with no major safety incidents and limited environmental concerns. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and brought challenges, but the team’s proactive approach to safety and communication helped them anticipate and solve potential problems. The more than 440,000-square-foot Headquarters Building was listed as mission-critical. It was allowed to continue during COVID-19 and was demolished in 1.5 years with no safety and limited environmental issues. The successful completion of this project sets the stage for innovative work environments at NASA, supporting their mission both on Earth and in space.
When asked about the project, Kim said, “Through hard work and responsive client service, we reduced over 600,000 square feet of office space while recycling over 50 percent of the building materials. New aerospace ventures are growing into the open areas where the buildings once stood, allowing NASA to continue their mission to advance future space flight. It was incredible to be a part of this important project.”
Congratulations to Kim, Mike, and the team for their extraordinary achievement and for setting a benchmark in engineering excellence.