Demolition
CSI Division 02, Existing Conditions
The controlled removal of existing structures, materials, or site improvements to prepare a site for new construction, ranging from selective interior demolition to full structural teardown, sequenced carefully so remaining structures, utilities, and adjacent properties aren't damaged in the process.
Why it matters
Demolition often uncovers hazardous materials or unknown structural and utility conditions the design team didn't know about, and a demolition plan has to account for those risks before the first wall comes down, not after.
On a real project
A renovation project's demolition scope requires selectively removing interior partitions and finishes while keeping the building's structural steel frame and exterior envelope intact for reuse.
Who this matters most to
A Superintendent sequences demolition carefully to avoid compromising structural elements that need to stay standing, especially on a renovation where new work depends on what's kept. An Environmental Remediation Specialist gets involved before demolition starts on any older building, since hazardous material testing has to happen first.
Where this goes wrong
A demolition crew removes a wall assumed to be non-structural based on old drawings, only to discover partway through that it was actually load-bearing, requiring emergency shoring to keep the floor above from sagging, a mistake a pre-demolition structural survey would have caught.