Out with the old, in with the new…buildings Published July 2, 2008 By Monte Miller 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Earlier this year, Scott embarked on its most ambitious construction plan in base history that will result in 71 projects totaling $188 million for producing new roads, buildings and upgrades that will benefit everyone on the installation. To make way for some of those upgrades, many of the older, antiquated structures must go. In recent weeks, the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron has been busy overseeing the demolition of several buildings, the most recognizable was the multiple storied Building 45. Other buildings on the list to be flattened are in the warehouse district on the Southeast corner of base. These buildings were originally built in the mid 1940s during World War II and have served a wide variety of offices and purposes in their lifetimes. Dennis Toenjes, 375th CES chief of contracts, explained there are four structures that are slated for demolition in the near future, but there are important health and safety steps that must be taken first. "It's not as simple as just knocking a building down," Mr. Toenjes said. "All of the old buildings have asbestos in them. It was a common building product of the day. Plus there are a lot of logistics and shuffling involved in moving the current tenants to other offices." Building products containing asbestos include pipe insulation, floor tiles and sub floor materials and even the siding on the outside of the buildings. All of these products must be carefully removed. Mr. Toenjes explained products containing asbestos are not harmful if they are left undisturbed, but when dust from the products becomes airborne is when they are most dangerous. Because asbestos is so hazardous and a major carcinogen, extensive testing is done to each building and then a lengthy abatement process is undertaken just to make the dust and debris from the demolition non hazardous to workers and those in the immediate area of demolition. The length of the abatement is different with each structure. "It really depends on the amount of material that is found," Mr. Toenjes said of the abatement process. "In some, there is very little, but in others like Building 3190, everything they tested was hot for asbestos." The asbestos testing is done by an independent agency to avoid any conflicts of interest. After they report their findings, Lake Environmental, Inc. does all of the asbestos abatement and eventual building demolition. "It's very touchy and very closely monitored," Mr. Toenjes said. "The process is looked upon by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to make sure we are abiding by the laws and being good custodians." In addition to Building 45, the remains of which are still being cleaned up, the old Education Building (Bldg. 3190) was torn down last week. The buildings that currently house the base custodial contractor Challenge Unlimited (Bldg. 853) and the Airman's Attic (Bldg. 4141) are the next immediate sites of the wrecking ball. "Those two should be down by Nov. 1," Mr. Toenjes said. "Eventually all of the old warehouses are going to go. The utilization board picks which buildings go and when. There is a list that goes to 2015."