Seattle Public Library -Libraries for All - Building a New Central Library

Building a New Central Library:
Construction Photos
Demolition and Excavation, Fall 2001

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December 2001: Most of the heavy concrete demolition was finished by December 2001. Crews continued to remove debris from the site. The orange dots visible in the walls are anchors that "nail" the old building's foundation to the surrounding soil; the supported walls act as a shoring system to keep the surrounding soil from collapsing into the excavated hole.

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November 2001: Full demolition began in November 2001. Crews used a large backhoe machine with a jaw-like tool at the end of a 90-foot long arm to crush the concrete, beginning on the Fourth Avenue side of the building. Workers sprayed the building with water to combat dust. The yellow zig-zag structure visible in some of the photos is the library's escalator.

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September 2001: Limited demolition began in September 2001. Contractors salvaged and recycled interior materials. Fourth Avenue exterior walls were torn down so heavy drilling rigs used in excavation shoring could maneuver. Crews drilled anchors through existing foundation walls to "nail" them to the soil underneath, a necessary step before removing floor slabs.

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Content modified: 11 July 2002

04/28/2004

Building a New Central Library: Construction Photos Demolition and Excavation, Fall 2001

Building a New Central Library:
Construction Photos
Demolition and Excavation, Fall 2001