Chicago issues 2016 Olympic Games demolition contracts

In advance of its being selected as host city for the 2016 Olympic Games, the US city of Chicago is to start demolition work on what is proposed as being the site of the Olympic Village, which currently is occupied by the disused Michael Reese Hospital complex.

The complex consists of 29 buildings, of which the historic main building will be retained, 24 will be demolished under the issued contracts, an administrative building will demolished under another contract and a parking building that will be used by local residents during the demolition.

The buildings have been divided into four groups (B, C, D and E) for contract purposes - Brandenburg Industrial Services was awarded the contracts for groups B and E at a cost of US$7.98 million (Euro 5.6 million), while the contracts for groups C and D were awarded to Heneghan Wrecking for US$3.2 million (Euro 2,2 million).

Abatement work is expected to start on the site before the end of August, with demolition following once this is completed.

Work is being managed by the Public Building Commission, who bought the 37-acre site for US$86 million (Euro 60 million) and who to date has awarded a total of US$12.7 million (Euro 8.9 million) worth of work under the Michael Reese Demolition Program.