News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The bid process for Tennessee Tech’s Foster Hall demolition expected to begin in the next three to four weeks.
Capital Projects and Planning Director Jim Cobb said the demolition is part of the university’s Master Plan. As soon as the building was vacated, he said the university planned to demolish it and turn the area into green space.
“There are some concept drawings that are in our master plan and basically the footprint of the building will return to a lawn, it will be a landscaped lawn area,” Cobb said. “The parking along 8th Street will remain.”
Cobb said before any demolition occurs they have to conduct an asbestos study. As with all major demolition projects, Cobb said they are required to get a consultant to come in and sample all of the materials primarily for asbestos, but sometimes lead paint. He said if those are detected, depending on the results of the samples, consultants will put together requirements for how those materials are to be removed and disposed of.
Cobb said the original timeline was to solicit bids at the end of July. After planners had issues getting certain materials, that was pushed back to the fall.
“Bids will be out for a month and then our contractor will have to have some time getting contracts in place with the subcontractors who will be doing the actual demolition and work,” Cobb said. “I expect the abatement work to take about 60 to 90 days.”
Cobb said he does not expect to see the building start coming down until after the first of the year.
