Making Way for a New Development

Constructed in 1966, the original Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center pool has served the community for decades between swim lessons, meets, events, and more. However, over the past several years, the complex has fallen into disrepair—making it no longer safe to use the building. For the past eight years, efforts have been taken to redevelop the property, until finally the owners hired Zwick Construction and MHTN Architects to redesign and construct the property—eventually turning it into pickleball and tennis courts.

Prior to construction though, an intensive demolition process has ensued by Zwick Construction. Between the design of the original building and the neighboring, operating pool that shares a wall with this building, demolition has proven to be a challenge for the team.

The original pool building is a concrete structure designed with single “T” concrete, post-tension beams running across the 110-foot ceiling—each weighing 100 tons. The steel brackets holding those beams in place have rusted from the humidity of the pool, necessitating the pool’s redevelopment. To make the building more complex to demolish, storefront welded to the bonding beams of the structure—weighing 6,500 pounds—also need to be removed surgically to avoid the panels from falling into the building.

Removing both the beams and storefront panels have required the use of both a 900- and 600-ton crane. Combining these excessively heavy beams with wind factor can be dangerous, causing the

cranes to be top-heavy and tipping over. To avoid this hazard, the team designed special brackets for the beams. Working in tandem, these two cranes have strategically and carefully removed each beam from the ceiling. They are currently working on removing the storefront panels.

At the start of the demolition project, the team began by tearing down the office building on the north side of the structure. Using the debris from that structure, they filled in the basement and pool so they can utilize the space for additional demolition.

Keeping everyone involved in the project safe during demolition is no small task, and it has required selecting the right trade partner for demolition and the consistent efforts from the Zwick project team. Impact Construction Demolition, our demolition partner on the project, has carefully planned and executed the process.

We recognize those efforts contributed by each individual working on this project.