Project Date
April 2022 – February 2023
PROJECT CATEGORY
Commercial / Residential
Client Name
Milner Avenue
Toronto, Ontario

601 – 607
Milner Avenue

Project Services
  • Abatement
  • Asset Recovery
  • Demolition
  • Recycling
Decommissioning and Demolition of 601 – 607 Milner Avenue
Ensuring Safety, Efficiency, and Environmental Responsibility
Project Overview
Delsan-A.I.M. successfully managed the decommissioning and complete demolition of a large warehouse and an adjoining office building located near a major 16-lane highway in Toronto, Ontario. The office building, with a footprint of 14,400 ft², was a two-storey structure with a single below-grade level. It consisted of reinforced concrete walls and foundations, supporting a steel-framed structure with precast concrete wall panels for exterior cladding.

The warehouse, connected to the office building via a single-storey walkway, was a one- to two-storey structure with a footprint of approximately 256,700 ft². The warehouse had reinforced concrete foundations and grade slabs, with precast beam and column framing supporting precast double-T beams that made up the second floor and roof. The exterior walls were also clad in precast concrete panels.
Decommissioning and Hazardous Materials Removal
The decommissioning process involved the removal and safe disposal of asbestos-containing materials, including pipe fittings, drywall joint compound, and Transite and vinyl floor tiles. Additionally, hazardous materials such as mercury-containing fluorescent light tubes were identified and removed prior to demolition.

Selective Demolition Operations
The initial phase of demolition involved the selective removal of interior architectural finishes, mechanical systems, and electrical equipment. This was carried out using small equipment such as skid-steer loaders and mini-excavators to ensure a controlled and efficient removal process.

Mechanical Demolition
The primary demolition of the structures was performed using large excavators equipped with specialized attachments including shear, pulverizer, grapple, bucket, and hammer. These tools were used to dismantle the buildings, including the footings and foundations, in strict accordance with engineered guidelines. The foundation demolition included the removal of the associated caissons, which were excavated to a depth of 12 feet below grade.

Waste Management and Recycling
All waste materials were carefully transported to licensed recycling and disposal facilities, except for the concrete. The concrete was processed on-site using a company-owned crusher, which was mobilized to reduce the material to a reusable fill size of approximately ± 2 inches. A portion of this recycled material was used to fill below-grade voids and was compacted to 98% Standard Proctor Maximum Dry Density (SPMDD), while the remaining material was stockpiled for future reuse by the owner.

Project Highlights
This project demonstrates Delsan-A.I.M.’s expertise in decommissioning and demolition, ensuring that operations were carried out with minimal disruption to surrounding areas. Through efficient planning and the use of specialized equipment, the project was completed safely, on time, and in compliance with all environmental and safety regulations, leaving a clean and level site for future use.
The project
Connected to the office by means of a single-storey walkway, the warehouse, on the other hand, was a one (1) to two (2) storey structure with an overall footprint of approximately 256,700 ft2 that consisted of reinforced concrete foundations and grade slabs. The warehouse was built using precast beam and column framing, which supported precast double-T beams that made up the second floor as well as the roof. The exterior walls were likewise clad using precast wall panels.
The decommissioning of the buildings required the abatement of asbestos-containing materials that included pipe fittings, drywall joint compound along with Transite and vinyl floor tiles. Other hazardous materials, such as mercury-containing fluorescent light tubes, were removed in preparation for the demolition work.
The project involved the decommissioning and complete demolition of a large warehouse along with an adjoining office building that were located adjacent to a major 16-lane highway in Toronto, Ontario. The office building – having a footprint of 14,400 ft2 – was a two (2) storey structure with a single below-grade level. It consisted of reinforced concrete walls and foundations supporting a steel-framed structure with the exterior walls clad using precast wall panels.
Using small equipment, such as skid-steer loaders and mini-excavators, the selective demolition and removal of the interior architectural finishes along with mechanical and electrical equipment was undertaken prior to bulk demolition occurring.
The structures were subsequently demolished mechanically, including the footings and foundations, in accordance with engineered guidelines using large excavators equipped with shear, pulverizer, grapple, bucket, and hammer attachments. The foundation demolition included the removal of the associated caissons to 12 ft. below grade.
The waste materials were shipped off-site to licensed recycling and disposal facilities except for the concrete, which was prepared on-site using a company-owned crusher that was mobilized to process it to create a reusable fill material with a size of ± 2 inches. A portion of this material was placed in the below-grade voids to level the site and compacted to 98% standard proctor maximum dry density (SPMDD), while the balance was stockpiled for future reuse by the owner.