In the fall of 2023, the SpawGlass-Austin team embarked on a monumental project – the demolition of the Frank Erwin Center at The University of Texas at Austin. The Frank Erwin Center, affectionately known as the “Drum” due to its distinctive circular shape, has been a fixture on the UT Austin campus since its opening in 1977. The six-level, 500,000-square-foot venue has hosted a wide array of events over the years, including concerts, sporting events, graduations and cultural performances. With a seating capacity exceeding 17,000, it was the prime location for large events in the Austin area for the last several decades.
The demolition of the Erwin Center was preceded by the construction of the new Moody Center arena and the re-routing of Red River Street, which was completed by the SpawGlass-Austin team in 2022. Where the center once stood will be an expansion of Dell Medical School in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Even prior to submitting a proposal, the SpawGlass team knew the plan to safely deconstruct the landmark building would require in-depth evaluation and careful execution. Early conversations led the team to determine that implosion, though seemingly the quickest option, would not be the safest solution for this project, due to the site’s prominent campus location and proximity to Interstate 35 and other high-traffic roads. A proposal was devised to include strategic manual dismantling, with a heavy emphasis on the environmental and safety benefits of using this method. The University ultimately agreed and selected SpawGlass, in partnership with BSA LifeStructures, to take on this design-build project. The project team then enlisted the experienced demolition experts at Lindamood Demolition to join the project, and together they devised a detailed sequence of steps for the demolition that would avoid unnecessary risk or disruption to campus activities.
The process began with interior demolition, including dismantling and extracting flooring, furniture, fixtures and other materials, of which around 80% will be recycled. The next step was removal of the ceiling and exterior prefabricated wall panels, which gave the now-bare steel frame a skeletal appearance. As the frame is dismantled, it will ultimately fall inwards into the remains of the structure and then will be lifted out in pieces for disposal. The final demolition step will involve removing remaining sections of the foundation containing asbestos, which will require separate handling and disposal procedures. Once the demolition is complete, the entire site will be filled and grass will be planted in an effort to restabilize the earth, control drainage and sediment erosion, and create a strong foundation for the future facility. Project Manager Parker Blaschke says of the team’s plan: “It’s a very strategic process. Every step we are taking has been designed to minimize safety risks to our team and to the public.”
On the matter of safety, the project poses significant and unique challenges that have required the team to think proactively. Enhanced safety protocols are in place to mitigate potential risks to the team and the public. Tearing down the site piece-by-piece from the inside out means a large number of workers are present on a jobsite with a high risk of falling debris. Along with our dedicated SpawGlass safety coordinators, our subcontractor teams have had additional safety specialists monitoring conditions during each phase of the demolition. This high-profile project has garnered a great deal of attention from media and onlookers who hope to catch an inside glimpse of the demolition process. With public safety in mind, the team installed numerous security cameras to monitor access points and hired nighttime guards to patrol the area while the project team is offsite, dissuading students, media personnel or other members of the public from attempting to access the site without authorization.
Though saying goodbye to the legendary Frank Erwin Center is bittersweet, the demolition marks the beginning of a new chapter of continued growth and progress in Austin. As the demolition dust settles, and the echoes of the Drum fade into memory, the SpawGlass team marches forward – ready to build the city’s future.