THE EVOLUTION OF CONCRETE CUTTING AND DEMOLITION: The Role of the Worker

Concrete Openings

Spring 2025

While other sectors have seen rapid advancements in AI, technology, and automation, the concrete cutting and demolition industry has evolved at a slower pace over the last decade. Despite the introduction of new tools, the role of the worker remains essential. At Northwest Corp, a worker-centric philosophy, paired with larger equipment, allows them to accomplish more with fewer people.

A prime example of this approach came when Northwest Corp partnered with Journey Construction in Harrisburg, South Dakota, to perform selective demolition on a 312-foot-long exterior pre-cast wall for a local cabinet manufacturer.

The manufacturer was expanding its operations by 94,000 square feet. With a team of just seven people, Northwest Corp completed the four week project a remarkable three and a half weeks ahead of schedule.

Owner Landon Lueders attributes this success not to automation or advanced technology but to careful planning and, as he puts it, “HARD WORK.”

“The demolition industry isn’t glamorous, but it’s projects like these that give people a sense of accomplishment and success,” Lueders said.

The industry has long recognized that early involvement in the design phase can drastically increase the chances of project success. In this case, Journey Construction reached out to Northwest Corp seven months before the building permit was granted. During this time, they gathered critical information to ensure the field staff would have the highest likelihood of success—and that’s exactly what they achieved. Northwest Corp’s onsite superintendent played an active role during the design phase, setting expectations for teamwork, professionalism, and productivity. The project involved complex tasks such as 312 feet of 10-inch thick wall sawing, 156 2-inch core-drilled holes, breaking 312 steel connections, and removing 19 24-foot-tall double-tee precast panels and 20 30-foot-tall double-tee precast panels. Additionally, there were 1,110 feet of joint cutting to be completed.

Effective communication was essential, and Northwest’s collaborative approach included working closely with Soukup Construction, Sands Drywall, and Guarantee Roofing—all under the general contractor Journey Construction. During the design phase, the owner made it clear that there would be no lost days, and the team delivered on that commitment. In planning the pull and phasing of the project, all subcontractors understood the challenges of the demolition scope. After discussing the potential obstacles, they collectively agreed on a four-week production timeline. Before Northwest’s crew arrived, a temporary wall was built inside the pre-cast wall to maintain a weather-tight enclosure for the ongoing cabinet manufacturing process. Northwest worked closely with Guarantee Roofing to ensure that a temporary watertight roofing structure would be in place as demolition commenced. In late September 2024, Northwest Corp made the decision to mobilize early, on the Friday before demolition operations were set to begin.

The following Monday, a meeting took place where the seven-man crew underwent site orientation, reviewed a pre-task plan, and set clear expectations. At this meeting, the field staff was informed that this would be the safest, cleanest, and most productive site yet. One unique safety challenge was the fire hazard posed by working near active cabinet production with highly flammable materials. To mitigate this risk, all demolition work was carried out from the exterior side of the building, within a weathertight temporary wall that was insulated and sheeted on both sides. Fire extinguishers were stationed throughout the site, and a 45-minute fire watch was conducted at the end of each day. The plan for the demolition involved using a 175-ton crane and a 55-ton crane to assist in unloading the panels, with three semi-trucks making round trips for 10 hours per day. The field team took a proactive approach during mobilization, and by the end of the day, the crew had the crane mobilized and ready for action. They didn’t stop there. By the end of the first day, they had also set up 110 feet of Husqvarna wall saw track and completed 20 2-inch core-drilled holes using Hilti’s DD150s for picking points.

When demolition operations began that Monday, the team was ready to hit the ground running. At 10 a.m. on the first day, the crew was aligned, motivated, and ready to start. Demolition operations began after the morning orientation, pre-task briefing, and expectations meeting. As soon as the meeting adjourned, the team went to work, firing on all cylinders. There was no hesitation—everyone worked together toward the common goal. The phrase “that’s not my job” was never heard. By the end of day one, the team had successfully cut, removed, hauled away (with Soukup Construction’s assistance), and unloaded 12 19-foot-tall double-tee precast panels. Even with such strong progress, the team wasn’t satisfied and came together to brainstorm ways to improve.

On day two, the team, motivated by their progress, exceeded all expectations. Lueders, who visited the site around 10 a.m., was impressed by the dedication of the crew. “Do you remember eight or nine years ago when you visited a job site and saw everyone working—not on their phones, not with a few people working while others watched? That’s exactly what was happening. The field crew of Northwest Corp was truly working together, and everyone had smiles on their faces.” Lueders continued, “It was a breath of fresh air. I stood there watching from a distance, and I didn’t even make it past the fence. That was when I knew the project was going to exceed all expectations.”

By the end of day two, the team had removed 26 panels in just 10 hours—further proof that hard work and collaboration yield exceptional results. Exhausted but inspired, the team was determined to maintain this momentum on day three. Their goal for day three was to finish the demolition, clean up, and demobilize all by the end of the day. And they did just that. By 4:30 p.m., the Northwest field team had cut, rigged, lifted, loaded, hauled (with Soukup Construction), and unloaded the final panels. Cleanup and demobilization were also completed. In just three days, they moved over 1,000,000 pounds of concrete without a single incident.

This project serves as a powerful reminder that the real drivers of success in the construction industry are the people on the ground—those who get dirty and do the hard work. Despite the rise of AI and automation, the workers in the trenches are irreplaceable. As an industry, it is the people in the field that matter most.

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