Demolition of Pencader A-H begins

Demolition of Pencader A-H begins to make way for new Georgian-style residence halls on the Laird Campus.

3:08 p.m., June 16, 2005--Demolition began June 14 on Pencader A-H and Commons I and II of the residence hall complex on UD’s Laird Campus. The work is part of a $72 million project to replace the motel-style halls with three Georgian-style residence halls.

Pencader J-M and Commons III will be demolished beginning in June 2006.

George Read Hall, a 500-bed unit and the first of the three new Laird Campus halls, is scheduled to open in August. Construction on the two new 250-bed units, scheduled for completion in August 2006, will begin after the first phase of demolition this summer, Penny Person, a senior project manager in Facilities Planning and Construction, said. Ayers Saint Gross of Baltimore is the architect

Also part of the project, a new walkway and footbridge extending from the Ray Street Residence Hall Complex to the Laird Campus Complex will be constructed and the sidewalks on the east side of North College Avenue will be widened to better accommodate foot traffic.

The demolition work is being done by Design Contracting Co. of Wilmington. After disconnecting utilities, the buildings are being torn down and the materials are being taken to a local recycling facility.

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson

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