5 p.m., Aug. 16, 2010----URS Corporation has been selected by 1743 Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Delaware, to manage the decommissioning and demolition of various buildings on the former Newark Chrysler Assembly Plant site.

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Located adjacent to the University's main campus, the 272-acre site was purchased for approximately $24 million in November 2009. The University announced plans to develop a new research and technology campus and to use the site to dramatically reshape the gateway to UD from the south.

According to UD President Patrick Harker, "This land is an investment in our people and in our culture of innovation, partnership and excellence. Its proximity to our main campus will provide an invigorating entrepreneurial climate for faculty, researchers and students that will benefit the state and the region through the important discoveries, inventions and collaborations that will ultimately take place there."

Under its contract URS will be responsible for the decommissioning and cleaning of process equipment and associated structures; abatement of asbestos-containing materials; demolition of site buildings; and removal, recycling and disposal of all building materials.

During the performance of the planned work, approximately 95 percent of the material from the site will be recycled. URS also will work to maximize the utilization of community assets and resources.

“UD is pleased to be working with URS on this important project. After a very competitive evaluation process, URS was selected due to the strength of their prior experience, safety record and willingness to utilize local resources,” according to Jennifer (J.J.) Davis, UD vice president for administration. It is anticipated that approximately 75 percent of the direct headcount on this project will be from local resources, including URS' offices and locally based subcontractors. URS employs over 100 people in its two offices in Delaware, located in Newark and Millsboro.

Spokesperson, Ted Horton, vice president-business development for the URS Newark, Del., office, said, “This project will be the largest-ever expansion of UD's Newark campus. As a member of the local business community, URS is pleased to be playing a key role in helping the University initiate the transformation of the former Newark Chrysler Assembly Plant site into a world class science and technology campus.”

Substantial completion of the decommissioning and demolition is expected to be completed by November 2011. Community meetings will be announced and scheduled prior to commencing demolition activities on the property.

About URS Corporation

URS Corporation (NYSE: URS) is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies around the world. The company offers a full range of program management; planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; and decommissioning and closure services. URS provides services for power, infrastructure, industrial and commercial, and federal projects and programs. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company has approximately 42,000 employees in a network of offices in more than 30 countries.

About the University of Delaware

The University of Delaware, the flagship institution of the state of Delaware, is one of the oldest Land Grant institutions in the nation, and also has Sea Grant and Space Grant status. The University is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a research university with very high research activity-a designation accorded fewer than 3 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. A state-assisted, privately governed institution, UD offers courses in a broad range of disciplines through seven colleges and in collaboration with more than 50 research centers. UD's student body includes more than 16,000 undergraduates, 3,500 graduate students, and 1,000 students in professional and continuing studies from across the United States and around the world.