Robotic Demolition in Maryland and Florida
Excavator-Level Power for Spaces Big Machines Can’t ReachRobotic Demolition for Concrete, Confined Spaces, and Occupied Buildings
Some demolition can’t be done with a full-size excavator or a crew on jackhammers. ISI Demolition’s fleet of Brokk robotic demolition equipment brings the concrete-breaking power of a 25-ton excavator into basements, stadium bowls, hospital floors, and leading edges, with the operator working from a safe distance.
- Nearly 6,000 demolition projects completed since 1990
- Fleet of Brokk robotic demolition equipment in multiple sizes, owned and operated in-house
- 500 to 600% faster than handheld tools
- In-house structural engineering on every project
- Offices in Maryland and Florida, serving projects throughout the Eastern U.S.
- Consistently ranked among ENR’s Top 20 Demolition and Wrecking firms, including multiple top 10 finishes
Whether you need one machine for a slab opening or several running on the same floor, our team can walk the space with you and tell you what it takes to get it done safely and on schedule.
Featured Project:
M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore, MD
Gilbane brought in ISI Demolition for the initial demolition phases of the M&T Bank Stadium renovation, a 1.6-million-square-foot NFL stadium. The work ran from October 2023 to August 2024 and had to be ready around game days.
- Robotic demolition: Brokk equipment worked under the seating bowl and in confined areas that traditional equipment couldn’t reach.
- Saw cutting: precision cuts kept the remaining structure intact for new construction.
- Diversion: 95% of material was recycled, 1,250 tons as of July 2024, supporting the project’s LEED Gold target.
“You cleared the path for us to get us through these subsurface challenges, and did so safely and efficiently.”
Nick Zitterbart, Lead Superintendent, Gilbane Building Company
Why GCs Bring in Robotic Demolition
Robotic demolition isn’t a novelty. It’s how you keep a schedule when the space is tight, the building is occupied, or the work is too dangerous to put people next to. And since ISI Demolition owns the fleet, robotic demolition equipment shows up when the schedule needs it.
- Speed. Brokk machines work 500 to 600% faster than handheld tools, and we can put more than one machine on a job at the same time.
- Safety. Operators run the equipment remotely, so no one is standing at a leading edge, under overhead work, or next to unstable material.
- Reach. Brokk machines fit through standard doorways and freight elevators to work in basements, cores, and confined spaces where an excavator can’t go.
- Control. Three-arm reach and precise breaking mean less damage to the structure that stays.
Robotic demolition used during a historic reuse project in Ellicott City, Maryland
ISI’s robotic demolition capabilities give us options where others only see obstacles.
Every Machine Placement Backed by In-House Structural Engineering
Robotic demolition equipment is compact, but it’s heavy. Before a machine goes onto an elevated slab or into an older building, ISI Demolition’s in-house structural engineer confirms the floor can carry the machine, its attachments, and the debris load. Where it can’t, our crews install shoring first. On a structurally compromised high-rise in downtown Miami, that meant shoring each floor before robotic demolition began.
That same review covers sequencing and what each element is carrying, so the equipment removes exactly what’s planned and nothing more.
From Plan to Removal
At the Children’s Medical Surgery Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital, failing brick on a 12-story building had to come off right away, without interrupting hospital operations and with sidewalk access only. Here’s how the work came together:
Planning the Access
With no room to stage equipment, our team modeled a system that worked entirely from the sidewalk. Crews on elevated platforms secured chain link fabric around the building, with a debris platform below to catch material.
Robotic Brick Removal
Brokk robotic demolition equipment removed the block and brick walls, which kept crews away from the face of the building and moved faster than hand demolition.
Clean Load-Out
A crane moved a skid pan for debris removal, so material came off the building without passing through the hospital or blocking the entrance.
Need Robotic Demolition on Your Next Job?
Whether it’s one tight room or a full floor of slab removal, ISI Demolition can size the right machines for the space and the schedule.
Our Team Can Handle Any Space
Robotic demolition solves problems that slow down every other method. Here’s where it makes the biggest difference.
When the building is occupied
Hospitals, campuses, and active offices need demolition that keeps dust and disruption in check. Robotic demolition works in contained areas while the rest of the building keeps running.
When it’s too dangerous for crews
Leading edges, overhead work, and unstable structures are handled remotely, so no operator is exposed.
When it’s a confined space
Brokk machines fit through doorways and work in basements, mechanical rooms, and under stadium seating bowls.
When dust and vibration have to stay low
Robotic demolition breaks concrete with less vibration than large equipment, and pairs with active dust suppression in confined areas.
Featured Project:
140 W Flagler Street
Miami, Florida
To clear the way for Miami’s MetroCenter redevelopment, ISI Demolition removed the top 10 floors of a structurally compromised 18-story building in downtown Miami. The site had:
- A high-rise one foot away
- Active sidewalks on two sides
- An operating restaurant next door
- The Metrorail running within the work footprint
The work ran February to June 2023 and finished on time. Brokk robotic demolition equipment removed floor slabs and interior structural components, working on floors our crews shored to carry the equipment’s weight. Wire sawing prepared major structural elements for removal, and a 350-ton crawler crane lifted out precast panels, beams, and columns. Noisy work was scheduled between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and the team diverted 90% of material from landfill.
The Most Common Questions GCs Have About Robotic Demolition
What is robotic demolition?
Robotic demolition uses compact, remotely operated machines, like Brokk equipment, to break concrete, remove walls and slabs, and work in spaces that are too tight or too dangerous for crews or full-size equipment. The operator controls the machine from a safe distance.
What can robotic demolition remove?
Reinforced concrete slabs, walls, beams, columns, masonry, and block. It’s frequently used for concrete removal in basements, elevated slabs, stadium bowls, and confined spaces.
When does robotic demolition make sense over hand tools or an excavator?
When the space is too tight for an excavator, too slow for hand tools, or too risky for crews to be close. Robotic demolition works 500 to 600% faster than handheld tools and fits where excavators can’t.
Can the floor support the equipment?
Our in-house structural engineer checks floor capacity before robotic demolition equipment goes onto an elevated slab, and our crews install shoring where it’s needed.
Can you provide robotic demolition as a standalone service?
Yes. We provide robotic demolition as part of a full demolition scope or as a standalone service for GCs who need it on a specific phase.
What about noise, dust, and vibration?
Robotic demolition produces less vibration than large equipment, and we pair it with dust suppression in confined areas. That’s why it’s the go-to in hospitals and occupied buildings.
Where does ISI Demolition work?
ISI Demolition is headquartered in Maryland with a regional office in Florida, and works throughout the Eastern U.S., including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Tennessee. Every project runs with the same supervision, processes, and equipment standards.
What Will You Create When There are No Obstacles?
ISI Demolition works hand-in-hand with general contractors, developers, and owners to build a demolition plan around your timeline, your space, and the specifics of your project. Contact us to talk through your scope.