Structural Demolition in Maryland and Florida
Selective Removal to Full Takedowns, Engineered Before the First CutStructural Demolition Planned Around What Stays Standing
Most structural demolition isn’t about taking everything down. It’s about removing beams, columns, slabs, and stair cores while the rest of the building stays sound, and often occupied. ISI Demolition plans that work from the load path out, so your structure, schedule, and neighboring trades stay protected.
- Nearly 6,000 demolition projects completed since 1990
- In-house structural engineering on every project
- Full fleet of specialized equipment, owned and operated in-house
- Offices in Maryland and Florida, serving projects throughout the Eastern U.S.
- $30M bonding capacity
- Consistently ranked among ENR’s Top 20 Demolition and Wrecking firms, including multiple top 10 finishes
Whether you need one slab opening or a full structural frame removed, our team can walk the building with you and tell you what it takes to do it safely and on schedule.
Featured Project:
555 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC
Clark Construction brought in ISI Demolition to remove elevated stair bridges inside a former museum at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Working around temporary bracing. Crews worked from a platform set roughly six inches above the bracing and supported from the slab below, so no equipment, platform, or debris ever loaded it.
- Rigging. Towers, rigging beams, and chain falls attached to the steel per engineer-approved rigging plans.
- Slab removal. For the elevated floor structure, ISI Demolition built a catch deck to contain debris and protect the remaining structure.
- Planning. Key details were mapped in BIM before work began.
Structural Work, Controlled from Start to Finish
Since 1990, ISI Demolition has built its structural work around one idea: the parts of the building that stay matter as much as the parts that go. Any delay on our end holds up every trade behind us, so control is built in from the start.
- Our structural engineers reviews every project before work begins, including sequencing, temporary support, and load paths.
- We own our fleet. That includes high-reach excavators, remote-controlled robots, and saw cutting equipment, so there’s no waiting on rentals.
- Our own crews do the work. We don’t hand structural work off to subs, so we control the schedule and the quality.
- We run daily and weekly quality control meetings on every project, so changes in field conditions get caught early.
Since expanding to Florida in 2014, the same supervision, processes, and equipment standards apply in the Southeast.
BIM Models used while planning structural demolition projects.
Structural work is mostly about what you’re leaving behind. Taking a beam out is the easy part. Knowing what that beam was carrying, and what has to hold things up while it’s gone, is the job.
Every Cut Backed by In-House Structural Engineering
Every structural demolition project is reviewed by ISI Demolition’s in-house licensed structural engineer before work begins. That review covers what each element is carrying, what temporary shoring or bracing has to go in first, and the order the work comes out.
“ISI has demonstrated to be a trade leader in careful, well-planned, selective demolition.”
Brian Hetherington, P.E., Construction Executive, Clark Construction
When existing conditions don’t match the drawings, which happens often in older buildings, our engineer and field team adjust the plan together, without waiting on an outside consultant.
From Plan to Removal
On the Incyte Redevelopment in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, ISI Demolition removed precast façade panels and upper structural framing from a 10-story office building. There was no staging area, the sidewalks were active, and the neighboring buildings stayed occupied. The project finished ahead of schedule with zero incidents and no dropped loads. Here’s how the work came together:
Engineering the Sequence
Before work started, our team built detailed engineering plans for sequencing, structural stability, crane picks, rigging, and temporary shoring. With no traditional staging area, the plan turned the roadway between buildings into a controlled zone for staging, demolition, and material handling.
Controlled Removal
Our in-house saw cutting team core drilled each element to create secure pick points. Then our own ironworkers released the precast panels one at a time for controlled crane picks. Inside the building, remote-controlled robots handled selective demolition in confined areas, with active dust suppression.
Protecting the Site
Guardrails went up along roof edges before crews worked at height. A ground-level landing and processing zone kept all material inside the work area, away from pedestrians, traffic, and the occupied buildings next door.
Ready to Plan Your Structural Scope?
Whether you’re opening up a floor plate, removing a stair core, or taking down a full structural frame, ISI Demolition can review your drawings and walk the site with you.
Our Team Can Handle Any Structure
Every building hides something: undocumented framing, post-tensioned slabs, or loads nobody expected. ISI Demolition’s crews and engineer have seen enough structures to plan for it. Here’s how that plays out:
When the building is occupied
We sequence structural work around active tenants, hospitals, and campuses, with containment, dust control, and working hours planned around the people still inside.
When the rest of the structure has to stay standing
Temporary shoring and bracing is engineered and installed before load-bearing elements come out, so the remaining structure is supported at every phase.
When access is tight
Our fleet of remote-controlled demolition robots works in basements, interior cores, and tight floor plates where larger machines can’t go, with saw cutting for precise openings.
When the goal is a new opening or an addition
From cutting an atrium into an occupied six-story building to structural modifications for a new theater addition, we create the openings and tie-in points that renovation and expansion projects need.
Featured Project:
Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
ISI Demolition removed 102,000 square feet of bleacher structure and performed architectural demolition of the south end zone at Doak Campbell Stadium, between November 2023 and March 2024. The window between football seasons left no room for delays.
- Methods: saw cutting, shoring, and high-reach excavators.
- Coordination: the demolition was sequenced step by step with the steel contractor installing bracing on the adjacent University Center building, so the surrounding structure stayed stable throughout.
- Diversion: crews diverted 95% of material from landfill, including 3,096 tons of concrete and 960 tons of metal.
The Most Common Questions GCs Have About Structural Demolition
Can you remove part of a structure and leave the rest in service?
Yes. Most of our structural work is selective. Our engineer plans temporary support and sequencing so the remaining structure stays stable, and we regularly work in occupied buildings.
Who designs the temporary shoring and bracing?
Our in-house structural engineers review every project and designs the temporary support needed for each phase, so it’s coordinated with the demolition plan rather than added on later.
What happens if field conditions don’t match the drawings?
It’s common in older buildings. Our engineer and field team reassess and adjust the plan directly, so work keeps moving without waiting on a third-party consultant.
How does structural demolition affect my schedule?
Because we own our equipment and self-perform the work, we control the timeline. Planning up front also prevents the mid-project stops that usually come from unexpected loads or conditions.
What happens to the material?
Steel, concrete, and debris are sorted on site and processed for recycling. Our standard process diverts at least 75% of material from landfill, and concrete is crushed in-house and reused.
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 structure, and the specifics of your project. Contact us to talk through your scope.