Decontamination Fiterman Hall is expected to last four to six months

Over the coming weeks, Fiterman Hall will be busier than it’s been in years. The building is finally getting its long-awaited cleaning and decontamination after years of planning, monitoring, and securing regulator approvals and permits.

Located at 30 West Broadway at Barclay Street, Fiterman Hall is the last building in the immediate World Trade Center perimeter to begin decontamination. The 15-story former dormitory was severely damaged on September 11th, 2001, and has stood vacant since then while owners the City University of New York (CUNY) and Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) collaborated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state Department of Labor, and other agencies to form a safe building deconstruction plan.

The detailed decontamination plan was approved on March 7th. It involves wall-to-wall debris removal and dust cleanup inside the sealed structure, which will be under negative air pressure to prevent release of contaminants.

Workers will dress in safety gear inside the building, passing through transition spaces upon entering and exiting. There are currently 30 crew members at the site now, but that number will triple in the coming weeks to help expedite the project. They will likely work double shifts, daily from 7 a.m. to midnight.

For several months, consultant Airtek Environmental has monitored the building’s perimeter, working closely with the EPA and other agencies to ensure safe air quality throughout the project. Led by Tishman Construction, the full decontamination is expected to last from four to six months.

The Fire Department continually inspects Fiterman Hall’s fire standpipes, emergency exits, and other safety equipment. Area firehouses also have building floorplans on hand and are familiar with access points. The building also has been equipped with a single switch at ground level to instantly shut off the negative-air-pressure system in the event of a fire or other emergency.

There will continue to be full-time site-safety managers on duty at Fiterman Hall during decontamination, as well as 24-hour security teams and controlled site access. Independent environmental inspections are regular, as are site-specific worker training sessions and daily safety meetings.

Deconstruction plans are now under review, with project managers working towards securing the permits necessary to raze the 1950s tower. If the project stays on schedule, it may be disappear by the end of the year.

Related links

Environmental Protection Agency’s Fiterman Hall page

Borough of Manhattan Community College’s Fiterman Hall page

Fiterman Hall Abatement Looms