Trinity Green LLC/Atlanta Demolition LLC expects to complete demolition of the former Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center campus by the end of 2026, bringing one of the largest demolition projects ever undertaken in downtown Atlanta to a close.
The company began work on the 2.5-million-sq.-ft. hospital complex in March 2025. The site, formerly known as Georgia Baptist, includes 11 buildings that served the community for more than 100 years before the hospital closed in November 2022 after Wellstar Health System announced the facility was operating at a multimillion-dollar loss.
Atlanta-based Integral Program Management is overseeing the project. Trinity Green/Atlanta Demolition is serving as the prime contractor while FERMA Corp. of Newark, Calif., and Magoba LLC of Lilburn, Ga., are performing asbestos abatement and environmental remediation.
"We hold daily meetings every morning at 7 a.m. to coordinate the day's activities," said Barry Roberts, managing partner of Trinity Green. "Everyone is working well together."
Demolition has cost approximately $18.5 million to date.
The property is slated for redevelopment. According to WSB-TV Atlanta, the approved concept plan includes townhomes, apartments, future health care offices, green space and improved connections to nearby streets, the Freedom Park Trail and the Atlanta Beltline. Following public concern over the loss of medical services, the city placed a temporary moratorium on redevelopment before approving the concept plan in September 2024.
Demolition Progress
Trinity Green LLC/Atlanta Demolition LLC photo
The centerpiece of the fleet is a pair of 140-ft.-reach excavators supplied by FERMA Corp. — a Volvo EC950 high-reach excavator and a Hitachi FE-115, based on a Hitachi EX1000 platform.
The project is being completed in three phases. Phase 1, which covers the buildings west of Boulevard NE and east of Parkway Drive NE, currently is focused on removing below-grade structures after vertical demolition began in mid-September.
Before work began, the campus included four eight-story buildings, four six-story buildings, two four-story buildings, including a parking garage, and one two-story structure.
Crews already have demolished the four eight-story towers, a medical office building, a wellness center and a large parking deck. Work now centers on removing foundations and underground infrastructure.
The site's size provides ample room to stockpile and process demolished material while allowing excavators to work safely around individual structures.
Extensive Abatement
Asbestos was discovered throughout the buildings as well as in exterior structural coatings, requiring extensive environmental remediation before demolition could begin.
"The abatement work was extensive," Roberts said. "We put the interiors under negative-pressure containments, and for the exteriors we used hydrojet technology to remove the paint and other materials."
Air quality was monitored daily throughout the project. Roberts said One Consulting Group served as an independent environmental consultant to monitor work practices and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Environmental crews worked 10-hour shifts Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturdays to meet project milestones. Workers wore full personal protective equipment throughout the abatement process.
"Once the abatement was complete, we cleaned out each structure," Roberts said. "All the windows were removed during the interior gutting, and every building was stripped down to its shell."
Atlanta Demolition also coordinated utility disconnects with the city and local utility providers before demolition began.
"One of the reasons we were selected was because of our reputation for coordinating with the city and the community," Roberts said. "This has been a well-received project."
Trinity Green LLC/Atlanta Demolition LLC photo
Crews have demolished roughly 150,000 tons of concrete. Final rebar recovery totals have not yet been determined.
High-Reach Excavators Drive Production
Vertical demolition relies on approximately 20 pieces of heavy equipment, including Volvo EC380 and EC350 excavators; Komatsu 360 excavators; Cat 330 excavators; skid steers; and JLG lifts.
The centerpiece of the fleet is a pair of 140-ft.-reach excavators supplied by FERMA Corp. — a Volvo EC950 high-reach excavator and a Hitachi FE-115, based on a Hitachi EX1000 platform. The machines are capable of reaching the tops of the campus's tallest buildings while smaller excavators process debris below.
The demolition sequence begins with the high-reach excavator dismantling one side of a building while two or three support excavators sort debris and separate recyclable materials.
"All of the concrete is being processed and crushed into usable aggregate," Roberts said. "Overall, we'll probably recycle about 90 percent of the material."
Crews typically demolish each high-rise structure within 10 to 14 days.
"The excavators make short work of the buildings," Roberts said. "The time comes afterward with sorting materials and digging out the foundations. Vertical demolition is probably the shortest stage."
Roberts emphasized that buildings are dismantled one structural bay at a time.
"We have spotters at every corner once demolition begins, and no one enters the buildings," he said. "You bring down one structural bay, clear the area, then move to the next. At no time is the building in an unstable condition."
Underground Work Presents Challenges
Trinity Green LLC/Atlanta Demolition LLC photo
Vertical demolition relies on approximately 20 pieces of heavy equipment, including Volvo EC380 and EC350 excavators; Komatsu 360 excavators; Cat 330 excavators; skid steers; and JLG lifts.
Removing below-grade structures has proven more time-consuming than bringing down the buildings themselves.
"You have massive foundations and support structures," Roberts said. "That's a lot of concrete."
Crews also must work around major underground electrical and utility lines serving neighboring properties.
"The utility maps give us a general location," Roberts said. "Once we approach those areas, we slow our work substantially."
Automated dust suppression systems manufactured by HKD Blue operate throughout the site, using water atomization technology capable of projecting a fine mist more than 250 ft. to minimize airborne dust.
Once demolition is complete, dozers, wheel loaders and other equipment will be used during final site restoration.
Recycling Major Project Benefit
The remaining work includes demolishing one four-story building, two five-story buildings and a six-story parking deck.
Roberts expects concrete and reinforcing steel to account for the overwhelming majority of recycled materials.
"The vast majority of the weight of these buildings is concrete and rebar," he said. "Some of the crushed material will be used on-site, some will go to local projects, and some may be donated or sold."
The owner also will receive substantial salvage credits from the recycled materials, he added.
Approximately 100 workers were on-site when abatement and demolition operations overlapped. Today, about 20 demolition personnel remain active on the project.
Crews have demolished roughly 150,000 tons of concrete. Final rebar recovery totals have not yet been determined.
Safety, Maintenance Remain Priorities
Roberts credited Integral Program Management, including Eric Pinckney and Channing Henderson, for helping keep the project on schedule.
"The project has progressed smoothly because of everyone's efforts," he said. "We have tremendously talented crews across the board."
Safety remains the project's top priority. Spotters are stationed around every demolition zone, and all work is carefully coordinated before each structural section is removed.
"Safety is paramount above everything else," Roberts said.
The demanding concrete demolition also places significant wear on equipment.
"The biggest wear items are the bucket teeth and anything that comes into contact with concrete," Roberts said. "Demolition also puts tremendous stress on hydraulic systems. Working in Atlanta during the summer heat makes equipment maintenance critical."
Dedicated mechanics perform daily repairs and preventive maintenance while machines are refueled overnight. Equipment is rotated out of service as needed to minimize downtime.
The project is supported by equipment from Corwin Equipment, Yancey CAT, Tractor & Equipment Co. and United Rentals.
"They know what we need and what we do," Roberts said.
