Project Overview

Hurricane Recovery Meets High-Stakes Demolition

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston faced a massive remediation effort. Flooding and storm damage had rendered several campus structures unsafe or unsalvageable—including a six-story building just 11 feet from a fully operational hospital. That’s when Lindamood was called in.

As part of UTMB’s long-term recovery and rebuilding plan, Lindamood led the precision demolition of six storm-damaged buildings across the campus. The project required a balance of speed, safety, and surgical precision—especially given the live medical environment, tight clearances, and critical infrastructure nearby.

The most complex challenge: executing a controlled implosion of the six-story building without interrupting hospital operations. The blast was calculated down to the inch, and the structure fell exactly as planned—straight down, safely contained, with zero damage or disruption to the adjacent hospital. It was a dramatic and symbolic moment in UTMB’s post-hurricane comeback.

Key Project Highlights:

• Post-Hurricane Ike recovery effort, supporting critical hospital infrastructure renewal

• Six-building demolition program, completed on an active, fully operational medical campus

• Implosion of a six-story structure just 11 feet from a functioning hospital—no incidents, no disruptions

• Real-time coordination with UTMB leadership, utilities, and emergency services

• Dust, noise, and vibration controls designed to meet hospital-grade environmental standards

• Site clearing and material processing to prepare for future expansion and resiliency planning

In a high-pressure environment shaped by disaster recovery, Lindamood delivered not just demolition—but trust, control, and a critical first step in Galveston’s road to rebuild.