Morabito Consultants provided professional consulting structural engineering services for the demolition shoring and post-tension de-tensioning of the Ellis Hospital Parking Garage at 1101 Nott Street in Schenectady, New York. The existing parking structure, originally built in 1978, consisted of a one-way post-tensioned slab system supported by post-tensioned beams, cast-in-place columns, and caissons. Morabito Consultants’ scope included evaluating the existing structure, preparing shoring and de-tensioning plans, and developing documents sufficient to support the controlled demolition process.

The project required careful review of existing structural drawings, field conditions, construction joints, post-tensioned slab conditions, and potential internal anchor locations to support safe de-tensioning and demolition sequencing. Morabito Consultants coordinated with the demolition contractor and de-tensioning subcontractor to identify preferred means and methods, including the use of ground penetrating radar and selective chipping by the contractor to locate or confirm live-end anchor locations, slab construction joints, and other PT-related conditions. Shoring was designed to accommodate both de-tensioning and demolition sequencing, with consideration given to contractor equipment, sequencing, and temporary support requirements.

During construction, Morabito Consultants performed site observations to review installed shoring and observe initial slab saw cuts for de-tensioning. The installed shoring was observed to be in general accordance with Morabito Consultants’ contract shoring drawings, with supplemental shimming and additional shoring provided by the contractor to address isolated field conditions. Saw cut locations were reviewed in the field based on Morabito Consultants’ de-tensioning drawings, and initial cuts were observed at temperature tendon and distributed tendon locations. The work supported a controlled demolition process by helping maintain structural stability and safety during de-tensioning and early demolition activities.