Demolition crews have nearly completed the leveling of the former Armstrong World Industries floor plant, in Lancaster, PA in preparation for its new life as college and hospital facilities.

What was once a bustling factory, with more than 1,000 employees, now is a vast landscape of brick and concrete debris, soon to be removed.

"We've been very pleased. We haven't had any problems," said Dave Nikoloff, president of EDC Finance Co., the non-profit economic development organization which is overseeing the $33 million site-conversion project.

Nikoloff said that the demolition and environmental cleanup, begun in October, is on schedule and on budget. Some 200 buildings, measuring more than 2 million square feet and containing 400,000 tons of materials, are being razed.

Little is left standing on the Liberty Street site. As of this morning, still surviving were three chimneys &tstr; which may be preserved, said Nikoloff &tstr; and a nine-story elevator shaft/stairwell.

According to Nikoloff, demolition of the above-ground structures is 90 percent complete. It will be finished by mid-August. Foundations and slabs will be out by early October. Much of the material is being recycled.

Then contractors will be hired to construct new infrastructure across the 46-acre site, equal to four city blocks. Streets, lights and lines for water, sewer, gas and electricity will be installed, among other work.

That phase is expected to be finished in the second half of 2008. At that time, EDC Finance will sell the site to Lancaster General Hospital, which will build offices and a new nursing school, and to Franklin & Marshall College, which will construct athletic fields.

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