Bricks were beginning to come down Monday at the former Colfax Upper Elementary School building in Springdale.
After more than 90 years of serving students, and about six years sitting vacant, crews from Kane Specialty Group began tearing down the school’s west wing.
“Other than being in the heart of a residential district, it’s not a difficult demo,” said Jim Kane, president of the Pine-based company. “It’s straightforward and normal.”
The Allegheny Valley School Board in October awarded the demolition contract to Kane for $404,000 — the lowest of 13 bids. District officials had budgeted the demolition to cost $1.6 million.
Heavy machinery is being used to demolish the building. No explosives will be used.
Crews are demolishing the west wing of the building, which held the school’s main office and library area.
Kane said he anticipated the west side to be knocked down this week.
Once that is completed, crews will move to the east side of the building, where the cafeteria was.
“They were very well-built additions,” Kane said.
He anticipates the wings will be demolished by January.
Crews will demolish the original, 1925 portion of the school last. That section, along Colfax Street, housed classrooms and the gymnasium.
Kane will keep the stone support over the original front door, which says “Colfax School,” and a brass plate from inside.
The total size of the building is about 64,000 square feet.
Kane has an April 10 deadline to complete the project. He is confident the building will be demolished by then.
Colfax closed in 2018, and its students were sent to the renovated Acmetonia Elementary School in Harmar. Attempts to sell the property were unsuccessful. The school board approved Colfax’s demolition in 2022.
The district has not said what it plans to do with the property.
