December 13, 2007

A famous Tulsa, Oklahoma hotel is starting the first step of demolition this week by beginning asbestos abatement. The abatement should be completed by September, and then the remainder of the building can be demolished.

A hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma that accommodated Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon is starting the first part of demolition this week. The hotel will undergo asbestos abatement beginning this week, which will last until September of this year. After the asbestos is removed, the building will be torn down in order to make way for a newer hotel on the same site. The total cost of demolition will be more than $1 million, not counting the amount to rebuild the new hotel. The asbestos abatement is the majority of the budget proposed.

Asbestos abatement is an important step of demolition, as it makes the building safe for razing. Asbestos can become deadly if it is disturbed, such as during the demolition of a building housing it. Asbestos fibers can be released into the air, where it can be inhaled into the lungs. Asbestos exposure has been known to result in emphysema and mesothelioma, a type of deadly lung cancer. Only licensed professionals are allowed to remove and dispose of the hazardous substance.