A wrecking ball began destroying the upper six floors of McCormick Hall last month, but the building will not be fully demolished until the end of the year.
Lora Strigens, vice president for university planning and facilities management, said the site will be restored by the end of the year, and it will remain as a green space until further development.
“Our highest priority in demolishing McCormick has been maintaining access and safety around campus,” Strigens said during a press conference last Tuesday. She said this is why only one wrecking ball is being used to demolish McCormick.
McCormick’s lower floors will be demolished once the top floors are gone, university spokesperson Chris Stolarski said. The remaining floors will be removed with a demolition vehicle called a hydraulic excavator, which is a large vehicle designed for excavation and demolition.
No detonations or other mass-scale efforts will be part of the demolition process, Stolarski said.
Marquette announced demolition of McCormick in March, and then efforts began on the former residence hall in late May. McCormick’s demolition is apart of the campus master plan, which is a long term development plan for Marquette’s campus.
The Board of Trustees plans to eventually approve a capital project for the spot on 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue.
McCormick Hall was a staple on campus for more than 50 years. Its demolition was first announced in May 2016, when The Commons residence hall development plan was also announced.
The former residence hall stood vacant in the 2018-’19 academic year awaiting demolition.
