In a unique twist, some of the same construction employees who were involved in building the BMO Harris Bradley Center will have a hand in its demolition.
The current home of the Milwaukee Bucks–originally known as the Bradley Center–was constructed in time for its opening for the 1988-89 NBA season. The current NBA slate is expected to be its last, as the Bucks are moving forward with the construction of a new downtown Milwaukee venue that is on track to open for the 2018-19 season.
Recently, details on the demolition of the BMO Harris Bradley Center were revealed. As part of a process that is expected to begin next year, the firm Hunzinger Construction will work with Veit & Co. Inc on the demolition. As it turns out, many current employees of Hunzinger Construction were involved in the arena’s original construction and are being given the chance to work on its demolition.
Building and later tearing down a major sports venue is not a new experience for the Brookfield-based firm, which was involved in both the construction and demolition of Milwaukee County Stadium, completed in 1953 and demolished in 2001. However, the three-decade gap between the BMO Harris Bradley Center’s construction and demolition allows some of the same employees to be involved in both processes. More from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The demolition work will be an unusual addition to the résumés of a number of Hunzinger employees who helped build the Bradley Center, John Hunzinger said.
“All of us were very youthful young lads,” Hunzginer, 59, said. “The Bradley Center was one of the earlier projects we all worked on.”
People who work in construction can view their accomplishments for years.
“They see that landmark every day,” Hunzinger said. “They’re buildings that I go into — Miller Park, the Marcus Amphitheater — I can remember when we were building it.
Hunzinger is also working on the construction of a new entertainment district that will serve as a major amenity in the area surrounding the new arena. The site of the BMO Harris Bradley Center is expected to be redeveloped once the arena is demolished.
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