Arena Demolition To Cost $812,390

Gillingham Construction Inc. won the contract for demolition of the Spokane Coliseum, beating out a dozen other bidders with a price of $812,390.

The Boise firm is best-known for knocking down the Salt Palace, the old home of the Utah Jazz basketball team in Salt Lake City.

For the next two to four weeks, the firm will hold a salvage sale of the Coliseum’s toilets, wooden seats, cement bricks, electrical components and anything else of value.

The biggest part of the demolition job will involve asbestos removal. Gillingham has hired a subcontractor, Specialty Asbestos Inc. of Spokane, to remove the threadlike fibers that were used to insulate electrical systems and ceilings.

It has 60 days to remove all asbestos.

Gillingham then has another 45 days to knock down the Coliseum with a wrecking ball and other equipment. The firm plans to recycle much of the steel, rebar and concrete.

By the end of July or early August, Garco Construction of Spokane is to pave over the old Coliseum site. It will be a parking lot for the Veterans Memorial Arena, slated to open Sept. 15.