Parris Island to demolish old Marine Corps exchange building

Photo By Cpl. David Bessey | The old Marine exchange building is scheduled for demolition in May 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The building was built in 1969 and was shut down after the completion of the current Marine Corps Exchange in 2008. In recent years, the building was used as temporary office space. Parris Island’s intent is to eventually transform the site, through a separately funded project, into a park that can be used by visitors and families who travel to here for graduations. (Photo by Cpl. David Bessey)  

PARRIS ISLAND, SC, UNITED STATES

05.12.2014

Story by Cpl. David Bessey 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island           

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. – The old, vacant Marine Corps exchange building here is scheduled for demolition beginning within the next 30 days with hopes later of turning the site into a park.

The old exchange, building 204 located between to the post office and depot theater, was built in 1969 and was shut down after the completion of Parris Island’s current Marine Corps exchange in 2008, said Stephen Price, a museum technician here. In recent years, the building was used as temporary office space.

Deconstruction will take place on weekdays except during graduation weeks, when it will cease on Thursday and Friday. Adjacent streets and sidewalks will be closed when required for safety.

“We’re not going to have people walking on the sidewalks when a wall is coming down or steel being cut,” said David Woodward, the base architect.

Approximately 50 percent of the building’s material will be recycled into other construction materials.

Trucks hauling debris will be routed to Cuba Street up to 3rd Battalion Pond Road to avoid interfering with everyday traffic, said Woodward.

“Over the years, we have acquired a lot of excess buildings,” said Woodward. “We’re trying to get the funding and soon as we can and get those buildings removed and not be eyesores.”

After demolition and removal is complete, the site will be sodded and transformed into an open field. Parris Island intends to eventually transform the site, through a separately funded project, into a park that can be used by visitors and families who travel here for graduations, said Woodward.

The demolition project will cost $845,564, and is slated for completion later this summer.

• Date Taken: 05.12.2014
• Date Posted: 05.12.2014 13:56
• Story ID: 129535
• Location: PARRIS ISLAND, SC, US
• Hometown: BEAUFORT, SC, US
• Hometown: PORT ROYAL, SC, US