High-Complexity Facility Decommissioning

The Challenge

A global automotive manufacturer and the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm required a complete decommission of a 150,000 sq. ft. industrial facility in Phoenix, AZ—within just five business days. This project extended far beyond a traditional clean‑out, involving sensitive IT infrastructure, multi‑stream waste management, hazardous materials handling, and strict environmental and data‑security compliance. In addition, the project required the relocation of multiple truckloads of key assets to facilities across the country, adding a significant logistics and coordination component to the scope.

The project demanded seamless coordination among the enterprise client, facilities management provider, and multiple vendor partners—all while maintaining rigorous safety controls in a constantly changing work environment.

CORE CONSTRAINTS

• Compressed Timeline
  
  •  All phases—including IT decommissioning, waste segregation, hazardous materials staging, and server preparation—had to be completed in five days, leaving zero margin for error.
•  Sensitive IT Infrastructure
  • Enterprise-grade servers and network equipment required full asset inventory, secure de‑racking, protective packaging, palletizing, and handoff to certified carriers under controlled chain‑of‑custody.
•  Complex Waste Streams
  • Scrap metal, general trash, and e-waste all required separate on‑site trailers/containers. Data‑bearing equipment needed compliant destruction pathways.
•  Hazardous Material Management
  • Car batteries, chemicals, and liquids required terminal taping, palletizing, and safe consolidation within the facility for regulated removal.
•  Dynamic On‑Site Safety Risks
  • With daily zone shifts, the team faced forklift traffic, pinch points, overhead hazards, and exposure risks—necessitating elevated controls.
•  Compliance & Documentation
  • COIs, badging, environmental protocols, and daily Job Safety Analysis (JSA) were mandatory before any work could proceed.

The Solution

To meet the aggressive timeline, the team executed a structured, phased plan combining technical expertise, high‑level logistics coordination, and strict safety and compliance protocols. Acting as the client’s single point of contact, we coordinated all third‑party vendors to ensure each workstream progressed in sync and without delays.

Operational Response

• IT & AV Asset Decommissioning
  
  • Removed, sorted, and prepared all IT/AV equipment for secure shipping, certified destruction, or e-waste processing.
  • Servers: Fully inventoried, de‑racked, packaged using protective materials, palletized, and staged for pickup by certified carriers following strict chain‑of‑custody requirements up to NIST standards.

This workstream addressed sensitive, data‑bearing, or regulated assets requiring compliance‑driven handling. 

• Nationwide distribution of usable assets
  
  • Identified and prepared reuse‑eligible materials for redeployment across the client’s national locations. This included AV/IT assets (non–data‑bearing or fully sanitized), Tools and equipment, and Security assets.
  • Managed and facilitated multiple outbound shipments to distribution points across the U.S.

• Compliance & Safety Execution
  
  • COIs, vendor badging, and required documentation were completed before mobilization.
  • Daily Job Safety Analysis (JSA) identified hazards, assigned controls, and established safe work practices for each shift.
  • PPE compliance included protective eyewear, hard hats, gloves, steel‑toe footwear, and high‑visibility vests across all work areas. 
•  Waste Segregation & Disposal
  
  • Dedicated on‑site trailers for scrap metal, general refuse, and e-waste ensured proper downstream handling.
  • All data‑bearing items were routed through secure destruction channels.

The Results

Despite the rigor and sensitivity of the work—and the highly compressed timeline—the project was completed on schedule and with zero safety incidents.

The structured daily JSA methodology became the backbone of the project—ensuring crews anticipated hazards, adjusted to dynamic conditions, and maintained consistent control measures.

• 0 unplanned safety events throughout the project.
• All work completed within the 5‑day deadline without scope compromise.
• Full server inventory completed with successful secure shipment via certified carriers.
• All waste streams segregated correctly, supporting environmental compliance and sustainability goals.
• Hazardous materials fully staged and palletized, for compliant removal.