The Last Beat

October 07, 2025

When the University of Texas System announced the impending demolition of the Frank Erwin Center, it marked the end of an era for a building that had defined downtown Austin for nearly half a century. The arena, affectionately known as “The Drum,” had hosted everything from NCAA basketball games and packed concerts to graduation ceremonies and civic events. But for all its memories, it was time to make way for something bigger: the future of health care and education in Texas.

“The demolition of the Frank Erwin Center was part of a major redevelopment initiative led by the University of Texas System,” says Jake Lindamood,  chief operating officer and vice president of Lindamood. “The building had served its purpose for over four decades … but it had outlived its useful life — both structurally and strategically.”

Standing 95 feet tall and spanning more than 500,000 square feet, the Frank Erwin Center wasn’t just another building; it was a concrete and steel monolith in the middle of one of the busiest and most sensitive urban zones in the state. Flanked by major infrastructure, including Interstate 35, the Dell Medical School, active university buildings and critical hospital systems, the site presented an extraordinary demolition challenge. This wasn’t a job for any demo contractor. It was a call for a partner with experience, creativity and surgical precision. That’s why NDA member Lindamood was chosen.

The Right Team for the Task

“Lindamood was selected because this wasn’t a job for just any demo contractor; it required a team with deep expertise in urban demolition, proven safety leadership and the ability to collaborate closely on a high-profile, high-complexity site,” Jake Lindamood says.

From the very beginning, implosion was taken off the table. The project demanded a carefully controlled, piece-by-piece dismantling strategy that would protect adjacent facilities and minimize disruption to the surrounding environment.

“That’s where Lindamood’s track record stood out,” Jake Lindamood says. “We were brought in by SpawGlass, the general contractor, as a trusted partner during the design-build process.”

Lindamood’s collaborative mindset and meticulous planning helped address the university’s strict expectations for safety, sustainability and schedule integrity.

“Ultimately, we were chosen not just for our capabilities, but for our mindset: We treat complex jobs as collaborations, not wrecking assignments. That’s what this project needed.”

Timing, Phasing and Precision

The demolition officially kicked off in the fall of 2023 and wrapped up by spring 2024. In just seven months, the team executed asbestos abatement, soft interior demo, full structural deconstruction and site restoration — all while staying ahead of schedule.

“This timeline was tight given the size and complexity of the structure … but despite the challenges, the project was completed ahead of schedule, with no safety incidents and minimal disruption to ongoing university and hospital operations nearby,” says Brian Sewell, Lindamood's director of demolition.

That level of precision required a carefully engineered process. Lindamood worked with structural engineers to develop a reverse-sequenced deconstruction, essentially taking the building apart in the exact opposite order of how it was constructed.

“Given the Erwin Center’s location in the heart of downtown Austin … implosion was ruled out immediately,” Sewell says. “Instead, Lindamood developed a reverse-engineered, top-down deconstruction strategy … ensuring control over each structural component while protecting adjacent facilities.”

Tools of the Trade

Lindamood deployed a specialized fleet of equipment designed for tight-quarters urban demolition. Key among them were high-reach excavators equipped with shear and pulverizer attachments, allowing crews to dismantle the upper structure methodically.

Other equipment included hydraulic breakers, skid steers, loaders, dust suppression systems and continuous debris haul trucks. These machines worked in harmony, staged for minimal footprint and maximum efficiency.

“The high-reach excavators were particularly critical — they allowed us to dismantle the upper structure methodically without introducing lateral force that could threaten adjacent structures,” Sewell says.

Real-time monitoring systems tracked dust, vibration and noise levels 24/7, ensuring the demolition didn’t compromise patient care or student life nearby.

A Technical Ballet

What made this demolition extraordinary wasn’t just the equipment — it was the choreography. At the heart of the job was a bold engineering feat: one of the largest open-span mechanical trips ever recorded. This controlled drop brought down key internal steel members in a precisely calculated movement.

“This wasn’t just a takedown. It was a technical ballet — and every move was by design,” Sewell says.

Simultaneous operations added to the complexity. Interior gutting and asbestos abatement were performed in parallel to maintain the tight schedule. Multiple overlapping workstreams required elite coordination and an ironclad safety culture.

“Because we ran multiple workstreams simultaneously … we had overlapping teams executing complex tasks in close quarters, all while maintaining a zero-incident safety record,” Jake Lindamood says.

Sustainability in Action

Demolition doesn’t have to mean waste, and Lindamood proved it. Of the 69,346 total tons of debris generated, roughly 59,540 tons were recycled — an 86% diversion rate. Concrete was crushed for reuse as aggregate; steel was melted for manufacturing; fixtures and electrical gear were salvaged.

“The recycling program was so effective it caught the attention of UT Austin researchers,” Jake Lindamood says. “Their findings are now helping inform policy around material reuse and circular construction in Texas.”

Among the materials recovered:

• 4,200+ tons of structural steel
• 40,000+ tons of concrete
• Salvaged electrical switchgear, transformers and panels

Challenges Overcome

The Frank Erwin Center demolition faced four major hurdles:

1. Urban constraints: Limited staging space and proximity to sensitive institutions meant zero tolerance for errors.
2. Structural complexity: The arena’s circular design required reverse-engineering the takedown, section by section.
3. Schedule compression: The site had to be ready for medical facility construction — no delays allowed.
4. High visibility: With students, media and the public watching, the stakes were high.

“We weren’t working in the shadows. Students, media, UT leadership — everyone was watching,” Jake Lindamood says. “And we still delivered the entire project with zero incidents.”

Defining Success

For Lindamood, this was more than a demolition job. It was a mission.

“We consider the Frank Erwin Center demolition a success by every metric that matters,” says Kayla Lindamood, the company's president and CEO.

• Completed ahead of schedule
• Delivered under budget
• Zero safety incidents
• 85%+ material recycled
• Full protection of adjacent hospitals and university operations

But success wasn’t just measured in numbers.

“Success also meant trust. The university and SpawGlass trusted us to do something most people never saw — methodically, safely and strategically dismantle a Texas landmark without headlines or headaches. And we did just that.”