We Did It...
When They Said It Couldn't Be Done!

Kingston – 1992

Queen's University had applied to demolish a series of buildings to clear half a city block for the new $43 million Stauffer Library. As a result of this application, an intense citizens' lobby to save these buildings developed. Eventually, the University and the citizens compromised: some buildings not considered of heritage value would be destroyed, while others selected by concerned citizens would be preserved. Five century-old historic homes would be relocated: four multiple brick, three-story houses and one heritage triplex constructed of wood with brick fire walls. Three of the brick houses weighed 275 tons, 360 tons, and 400 tons. Each of the three had a footprint of 35 feet by 45 feet and a height of 53 feet.

CDS Building Movers was chosen to submit a tender when we successfully met the criteria to be considered for a short list. The criteria included being a member of a recognized Structural Movers Association, submitting a method of operation, satisfying insurance and bonding requirements, and being interviewed by the engineer to deal with his concerns. The interview gave us the opportunity to present our crew qualifications and to promote the vast array of specialized equipment CDS Building Movers has acquired and developed. Our tender, which included reestablishing the houses on new foundations at their designated sites, was accepted.

Prior to the contract being granted, the entire project was in jeopardy. The chosen one-kilometer Union Street route for transporting the buildings had to be abandoned because the urban forest along that street would be virtually destroyed. CDS Building Movers identified a circuitous route of nine kilometers which required minimal tree removal and trimming. The route was acceptable to all concerned, including hydro, telephone, and cablevision companies as well as the police department, fire department, and city works. Business disruption was minimized by splitting the move between Saturday and Sunday.

A crew of six highly skilled building movers successfully loaded the buildings over a three month period.

A specific process is followed when loading a building:

	Holes are made in the foundation of the structure.
	Steel beams are inserted into the holes.
	The steel beams are leveled and shored.
	When it is supported entirely on steel beams, the building is raised hydraulically.
	Wheeled dollies are installed to transport the structure.
	A prime mover tractor is attached via a hydraulically controlled bolster beam mounted on the fifth wheel link of the tractor.

Loading of triple brick houses requires a combination of manpower, experience, and the availability of steel beams. These beams must be capable of supporting massive weights while still being of a manageable size.

The key to supporting a masonry house during relocation is predicting beam deflection. Beam deflection is compensated for by preloading the beams with shims to prevent sagging and cracking of brick walls.

Moving five buildings over nine kilometers of Kingston streets required weeks of planning and the coordinating of many specialized workers. The crew involved in the actual relocation numbered 46, including the crowd and traffic control people, the transport specialists moving the buildings, and the technical people monitoring the load control and steering dollies. Utility crews were also busy removing and replacing the wires as the buildings proceeded along the route.

CDS Building Movers has received international recognition for its design and construction of special hydraulic equipment used to facilitate this move. This equipment is unique within the structural moving industry. CDS Building Movers is a nine-time international award winner for innovation in equipment design and utilization specifically related to moving heavy masonry buildings.

CDS Building Movers received major media recognition for the Kingston move when the national edition of The Globe and Mail highlighted the move in August 1994.