The Old Boston Opera House with seating for 2,600 was built as a vaudeville house by New York architect Thomas Lamb in the 1920’s for $6 million. The facility was last open for performances in 1989. The building has been abandoned and has been significantly vandalized by vagrants and has sustained major water damage from roof leakage.

The Old Boston Opera House Project involves plans for the renovation and rehabilitation of the building located at 539 Washington Street in Boston, Massachusetts. To support the proposed demolition activities, Environmental & Construction Management Services, Inc. (ECMS) was retained by SFX Real Estate Group, Ltd (SFX) of New York to conduct an investigative survey of the building.

ECMS’s scope of services included all hazard assessments, remedial design, and construction management activities related to asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint.

The purpose of the Site Assessment was to determine the history of the property, including current and former ownership and use and evaluate the Site for evidence of oil and/or hazardous materials that are, have been, or potentially could be released onto the Site or in the vicinity of the Site. A Site reconnaissance visit for the property was also conducted by ECMS qualified personnel to document current Site conditions with respect to the presence of any oil and/or hazardous materials (OHM).

ECMS was also contracted to identify, sample, and assess the condition of suspect asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and lead-based paint (LBP) throughout the building. ECMS provided hazardous material abatement design plans and specifications necessary to facilitate the renovation and restoration of the building. ECMS is also providing project administrative and construction management support including compliance supervision, inspections of contractor activities, and air quality monitoring during abatement operations.