Early in August of 2007, Studio 804 was contacted by Kise Randall, Executive Director for Sunflower Redevelopment, who presented Studio 804 with the opportunity to reclaim lumber and other building materials from the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. We saw this as an extraordinary opportunity, as the complex contains over 900 vacant buildings slated for demolition, most of which are in excellent condition. 

After our initial contact, Studio 804 spent time visiting the complex, working through feasibility studies, and reviewing safety measure to ensure a safe working environment. After selecting our magazine building in October, the building was inspected by a third part environmental inspection company for asbestos contamination. It was determined that the building exterior siding was Transite, a non-friable material assumed to contain asbestos, which was removed by Demco, an asbestos abatement company on November 5, 2007. After securing a demolition permit from Johnson County Code Enforcement Office on November 9, 2007, Studio 804 and Sunflower Redevelopment spent the next 2 months working out the enormously complex issues of insurance and disclaimers, concluding with the finalization of securing our building in January of 2008.

With our building secured, the process of reclaiming material began in earnest. The first step in the process was to remove the roof shingles, sheathing, and decking, leaving what was essentially a wooden shell of the building. After dismantling the roof trusses one by one, the remaining walls were tilted down and broken down into smaller pieces.