Demolishing Penn State’s Oswald Tower While Preserving Century-Old Trees

January 12, 2026

When Penn State University set out to remove Oswald Tower — a 10-story, 130-foot-tall concrete structure on its main campus — the challenge extended well beyond the building itself. The project required careful sequencing, tight environmental controls and, most critically, protection of two trees that are more than 100 years old, standing just feet from the structure.

NDA member Terra Technical Services was selected for the project based on a competitive price and a detailed work plan that addressed Penn State’s unique preservation priorities. The result was a methodical, zero-incident demolition completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Project Overview

Oswald Tower previously housed faculty and graduate student offices but had become obsolete. Penn State elected to demolish the structure to make way for future campus development. The building’s compact 4,250-square-foot footprint and proximity to active campus areas required a controlled, engineered approach rather than a rapid mechanical teardown.

The project began on March 26, 2025, with final site work completed by July 15, 2025.

Engineered Strategy, Floor by Floor

Terra’s demolition plan centered on a top-down approach using a Komatsu 1250 high-reach excavator with a 150-foot reach. The building was divided into 13 distinct sections, allowing the operator to follow the engineered demolition plan step by step, maintaining structural integrity and controlling load paths as each floor was removed.

Before structural demolition began, a seven-person crew completed a full interior gut-out. Working from the 10th floor downward, crews removed furniture, ceiling tiles, drywall, wood debris and other nonstructural materials. Debris was sent down the existing elevator shaft to the first floor and then loaded out for disposal.

Once the interior was cleared, Terra mobilized the high-reach excavator along with two high-powered dust suppression units capable of projecting water mist up to 300 feet. Positioned on either side of the building, the dust destroyers ensured that no visible emissions left the site footprint during demolition.

Using the high-reach’s camera system, the operator methodically razed the structure from the top down. After the building was reduced to approximately 40 feet in height, a John Deere 470 excavator with a long stick was brought in to complete the remaining structural work.

Protecting What Couldn’t Be Replaced

The defining challenge of the project was protecting two century-old trees located immediately adjacent to the building. Penn State required that both trees remain completely unharmed throughout demolition.

Terra designed and installed a reinforced scaffolding system topped with a protective hard deck over the trees. To further absorb impact, old tires were layered across the deck and covered with thick plywood, all mechanically fastened together for stability. The system created a robust buffer against falling debris.

Not a single branch was damaged during the project, an outcome that underscored the effectiveness of the planning and execution.

Equipment and Crew

Key equipment used on the project included:

• Komatsu 1250 high-reach excavator (150-foot reach)
• John Deere 470 excavator with hydraulic processor
• John Deere 350 excavator with processor
• John Deere 300 excavator with bucket and thumb
• Skid steer with forks and bucket
• 12,000-lb. variable-reach forklift

Crew sizes were scaled to each phase of work, with seven workers assigned to the interior gut-out and a five-person crew handling structural demolition.

Recycling and Site Restoration

Sustainability was built into the project from the outset. One hundred percent of the steel scrap generated was recycled. Approximately 70% of the concrete was processed on site into 4-inch-minus material and reused as clean fill to backfill the basement excavation.

Concrete was placed in 1-foot lifts and compacted using excavators, eliminating the need to haul in additional fill material and accelerating site restoration.

Measuring Success

By every metric, Terra considers the Oswald Tower project a success:

• Zero safety incidents
• Complete protection of the two historic trees
• Project completed ahead of schedule
• Final costs came in under budget

For Terra Technical Services, the project demonstrated how disciplined planning, engineered sequencing and respect for site constraints can deliver results, even in the middle of an active university campus.