Why Building Relocation Is More Common Than You Think
You're on the road, heading to work or maybe on a road trip, when a truck ahead has flashing lights and a "large load" sign on the back. In front is a very large vehicle with a whole house on the back. An entire house being moved on the freeway like it's no big deal. While most people aren’t going to have a house delivered to them, structure relocation is way more common than you might think. From environmental issues to historical preservation, the reasons for building relocation are vast. But one thing’s for sure: building relocations make for great stories. Read on to discover a few of the most notable relocations and the reasons behind them.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Environmental Concerns
If there’s one thing builders can’t fight, it’s the environment. The historic Belle Tout Lighthouse in Beachy Head, East Sussex, in England was moved just 56 feet in 1999 due to shoreline erosion. The 850-ton structure was moved using hydraulic jacks. Likewise, North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras had to be moved to prevent its destruction. When it was originally built in 1870, the lighthouse stood 1,500 feet from the ocean. By 1970, it was a mere 120 feet from the shoreline. To prevent the weather from ruining the lighthouse, the building was relocated in 1999.
Famous Building Relocation
London’s famed Marble Arch was originally located in front of Buckingham Palace. But in 1851, it was relocated to its current location in Hyde Park. The sources are divided on exactly why the structure was moved. Some report is was moved because the middle arch was too narrow for coaches to get through and others claim that the castle was expanded and Queen Victoria asked for more space for the royal family. The famous London Bridge was also relocated - all the way to Arizona! In London, the bridge had been sinking in to the Thames River, thanks to the additional weight of modern transportation.
Historical Preservation
Built in 1888 as a luxurious single family home, Washington, D.C.’s Warder Mansion was relocated in 1925. It was moved piece by piece (in a Ford Model T, no less) to K Street—its current location. The entire process of moving and reassembling the building took about two years. This building is the only one in D.C. that was created by famed American architect H. H. Richardson. Since its move, the building has been home to many different occupants. Currently the historical building serves as an apartment building.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Times Square was completely rehabbed in the 1990s and The Empire Theater’s move was part of that. This former burlesque house (which weighed 7.4 million pounds) was moved a few blocks to make way for AMC’s 25-screen theater—at the time the biggest in the country. The building now serves as the lobby for a modern movie theater. The Empire is also thought to be the largest structure ever moved in the city.
Chances are you’ll never be responsible for moving an entire building, but the experts at your local Navis Pack & Ship can certainly help you with just about any packing and shipping need you might have. if you’re moving and in need of packing and shipping services, Navis has you covered. Customers can take advantage of safe and reliable international and national shipping services. Contact us today to get a free quote.
By Steve Goble, VP of Marketing Communications for Navis Pack & Ship. When he's not spilling packing and shipping secrets, he's spending time with his family at a San Diego Padres or Chargers game. Connect with Steve on Google+ and LinkedIn.
