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Across the Midwest, the next generation of data center development is increasingly being built on land with a past. A site in Ohio getting prepared for a future Data Center development. Shuttered industrial plants, former utility properties, and long-idle manufacturing facilities are emerging as some of the most attractive locations for large-scale data infrastructure. These sites offer proximity to power, transmission corridors, transportation networks, and industrial zoning

Photo showing the 92-acre former DPI site in Alpena, MI that is currently under demolition. The former Decorative Panels International plant is a large, complex site with environmental considerations that had to be addressed before demolition could move forward. From the start, the focus has been on doing the work safely and setting the property up for whatever comes next. Starting with the Hard Part Before any structural demolition could begin, our teams completed extensive

A Conversation with Doug Melching Doug Melching on a job site in the early 1990’s. If you spend any time around Melching, it doesn’t take long to realize the company reflects the person who built it. Doug Melching’s path into demolition wasn’t planned or polished. It was shaped by work ethic, curiosity, and a willingness to take jobs most people walked away from. That mindset still drives the business today. Learning the Work Early Doug’s introduction to construction came ear

It starts with dealing responsibly with what’s been left behind. Economic development is often defined by what comes next—new buildings, new jobs, new investment. Across the Midwest, however, real progress begins much earlier. Long before ribbon cuttings and press releases, communities must confront what already exists: abandoned industrial plants, shuttered hospitals, obsolete manufacturing facilities, and environmentally challenged properties that have sat idle for years, d

Selective demolition isn’t about knocking down walls, it’s about knowing exactly what not to touch . Anyone can swing a hammer. Very few can dismantle a facility from the inside out without disrupting operations, compromising safety, or uncovering expensive surprises halfway through the project. After more than 30 years working inside hospitals, industrial plants, and contaminated sites, we’ve seen what happens when selective demolition is treated like a “light” version of de

Don Malusi, Melching Project Manager and Safety Officer At Melching, demolition and environmental work go hand in hand, and safety is the thread that holds it all together. For Don Malusi, Melching’s Environmental Project Manager and Safety Officer, protecting people and managing risk isn’t just a job requirement. It’s a personal mission shaped by more than 35 years in the industry. “I’ve been doing this since 1988,” Don says. “Every site, every job, every crew is different,

Before you begin an industrial decommissioning project, make sure every step is covered. Use Melching’s checklist to plan, budget, and execute safely and efficiently. Industrial decommissioning is more than tearing down a building. It is a complex process that involves environmental science, safety compliance, asset recovery, and regulatory coordination. Whether you are closing, repurposing, or selling an industrial property, this checklist helps ensure you have addressed eve

At Melching, the difference isn’t just in what we do, it’s in how we do it. Every project, from high-profile industrial teardowns to community site cleanups, relies on one thing above all: people who know how to get the job done the right way. For Project Manager Adam DeJonge, that means leading with experience, trust, and a “no excuses” approach that keeps jobs moving safely and efficiently from start to finish. Problem Solvers, Not Excuse Makers “I deal with everything from

From hidden contamination to unexpected costs, industrial decommissioning is full of risks. Here’s how Melching manages them safely, efficiently, and by the book. Industrial decommissioning projects are rarely simple. Old as-built plans, live utilities, and hazardous materials mean every site hides something new. For owners, developers, and facility managers, the real challenge is controlling those unknowns without losing time, money, or safety. Here’s a closer look inside th

“Give me the ugly jobs.” That’s how Nick Melching introduces himself on site. As a supervisor and foreman at Melching, and Doug Melching’s son, Nick leans into the work most crews avoid: the sprawling, the hazardous, the unpredictable. In Sandusky, Ohio, he took on a city-size teardown: the former General Motors precision ball bearing plant (later KBI), originally built in 1946. “One month on this job was the equivalent of 20 ordinary jobs,” Nick says. “Fuel, maintenance, pro