Executive of the Month: Spartan Demolition Co. founder and CEO Alleyne partners with renovation and development clients for full-service seamless project completion - “No project too big”

In 2012, Marc Alleyne founded Spartan Demolition LLC, a New York City-based company, specializing in top-tier demolition and related services across New York City and the tri-state area.

They have completed hundreds of jobs, from multi million-dollar full-building knock-down to interior removal of old townhouses, and everything in between (office-building-conversions, renovations at hospitals, airports, dorms and bunkers, to name a few.)

Private sector clients have included major developers like Chetrit Group and New York Developers and Management. Included are city, state and federal agencies such as the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, Newark Airport, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, both the City and State Universities of New York, the United Nations and the U.S. Army. Spartan is an approved demolition contractor for New York City, New York State, and New Jersey.

Alleyne has received numerous industry awards and accolades such as the New York State Small Business Administration Contractor of the Year award in 2015 and this year, Demolition Company of the Year by The Red Awards.

Q: You founded Spartan Demolition in 2012, how did you get into this field?

I was an ironworker for years but knew I eventually wanted to start my own business. I researched the building industry and decided upon demolition because it was the sector most primed for growth. I joined the Turner School of Construction program and participated in the NYC Mentoring Program sponsored by NYC Small Business Services. 

Then I went out and networked and got my first job. When the crew, I hired, saw me on the first day, they thought I was an apprentice, I was only 26! 

I have since become EPA lead safety certified and have a general contractor license.

Q: What was that first job?

It was at Hunter College, CUNY, on the Upper East Side, where we renovated the third floor library. This then led to our renovating the second floor library and today we are still working with CUNY. At LaGuardia College, Queens, we are presently renovating three floors of offices and classrooms, 15,000 s/f and updating the HVAC system. 

Q: How do you define your role?

Our role is often to partner with a renovation or development team to ensure that every step in the process is seamless. I take a role in everything, I answer all questions and if I do not have the answer, I find it. I am responsible for all aspects of a project, from planning to implementation, and I know that my team will be successful. We are a full-service provider and can take care of the expediting and engineering needed for permitting and violation removals.

Q: Tell us about some of your current projects?

Right now, we are on three jobs for NYC Health + Hospitals Corporation. After completing the removal of the HVAC system at the Elmhurst Hospital, in Queens, we were hired to renovate South Brooklyn Hospital’s 3,000 s/f Emergency Room. And at Jacobi Medical Center, in the Bronx, renovation is underway on the 10,000 s/f eleventh floor Operating Room plus the 2,000 s/f MRI suite. These will be completed summer 2025. 

For another returning client in Manhattan, 217 East 49^th St., we recently were hired to complete an exterior facade upgrade. 

Q: What surprises most people about demolition?

Demolition often gets a bad rap when people think of a wrecking ball swinging over a street or an imploding building sending debris, dust and, really who knows what, into the environment.

But, we don’t use dynamite. New York is a non-explosive state. Plus: buildings that are attached and high rise buildings can only be demolished by hand. 

This is a critical distinction: our teams use hand tools or an excavator and robotic demolition hammers like Brokks. Wrecking balls are not used in NYC demolition as they are less efficient in a city where every building is in close quarters to another structure.

We always make sure the site has been reviewed for toxic and structural issues and then depending on what is found we work with engineers and architects before we begin. All demolition sites, interior or exterior are tested for ACM, and asbestos containing material. If tests come back positive, all ACM is abated prior to demolition. 

My company has a spotless safety record, and we focus on this every day. “Tool box talks” are held every morning, discussing the job site possible hazards and the best methods to abate those dangers. I make sure everything is looked at and discussed before my teams go in.

Demo removes the old, less energy efficient, less environmentally sound structures and replaces them with spaces more in tune with the needs of today’s buyers. Not only are developers removing out-of-date materials - which were not as fire-resistant as today’s, they are also abating or removing construction materials now known to cause cancer. Residential and commercial building trends are moving towards new, automated, green and energy-efficient buildings with up-to-date ‘smart’ amenities. This trend has increased the market for demolition.

Q: Demolishing old buildings, you must find interesting things!

We are always finding things - the most fascinating to me was an old, old typewriter, probably 1800’s - it was in a wall! We have found tvs from every decade, whole collections of tools - perhaps from someone who worked in the space before and then they sealed everything in before they left! You never know what you will find next.

Q: What do you see next for Spartan?

Continuing my firm’s record of zero accidents and injuries and our commitment to sustainability initiatives. Listening to my clients and providing them the services they need in a cost-effective way on time and on budget. For us, there are no projects too big!

I have added other competencies to Spartan to enable us to better support our clients. This includes general contracting, construction, facilities management, building renovation, interior build outs and carting and trucking. 

Though we are always aware of new equipment and technologies - so that we are at the forefront of best practices - many times, the best first on-site action is with a sledgehammer.

Spartan Demolition Company LLC, based in Brooklyn, is dedicated to providing top-tier demolition and related services across New York City, and the tri-state area. Marc Alleyne founded Spartan in 2012 and is proud of the firm’s clean record of no accidents or injuries. Their expertise spans across a broad spectrum of needs, from interior and exterior demolition of targeted tear-downs to complete building demolitions, including garages and large-scale building knock-downs, to comprehensive permitting and violation removal. With every project, their aim is to deliver precision, safety, and efficiency, tailored to meet the specific requirements of their clients. Spartan’s dedicated team manages every aspect of a project in-house, ensuring a seamless, efficient, and comprehensive service from start to finish. For more information, please call 718-749-3832, or visit https://spartandemoco.com/