Rarified Air
AIR Demolition & Environmental Solutions displays refreshing commitment to environmental safety
There are some stories that hit a person like a breath of fresh air.
In the case of Gabriel Cristofaro and his business partner Eric Chevasson, the fresh—or, more appropriately, clean—air is both literal and figurative when telling the story of how they founded AIR, Inc., dba AIR Demolition & Environmental Solutions.
Cristofaro, the company’s founder, President and CEO, immigrated to America from Italy when he was just 21 years old. Before moving to the U.S., he earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. He also spent time in Argentina.
When asked how he met Chevasson, who immigrated to the U.S. from France in the early 1970s, Cristofaro explains: “I was working for the City of Los Angeles overseeing the removal of some housing that had been condemned. Eric was working on a building project right next to it. I was very lucky to meet him. He’s a bit older than me and knew so much. We struck up a conversation and found we had both spent time in Argentina at different times of our lives. We went to lunch and we had so much in common in our beliefs about this industry. We both thought there were better, safer ways to demolish and remove properties. With his wide range of experience in the building industry and my background in hazardous removal, we started to work together.”
Today, in Chevasson’s role as President of the board of directors, he directs corporate issues, financial matters and board policies, and takes a special interest in client relations.
Cristofaro adds, “For us, it’s never been about the money. Yes, you have to make it, but we’ve got a long way to go for the environment, and I think the best is yet to come.”
The duo’s refreshing commitment to ensure environmental safety for future generations is evident in one particular statistic: When AIR Demolition & Environmental Solutions performs a job, it allows just 0.03 percent of harmful particles to float through the air.
“It’s unheard of to get 99.7 percent cleanliness in the demolition industry,” Cristofaro says proudly. “Everything we do is almost perfectly clean because of the technology we use.”
Clean Air Experts
Founded in 2000 and based in Los Angeles, AIR Demolition & Environmental Solutions provides a variety of services for both residential and commercial clients across Southern California. This includes hazardous waste management, demolition, insulation, asbestos abatement, mold remediation and facility decontamination.
The company’s main focus is spelled out in its name—literally. “AIR” is an acronym for Asbestos Instant Response. Asbestos is one of many potentially harmful microscopic particles floating through the air that the company safely removes on a daily basis.
As more education comes to light about toxic materials, such as asbestos used for pre-1970s construction, there will be higher demand and greater appreciation for the job the company does and the lofty air-safety standards it keeps.
“If you took a microscope, you could see how much of the harmful particles we breathe,” Cristofaro says. “But we have come so far. We have filters that can capture and remove fibers and particles that are 500 times smaller than your eyes can see. That is unbelievable, like a dream. Everything we do when cleaning areas is 0.03 percent from being perfectly clean.”
Cristofaro says the company owns eight VecLoader HEPA vacuums. All are designed for insulation removal and are capable of suctioning 1,700 cubic feet of air per minute. The massive industrial vacuum is powered by a 102-horsepower John Deere diesel motor and uses a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter for trapping and containing contaminants. It is so powerful it can draw in any materials, such as liquids, slurries, powders or solids.
The cost for each machine: $250,000. To Cristofaro, the machines are worth every penny given their efficiency and how they protect the environment.
AIR Demolition & Environmental Solutions also handles the remediation of other hazardous materials, mold and lead. The company is often called on to help restore historic buildings, decommission power plants, revitalize abandoned buildings and deal with natural disasters, such as floods and fires.
Doing It Their Way
It’s not just about taking care of the environment that drives the two owners. It is their own history.
Cristofaro says when he first arrived in America he stayed with friends already living in California and worked at a pizza parlor. English was his second language, but he was determined to make a living in the new country he called home.
“My father was born during the second World War and, having lived in Europe, we saw how many countries were destroyed,” Cristofaro says. “But Italy loves America. When I came over, I was very young and just out of college. It was very hard for me being from another country. I worked in the pizza place, and I worked hard. I had to start from the bottom. My father’s wish was for his kids to be here. That was motivation.”
Cristofaro’s work ethic led to an eventual position as the hazmat abatement manager for the City of Los Angeles from 1997 to 2003, where he managed over $100 million worth of hazmat abatement projects citywide. He wrote specification and abatement plans, developed bids, performed abatement duties, supervised crews and managed entire projects. During his tenure with the city, he oversaw the entire abatement plan of the Los Angeles City Hall renovation project, and he performed in the same capacity in the abatement of what is now known as the James K. Hahn City Hall East building. Together, these projects were valued at over $20 million.
He also designed, implemented and managed the abatement plan for the historic Van Nuys City Hall. And, working with the Bureau of Engineering for the city of Los Angeles, in conjunction with FEMA, he managed the abatement of multiple Los Angeles city fire departments, police stations and libraries—a total value in excess of $50 million.
In 2000, while doing all this, he launched his business with Chevasson because the duo felt so strongly about protecting the environment for future generations. At its peak in 2008, the company had more than $13 million in sales.
“Eric is a very unique individual with high standards and he supported me through everything we did together,” Cristofaro says. “He has a tremendous amount of life experience and without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Alma Pineda, one of the company’s operations managers, says both owners approach each day—and each customer and employee—with loyalty and trust. Cristofaro says his company offers generous compensation packages for health insurance, for example, because he remembered the pressures starting out of having to pay for it himself.
“We wanted to take the burden of worrying about health insurance off the employees,” he says. “We knew that if we could retain good employees it would pay off in the long run, and it has.”
Pineda agrees. “Both Gabriel and Eric will find solutions [for employees] at every stage of work and because those are felt beyond the workplace, I think it is safe to conclude that solutions here are created for the person,” she says, adding that the company has low turnover rates. “Our personnel have exhibited great knowledge of what is required to perform these services…the owners really strive to bring good service to the forefront.”