History

Founded in 1963, FERMA Corporation began with a commitment to innovation and advanced machinery, quickly earning a reputation for tackling complex demolition projects. What started with the demolition of a small Palo Alto building in 1964 soon evolved into major undertakings, including landfill operations in Mountain View by 1966 and even the unconventional demolition of a brick smokestack by helicopter in 1969.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, FERMA expanded both its capabilities and reach, delivering high-profile projects such as the redevelopment of Pier 39, the Dumbarton Bridge, and critical recovery efforts following the San Francisco earthquake and Oakland Hills Fire. This period established the company as a trusted partner for challenging, large-scale assignments.

By the 1990s and 2000s, FERMA had become an industry leader known for precision and reliability, completing landmark projects like the PG&E Windmill (1995), the Oakland Ship Foundry, the Stanford Stadium rebuild (2007), and San Francisco’s Doyle Drive replacement (2012). More recently, the company has continued to demonstrate its expertise on transformative projects such as Siemens-Concord in 2013, reinforcing its position at the forefront of demolition and environmental contracting.

In the years that followed, FERMA continued to evolve with the industry, expanding into specialized service lines that reflect both innovation and precision. Having long self-performed selective demolition, abatement, and remediation work, the company formalized these capabilities with the establishment of a dedicated division focused on environmental and interior demolition solutions that uphold the highest standards of safety, compliance, and technical execution. Likewise, FERMA’s long-standing expertise in concrete sawcutting, core drilling, and scanning led to the creation of a specialized division devoted to advancing these services and supporting project partners with greater efficiency and control.

To further extend its reach, FERMA established a National Division to deliver its expertise across the United States. This division has successfully completed high-prestige and technically demanding projects, including the removal of the Seattle Viaduct, major power plant decommissioning, and complex work within active hospitals and healthcare campuses. Through this nationwide presence, FERMA continues to bring its precision, reliability, and innovation to large-scale projects in diverse environments.

These strategic expansions have allowed FERMA to take on a broader range of high-profile and technically challenging projects. Recent accomplishments include the restoration and environmental cleanup of Hangars 1 and 3 at Moffett Field, emergency fire debris removal in Lahaina and the Palisades, and ongoing contributions to the revitalization of the UCSF School of Medicine campus. The company has also executed major work at critical power generation facilities across California, supporting the state’s energy infrastructure and sustainability goals.

Now in its sixth decade, FERMA Corporation remains a leader in demolition, environmental contracting, and site preparation—continuing to build on its legacy of innovation, reliability, and integrity.