D.H. Griffin Companies

D.H. Griffin Companies

Company type	Private
Industry	Demolition, Environmental services, Construction
Founded	1959
Founder	David H. Griffin, Sr. and Clifton D. Fields
Headquarters	Greensboro, North Carolina , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	David Griffin Jr. (President)
Products	Contract demolition, environmental services, site development, construction

D.H. Griffin Companies comprises six independently operated yet interconnected entities that specialize in contract demolition, environmental services, and site development. Established in 1959 and based in Greensboro, North Carolina, the company notably directed the cleanup efforts at the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks. The organization is currently led by President David Griffin Jr.

History

The origins of the company trace back to 1959 when David H. Griffin, Sr. and Clifton D. Fields initiated demolition projects, beginning with dismantling an old church and reusing salvaged materials for construction purposes.

D.H. Griffin Wrecking Co., Inc.

Founded in 1967, D.H. Griffin Wrecking Co., Inc. serves as the core enterprise within the group, delivering demolition services across commercial, governmental, and industrial sectors, including expertise in explosive and emergency demolitions. By 2008, it was recognized as the second-largest demolition firm nationwide and ranked among the top 150 Top Specialty Contractors. In 2012, Demolition and Recycling International magazine placed it fifth globally by revenue in its D&Ri100 list.

D.H. Griffin of Texas, Inc.

Focused on industrial demolition, D.H. Griffin of Texas undertakes complete and partial plant dismantling, mine closures, explosives demolition, and bridge removals. The company also specializes in the extraction of hazardous chemicals from these facilities. Its proficiency in complex demolition projects was featured on Discovery Channel’s series The Detonators.

D.H. Griffin Construction

Launched in 1995, this branch concentrates on building large infrastructure projects such as bridges, correctional facilities, and educational institutions. With offices located in Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina, it supports regional construction demands and business expansion.

D.H. Griffin Contracting

Previously known as Taft Contracting Company, this division excels in installing heavy machinery and relocating manufacturing plants. Additionally, it offers hauling and warehousing services for industrial equipment, enhancing the company's comprehensive industrial logistics capabilities.

Demolition & Asbestos Removal, Inc. (DARI)

Owned by the Griffin family, DARI focuses on demolishing structures containing hazardous materials like asbestos while ensuring safe removal and disposal to meet stringent environmental and regulatory standards within the demolition sector.

DARI Disaster Mitigation & Restoration Division

As part of DARI’s environmental services, this division extends asbestos abatement and demolition expertise to include disaster mitigation and restoration for residential and commercial buildings damaged by water, fire, mold, storms, or other catastrophes.

Stadiums

D.H. Griffin Companies has established a distinguished track record for demolishing large-scale stadiums. During the mid-1990s, they dismantled the former Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and developed the parking area for the new Turner Field. In 2002, they executed the complex demolition of Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, which has been described as "the most difficult stadium blast ever attempted."

Disaster recovery efforts

D.H. Griffin initiated its disaster recovery operations soon after the 2001 World Trade Center attacks. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the firm managed several demolition assignments, which included dismantling existing casino structures to enable the development of new gaming facilities.

Pillowtex facility

Beginning in 2006, D.H. Griffin Wrecking Co. was engaged to dismantle the Pillowtex Corporation manufacturing complex located on the former Cannon Mills property in Kannapolis, North Carolina. This extensive demolition project, covering six million square feet, paved the way for the establishment of the North Carolina Research Campus and is recognized as one of the largest commercial demolitions worldwide.