photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Demolition work is underway at Oliver Hall on the University of Kansas campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

It’s demo days at the University of Kansas.

Demolition work has begun both on Oliver Hall and the old Facilities and Operations building on the KU campus.

As the Journal-World has reported, KU received approval to demolish both buildings as part of a campus initiative to reduce deferred maintenance costs. The sites of both buildings are planned to remain largely undeveloped after demolition is complete.

The demolition of Oliver Hall — a former residence hall that previously housed about 600 students before it was closed in 2019 — was announced last year.

The demolition of the Facilities and Operation building, which dates back to the early 1900s, was less expected. The Kansas Board of Regents in 2019 granted approval to demolish the building, but the state’s historic preservation office objected. Recently, though, Gov. Laura Kelly approved the demolition over the objections of the historic preservation office.

Local preservationists lamented the decision and said KU did not follow the spirit of historic preservation law when deciding to demolish the building. In a letter sent earlier this month, the Lawrence Preservation Alliance said KU did not do enough to solicit input from the community about the demolition of the building, which had been vacant since 2018.

Here’s a look at several photos from both sites from Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Demolition work is underway at Oliver Hall on the University of Kansas campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Demolition work is underway at Oliver Hall on the University of Kansas campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Demolition work is underway at Oliver Hall on the University of Kansas campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Demolition work is underway at Oliver Hall on the University of Kansas campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Demolition work is underway at Oliver Hall on the University of Kansas campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Demolition work is underway at Oliver Hall on the University of Kansas campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Minor demolition work is underway at the 1900s-era Facilities and Operation building on the KU campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Minor demolition work is underway at the 1900s-era Facilities and Operation building on the KU campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Minor demolition work is underway at the 1900s-era Facilities and Operation building on the KU campus on Monday, July 25, 2022.