Commercial Construction in Midtown Houston
The postwar construction boom transformed the Midtown corridor with office towers, medical buildings, and commercial properties. Asbestos-containing materials were standard in commercial construction throughout this period:
| Material | Use Period | Affected Trades |
|---|---|---|
| Spray-applied fireproofing (Mono-Kote, etc.) | 1958–1973 | Ironworkers, laborers, adjacent trades |
| Asbestos joint compound (drywall finishing) | 1940s–1977 | Drywall tapers, plasterers |
| Asbestos pipe insulation (Kaylo, Unibestos) | 1930s–late 1980s | Pipefitters, plumbers, insulators |
| Asbestos floor tiles (VAT) | 1950s–early 1980s | Flooring installers, general laborers |
| Asbestos ceiling tiles | 1950s–late 1970s | Carpenters, ceiling tile installers |
| Asbestos-containing roofing | 1930s–1970s | Roofers |
Medical District Construction and Maintenance
The Texas Medical Center, which began major expansion in the 1950s and continued through the 1980s, required massive construction and ongoing maintenance. Hospital and medical facility construction involved the same asbestos-containing materials as commercial construction, with the addition of complex mechanical systems (boilers, autoclaves, steam distribution) that were insulated with asbestos products. Maintenance workers who serviced hospital steam systems, boilers, and pipe infrastructure over decades accumulated significant occupational asbestos exposure.
Renovation and Abatement Exposure
Starting in the late 1980s, many Midtown buildings underwent asbestos abatement and renovation programs. Workers involved in asbestos abatement — even when using required protective equipment — had elevated exposure, particularly in cases where abatement procedures were not properly followed. Workers in renovation projects that disturbed asbestos-containing materials without proper identification and containment procedures also faced exposure during this period.
If you worked in building renovation or demolition in the Midtown area from the late 1980s through the 1990s and received inadequate protective equipment or training, you may have a claim against your employer under different legal theories than traditional product liability asbestos claims. An attorney can advise on which claim types apply.