I stand partially coreccted. I just received an e-mail that states that there are 3 domestic manufacturers of excavators in Russia. Ivanova, AO and Kraneks and that they sell for approximately 1/2 the price of similiar modes built elsewhere.

It's a huge market. One thing I did notice over there is that it seems like most of the contractors operate Liebherr equipment. I never did see a Russian built excavator.

Contracts are kind of 'loosey goosey". Even though the building is owned by the city the project wasn't competively bid as we are used to. It looks like the development rights to the site are going to be awarded to a consortium with an American partner. The rumour is that they are going to build an entertainment complex with 5 hotels at a cost of USD$2 Billion.

The demolition contract is worth USD $40 million. I can only imagine what it was like in it's heyday. It had a 2 story go cart racing track in it and a huge strip club. On every even numbered floor they had 4 restaurants. There weren't any blueprints available on it either. I guess it really didn't matter much, they would all be in Russian anyway!
I don't think most people realize it, but the American demolition market is tiny compared to Russia. For example, in the next year and a half 9,000 high rise public housing buildings are going to be demolished in Moscow alone! It makes sense because during the communist regime ALL housing was public housing. They have a name for these buildings which is "Khrushchyuki".