Switching software is hard. Moving a 1,600-ton hotel is harder.

Tear it down or save it? The empty 1906 hotel sat on the site planned for Rivercenter. The Conservation Society argued for five years that it was a landmark, then put $260,000 toward a move.

One table, 16 agencies. After a 1981 feasibility study, Emmert's project manager met police, traffic, sewer, fire, electric and water in one meeting. Owners, architects, Guido and Emmert split the work.

Close streets, shore the bridge. Streets on the route closed and the public was told when the hotel would pass. Guido crews shored the Market Street bridge around the clock for four days, in about three feet of river water.

Lift the whole building. Emmert set the hotel on three tiers of steel beams, shored each column inside, and jacked it onto 36 hydraulic dollies on 288 tires.

Roll, turn, set down. From 30 March to 4 April 1985: about six blocks, two corners, over the shored bridge and back onto Guido's new foundation on South Alamo. Reopened 1986.