Elegant Destruction

Ever since seeing a documentary on the subject several years ago, I have been amazed at the skill it takes to cause a building to collapse without damaging nearby structures. The demolition shown below required me to take a detour last weekend because the property is adjacent to Main Street, which I would have normally taken.

From How Stuff Works:

Sometimes ... a building is surrounded by structures that must be preserved. In this case, the blasters proceed with a true implosion, demolishing the building so that it collapses straight down into its own footprint (the total area at the base of the building). This feat requires such skill that only a handful of demolition companies in the world will attempt it.

I witnessed a different demolition live several years ago. That dust cloud at the end definitely makes me appreciate seeing this on video instead!

Incidentally, I stayed at that very hotel when I interviewed for grad school over a dozen years ago.

-- CAV