Razing of Skyscrapers Through Implosion

Factual Questions
1

I was recently in Manhattan and became curious as to how some of the older skyscrapers will be razed someday.

Though I’ve seen some buildings in the 10-20 story range razed through explosive demolitions, I’m curious as to how 60, 70, 80-story buildings will eventually be brought down–especially with other buildings surrounding them. For instance, how will the Empire State Building be razed? Approximately 1,100 feet of building must present enormous challenges to civil engineers and demolitions experts alike.

2

They’ll probably come down like they went up: brick by brick. Or at best with a wrecking ball or hydraulic ram.

Explosive (implosive?) building demolition is illegal in the five boroughs of NYC.

3

Take a look at the book Unbuilding by David Macaulay. It describes the unbuilding of the Empire State building in great detail with some wonderful drawings.

4

THERE IS NO IMPLOSION GOING ON HERE!

It’s a bunch of explosions that cause the building to collapse. Nothing implosive about it.

5

Huge chunks of debris raining down 80-100 stories from a wrecking ball isn’t a pretty thought. And to think I worried about getting nailed by a penny.

P.S. I’ll read the book.