Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
0:00 Intro
0:17 Project Description
2:16 Implosion
5:14 Post-Implosion/Debris
Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) of Phoenix, Maryland, USA (acting as Explosives Subcontractor to Main Demolition Contractor, Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition, LLC, of Hutchins, Texas) performs the design for, preparation of, and successful explosives felling of the 22-story, composite reinforced concrete/structural steel office building in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The Capital One Tower stood 310’ tall with a 50’ cell tower on the roof, made it the tallest structure in Lake Charles since the 1980s. The building was heavily damaged in 2020 during Hurricane Laura, the 10th strongest US Hurricane on record. The category 4 storm’s surge flooded the lower level and its 150mph (240km/h) winds broke through most of the hurricane-resistant glass, inundating the entire structure. The structure had been left vacant since, with multiple false starts toward restoration before the Owner decided to proceed with clearance of the site.
The structure contained four central reinforced concrete elevator cores surrounded by clear-span steel framing to steel columns around the perimeter of the structure. Given the poor connection between the steel framing and concrete cores, CDI developed a delay pattern that prevented isolation of the concrete cores and potential “stand-up” of same. Given the high lakeside water table and alluvial soil underlying the site, the delay pattern was designed to “pulverize” the structure in mid-air, to both reduce vibration from the fall of debris and to generate a low, well fragmented debris pile to facilitate expeditious and safe debris removal.
CDI loaded over 1,000 lbs of explosives into 464 holes drilled into concrete core walls up to 24” thick and 294 Linear Shaped Charges at 134 steel column cut points having up to 3” thick flanges on 12 blast floors in the structure.
The Capital One Tower was successfully imploded the morning of September 7, 2024. Vibration monitored at eight (8) locations around the site recorded peak particle velocity and peak air overpressure readings consistent with the low-level estimates provided by CDI based on historic and project-specific data. The post-demolition survey revealed no changes from pre-existing conditions to adjacent improvements to remain. Vibration and air overpressure created by CDI’s implosion plan was a fraction of limits allowed by local, State and federal regulations.
0:00 Intro
0:17 Project Description
2:16 Implosion
5:14 Post-Implosion/Debris
Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) of Phoenix, Maryland, USA (acting as Explosives Subcontractor to Main Demolition Contractor, Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition, LLC, of Hutchins, Texas) performs the design for, preparation of, and successful explosives felling of the 22-story, composite reinforced concrete/structural steel office building in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The Capital One Tower stood 310’ tall with a 50’ cell tower on the roof, made it the tallest structure in Lake Charles since the 1980s. The building was heavily damaged in 2020 during Hurricane Laura, the 10th strongest US Hurricane on record. The category 4 storm’s surge flooded the lower level and its 150mph (240km/h) winds broke through most of the hurricane-resistant glass, inundating the entire structure. The structure had been left vacant since, with multiple false starts toward restoration before the Owner decided to proceed with clearance of the site.
The structure contained four central reinforced concrete elevator cores surrounded by clear-span steel framing to steel columns around the perimeter of the structure. Given the poor connection between the steel framing and concrete cores, CDI developed a delay pattern that prevented isolation of the concrete cores and potential “stand-up” of same. Given the high lakeside water table and alluvial soil underlying the site, the delay pattern was designed to “pulverize” the structure in mid-air, to both reduce vibration from the fall of debris and to generate a low, well fragmented debris pile to facilitate expeditious and safe debris removal.
CDI loaded over 1,000 lbs of explosives into 464 holes drilled into concrete core walls up to 24” thick and 294 Linear Shaped Charges at 134 steel column cut points having up to 3” thick flanges on 12 blast floors in the structure.
The Capital One Tower was successfully imploded the morning of September 7, 2024. Vibration monitored at eight (8) locations around the site recorded peak particle velocity and peak air overpressure readings consistent with the low-level estimates provided by CDI based on historic and project-specific data. The post-demolition survey revealed no changes from pre-existing conditions to adjacent improvements to remain. Vibration and air overpressure created by CDI’s implosion plan was a fraction of limits allowed by local, State and federal regulations.
