Nova Scotia YMCA building damaged by neighbouring demolition.

The new YMCA building in downtown Sydney remains closed because of damage sustained during the demolition of the old facility next door.

A wall of the 1940s building crashed during demolition on Sunday, sending bricks and rubble flying into the new section, which opened in July. No one was hurt.

The damage is in the new gymnasium, the track area and the conditioning centre. Andre Gallant, CEO of the Cape Breton YMCA, said some wallboard is cracked and insulation is poking through.

Further details can be found here.

First half of Kansas Turnpike bridge dropped by implosion.

76 metres down, 76 metres to go. Today’s successful dropping of a 250-ton section of original Kansas River bridge along the Kansas Turnpike now has officials turning their attention to 10 am Thursday, the anticipated time for detonating more explosives to cut through the rusted steel structure.

“This went great,” said Rex Fleming, the turnpike’s project engineer, at the blast site Sunday afternoon. “We’re ready to do it again.”

More than 150 onlookers crowded into parking lots, under shelters and up against trees Sunday in Burcham Park to observe the first bridge blast. It’s all part of an ongoing $130 million project for the Kansas Turnpike Authority, which is replacing its 55-year-old river bridges, overhauling two Lawrence interchanges and making other upgrades through the end of 2011.

Read more here or view the video below.

Lehman Brothers to foot bill for East Oakland hills demolition.

Lehman Brothers, the bankrupt financial partner for SunCal’s stalled Oak Knoll residential development, has agreed to pay for demolition of nearly 100 hazardous wooden buildings scattered across the 67.5 hectare site in the East Oakland hills.

The detailed announcement could come as early as today, said Lawrence Jacobson of Cohen and Jacobson LLP, the attorney handling the case for Oakland.

The city has filed claims of $6.7 million in U.S. Bankruptcy Court against Lehman Brothers, the amount it estimated it would take to secure the former Naval base and reduce the fire hazard created when SunCal ordered its contractors to walk away from the planned 960-unit development last year.

The estimate included demolition of old barracks, warehouses, garages and homes that have been torn apart by vandals seeking copper and other metals. It does not include the multistory hospital building or historic Club Knoll. It’s likely all the buildings contain asbestos.

Lehman already has released $500,000 to repair fences, hire security guards to protect the site, clear downed trees and trash, and bring in hundreds of goats that are mowing their way through the dry grass and weeds.

The agreement to release more money for the demolition came about after representatives of the bankruptcy court and Lehman Brothers and SunCal Companies toured the abandoned Oak Knoll buildings with city and Fire Department officials a few weeks ago, said Jacobson, adding that there still are some details that need to be worked out.

Further details here.

Three Considerate Contractor Gold Awards; each for an NFDC member company.

Fresh from their triumph at the recent Demolition Awards, the National Federation of Demolition Contractors has cause for celebration again.

Last week, the Corporation of London awarded Considerate Contractor Gold Awards to just three demolition companies; and each one is an NFDC member. The winners were Keltbray, McGee and Erith (pictured below):

A 129 metre high Philadelphia chimney has been safely imploded.

The long-awaited implosion of the Drexel Shaft in Philadelphia has been completed without a hitch. Explosives experts CDI toppled the 129 metre high stack at 7.45 Sunday morning (local time) to make way for a parking lot.

The old steam power plant was built in the 1920’s but was closed in 1964.

A second video, this time shot in high definition, can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theneighborhoodwatch/4105497127/

Bombproof wallpaper withstands multiple strikes from wrecking ball.

As someone who has never yet managed to hang a single strip straight in his entire life, the thought of a permanent wallpaper holds a certain appeal. But how the hell are you supposed to remove it if it’s bombproof and even wrecking ball proof?

Best Of What’s New 2009: Bombproof Wallpaper Test from PopSci.com on Vimeo.

Councilman alleges EPA owes community $2 million.

A city councilman in Libby said Thursday that the Environmental Protection Agency owes the asbestos-plagued Superfund community $2 million for the demolition of several contaminated buildings.

The city-owned buildings included an export plant for asbestos-laden vermiculite that was shipped from the site across the country by W.R. Grace, the now-bankrupt chemical and mining company.

After the buildings came under city ownership about a decade ago, they were torn down by Grace at the direction of the EPA.

City Councilman DC Orr said that after settling a civil suit against Grace last year for $250 million, the agency was obligated to repay the city $2 million. That’s the amount Grace offered in 2000 to buy back the property where the demolished buildings stood.

Read more here.

Company bids $1 to take down gas building; next stop, paying client to work for them.

Mike Delucio & Sons wants to take down the former Richmond Gas Company building. Delucio officials bid $1 to take down the old gas building and $12,280 to haul the rubble away.

It was by far the lowest bid received when the Richmond Board of Public Works and Safety opened bids Thursday night.

Further details here

Not sure how to drop that tower? Ask a TV producer.

Advanced Explosive Demolition Inc., an Idaho demolition specialist, is negotiating a deal to implode the condo tower at 1515 S. Flagler Drive that has been vacant and decaying since the 2004 hurricanes.

The company’s owners, Eric and Lisa Kelly, are going to be the focus of a six-part series on the Learning Channel called “The Imploders.” The show’s executive producer, Al Edgington, said that at 30 storeys, the 1515 Tower would easily be the tallest building imploded in the series.

“We would love to take down this spectacular building,” Edgington said. “It would be a great episode of the show.”

Point Marion Bridge will be imploded on Monday, weather permitting.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transport (PennDOT) has scheduled the demolition of the old Point Marion Bridge for between 7 am and noon Monday. Explosives will be used to drop the 79-year-old closed bridge into the Monongahela River.

During the process, a mandatory 800-foot safety zone wii surround the demolition area, requiring the closure of the new bridge next to the old span and its pedestrian walkway and surrounding roadway.

Further details here.