Fascinating video shows how special effects specialists recreate demolition for the movies.

Ever watched a movie in which a building was demolished and wondered “was that for real”? Well, in the case of Batman – The Dark Knight, in which a real demolition WAS used, the chances are you’re watching either CGI or even a miniature model being “imploded”; and this fascinating video shows how it’s done.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the fact that they actually add dust (or gas) for added realism.

Some recently rediscovered magazines shine a light on a demolition world gone by.

Earlier this week, we uploaded the second ever edition of Euro Demolition News, the hip and happening electronic magazine of the European Demolition Association that features all the state-of-the-art developments in this iPhone-toting, email obsessed demolition world we now inhabit.

But some of our more eagle-eyed readers spotted that the magazine was linked to an online repository of some less cutting edge publications; namely some copies of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors’ Demolition & Dismantling magazine dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.

So, prompted by some reader feedback, we have decided to bring a few of these lost gems to you; and the first comes from a year in which the UK was split between Silver Jubilee celebrations and the advent of punk music. So here is the Demolition & Dismantling magazine from the month and year I started high school; September 1977 (and if I had known then what I know now, believe me, I would have studied WAY harder!!)

Photos capture start of works following official ceremony.

An official ceremony was held today to mark the start of demolition works at the old National Stadium. In its place will rise a state-of-the-art, S$1.3 billion facility in 2014.

The old National Stadium was built in 1973 and contains many happy memories of the time Singapore played in the Malaysia Cup and other sports events like the inter-school track and field championships. The National Stadium was also the venue for 18 National Day Parades. A new 55,000-seater stadium with a retractable roof and individually cooled seats will rise in its place.

“Over the past decade, Singapore has changed the way it perceives, plays and enjoys sports. By any measure, we are a true sporting nation. We play, we cheer, we excel and we work in sports. The new Sports Hub in Kallang is a bold confirmation of how much we have accomplished—and how much more we can do,” said Mr Alex Chan, Chairman, Singapore Sports Council. “The Sports Hub will help us put in place the hardware and software that will not only benefit Sports Hub when it is up and running, but also spillover to all other areas of sports development in Singapore.”

The National Stadium was slated for demolition in 2007 but the financial crisis in 2008 delayed the project. The Singapore Sports Hub, when built, will be the only stadium in the world that can be reconfigured to accommodate cricket, rugby and football matches in the same venue.

Read more here or view a photo slideshow here.

Work grinds to a halt again at paper mill over asbestos fears.

For the second time in less than a month, a state agency has ordered a Texas man to stop demolition work at a former paper mill in Lockport.

This time, state Labor Department officials say the owner of the property knew there was asbestos contamination but continued to allow unprotected workers to perform the demolition.

Property owner Scott Krzyzanowski was initially told after a 3 September site visit to stop demolition work until the results of asbestos tests came back, state officials said. On 14 September, a few days after receiving the test results, the Labor Department cited Krzyzanowski with several violations, including using a non-licensed contractor and non-certified workers, starting demolition work without an asbestos survey and refusing to allow inspectors to perform their review.

On Friday, inspectors found workers again performing demolition work at the site. The Labor Department then issued a stop-work order.

Before the asbestos test results were in, Krzyzanowski told The Buffalo News he doubted there was much asbestos in the 1,500 square metre (16,000-square-foot), largely roofless building.

Read more here.

Stoke council suspends six officers over demolition tender process.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has suspended six regeneration officers as part of an inquiry into its tendering process for demolition work.

The local authority is being helped by the Audit Commission, which has taken away a number of documents relating to the investigation.

Additionally, police have made one arrest following complaints about the council’s approach to demolition procurement.

The six suspended officers all work for the council’s Regeneration Directorate.

Read more here.

Council seeks to curb anti-social behaviour with demolition within conservation area.

The local authority-owned blocks won architectural awards when they were built in the 1960s but are now said to be out of keeping with the character of the 17th and 18th century conservation area. The buildings in McDouall Stuart Place, High Street and Howard Place in Fife are largely boarded up and have become rat-infested and a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

Local councillors have said they would be relieved to see the five blocks demolished but because they are in a conservation area permission must be given by Historic Scotland, who normally insist on plans for replacement housing being in place first.

However, the council has revealed that, due to the economic climate and the ongoing regeneration of Dysart, it has not yet been possible to come up with a detailed alternative — but modest environmental improvements such as grassed and paved areas would be carried out in the meantime.

Read more here.

Video highlights why the demolition industry will always have accidents.

How stupid can one man be? Well, coming from a man who has been known to sport a kilt for no apparent reason, that’s a good question.

But someone performing demolition on a clearly unstable floor by jumping on it? That would be pretty stupid. To do that with no visible means of support? That would be really stupid. To do both of these things with no personal protective equipment whatsoever? That would veer into incredibly stupid territory. But to then have your friend film all of this AND post it on YouTube is truly the work of a certifiable lunatic.

Welcome to the world of unregulated demolition:

Water tower demolition project of special interest to DemolitionNews.com.

Under normal circumstances, the proposed demolition of a 100-year old water tower in a Surrey backwater probably wouldn’t make it onto DemolitionNews.com. But when that Surrey backwater is, in fact, our own backyard and the tower in question can be seen from Demolition News Towers, then our interest is suddenly piqued.

According to the Epsom Guardian newspaper, London and Quadrant (L&Q) Housing Association, which owns the 12-storey Horton Water Tower, in Cavendish Walk, Epsom, has appointed a planning consultant to investigate whether it can tear down the controversial building and replace it with plants and trees.

Project co-ordinator Lorna Miller told councillors a questionnare to nearby residents found that demolition was “by far the most favourable option”, although some have argued it should remain untouched because of its history and character.

Read more here.

Excavator modifier hosts open day for demolition operative trainees.

Eight students from The National Construction College at Bircham Newton have just spent the day on the Kocurek factory floor learning the processes and technique’s employed in converting hydraulic excavators into high reach demolition machines.

The visit was part of the demolition operative apprenticeship programme that gives students a unique insight into the manufacture and operation of demolition machines.

The students were: Adam Gadie, CLS Demolition; Sean Welsh and Ryan Redmond of J. Bryan (Victoria) Ltd; Steven Wray, Armac Demolition; Liam O’Brien of G. O’ Brien; Kyle Coleman, KDC Demolition; Travis Noblett, JP Demolition; and Cameron Peel, W&M Thompson (Earthworks) Ltd.

Read more here.

O’Devaney flats set to falls as regeneration programme restarts.

Plans are finally afoot for the demolition of the O’Devaney Gardens’ flat blocks that formed part of one of the city’s major regeneration schemes which collapsed in 2008 when property developer Bernard McNamara pulled out of the proposed e180 million social housing scheme.

Demolition of five of the notoriously dilapidated blocks is due to take place in December or January. The move is being hailed as a “step in the right direction” by the many who have waited almost 15 years for the long-promised regeneration to take place.

Dublin City Council is in the process of finalising arrangements for the demolition of the five of the flat blocks in the Dublin 7 development.

A silver lining to the collapse of the regeneration is in that the new masterplan for the complex is “superior in quality than the original proposals”, according to local councillor Emer Costello (Lab).
“It will certainly be a better quality development with more thought and planning going in to what the development needs,” she told Northside People.

“It is encouraging to see progress on the O’Devaney Gardens Regeneration Project and fixing a date for the demolition will mark a major milestone in the project.

“However, it is over two years since the McNamara Regeneration Project collapsed in May 2008 and it is still very difficult for the more than 80 families living in O’Devaney who have been waiting over 15 years for the long-promised regeneration to take place.”

Dublin City Council has given notice that it intends to initiate the process for the demolition of five existing flat blocks incorporating almost 80 flats.

Read the full story here.