Beirut Hilton Hotel Implosion

The Beirut Hilton Hotel, which was built in 1975, but never occupied, was imploded on Sunday, July 14, 2002 by NADC Charter Member, Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) of Phoenix, Maryland and their client, Optimal Engineering Consulting & Contracting, SARL, (OECC) of Antelias, Lebanon to make room for a new hotel.

Twenty-seven (27) years ago, just days before the grand opening, the Hilton Hotel became the site of fighting in Lebanons Civil War. Christian and Muslim militiamen fought room to room for control of the building and other nearby hotels. The Hilton, two (2) other major hotels and other high-rise buildings were ravaged by the fighting. The building was one of the three (3) major hotels badly damaged, but not rebuilt, in Lebanon. Located in the City Center, the Hilton stood out in a major redevelopment area which, in recent years, had erased the scars of the fifteen (15) year long Civil War.

CDIs international affiliate, CDI UK, Ltd., supervised preparation operations being performed by OECC at the site. CDIs preparation plan called for explosives to be placed on 6 (SIX) floors in the structure: two (2) lower floors consisting of heavy concrete column and beam construction and; (4) upper floors, constructed of reinforced concrete shear walls. By working in so many locations throughout the structure, CDI was able to beautifully fragment the debris, facilitating OECCs ability to meet their six (6) week schedule to prepare the site for new construction.

Utilizing approximately 350 kg of high velocity explosives, in 880 locations, CDI felled the structure at exactly 10AM before thousands of spectators with no harm to surrounding buildings. The entire sequence lasted only ten (10) seconds.

The Hilton property and building were abandoned long ago by the US-based hotel chain and a group of Lebanese businessmen purchased the structure two (2) years ago. A new 5-story hotel will be constructed in its place.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Implosion
• Beirut
• Hilton
• CDI

[jadberro]

i wanted to see that ! glad i found it here by random , Thanks !

[Lengas32]

you're always welcome to my channel

[MazJax]

@drotegu6 didnt sound anything like it though

[jonibaloney2003]

@drotegu6 omg i was thinking the exact same thing

[drotegu6]

funny that how the twin towers looked when they fell....