Demolition: The Art of Demolishing, Dismantling, Imploding, Toppling and Razing

This exciting illustrated tour takes you step-by-step behind the scenes of the most incredible implosions in the world from standing skyscrapers to-kaboom!-a pile of rubble. A hotel in Atlantic city, a bridge in France, an office in Tokyo, a factory in Pittsburgh, a casino in Las Vegas-these incredible demolition projects and more are illustrated with huge, full-color photographs satisfying our fascination with destruction through second-by-second views of each structure as it takes its final, devastating plunge back to earth. The author, with the help of the Loizeaux family of Controlled Demolition, Inc., relates stories and describes techniques for imploding structures-from bridges to skyscrapers-in this most arresting form of demolition where strategically placed charges fired with precision timing can make a huge building collapse onto itself without disturbing the surrounding buildings. Detailed blueprints attest to the careful months of planning, and discussions with expert contractors and engineers reveal the secrets, strategies, sheer power and excitement of one of the world's most dangerous trades. Dramatic picture sequences give second-by-second displays of famous and elaborate demolition projects including the implosion of Seattle's Kingdome, the destruction of missile platforms in Bulgaria, the final take-down of buildings decimated by earthquakes in Mexico City, and takes us onto the sets of movies like Lethal Weapon and Mars Attacks! for amazing implosions laced with spectacular pyrotechnics.