The Riverfront YMCA in Des Moines, Iowa, is set to be imploded on Oct. 4, according to the local TV station KCCI’s website www.kcci.com. The report adds, demolition crews have already bulldozed half the building and salvaging for recycling as much as possible.
The YMCA’s executive director Tim Short told the television station the YMCA serviced the area for nearly 54 years but was not able to keep up with the demands of the organization.
The building implosion is expected to take about nine seconds. The columns will be loaded with explosive charges, triggering a series of explosions before it collapses, creating a dust cloud. The dust is expected to take five minutes to settle.
For safety reasons, an area surrounding the building will be blocked off. The YMCA will now operate at the Wellmark YMCA. The old site is expected to be completely cleared and sold to a real estate company by the end of November. Plans call for a mix of housing and retail to be developed on the property.
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