Milwaukee Transit Center clock tower topples

The clock tower on the downtown Milwaukee Transit Center was demolished in the early morning hours Saturday, Jan. 7. The demolition will make way for a new development along the city's skyline, according to a report on local Fox affiliate, Fox 6 News.

Wisconsin-based construction firm, J.H. Findorff & Son, led the demolition.

The project manager, Dan Weiss, told Fox 6 that prior to tipping over the clock tower crews used heavy equipment to pick away at the precast concrete that was sitting on the clock tower beforehand to reduce the amount of vibration that would happen when the actual clock tower tipped over. The tower’s six columns were torch cut to weaken the structure.

The tower tipped over as planned and the project went safely, reported Weiss.

The next demolition phase for the development includes the bridge over Michigan Street. Once the debris is removed, work will begin on the Couture building, a 44-story skyscraper, featuring about 300 apartments along with retail, a restaurant and parking space. Groundbreaking is expected in the spring.