How will they eventually dismantle the Stratosphere Tower?

Someday in the future, the structural systems supporting the Stratosphere Tower will age to the point that it will need to come down. What is the process for dismantling a huge concrete structure? It's so big, I don't think an implosion is feasible. I think there is a crane encased in the structure that was used when it was built, but in hundreds of years, will it still be functional? Will they use helicopters to take it down a bucket at a time?

Alien spaceship...

It kind of looks like one anyways

Twenty-five years or so ago, one of my sons had a book that was nominally for children. If I remember correctly, it was titled "Unbuilding." The storyline was that some middle-eastern oil trillionaire had purchased the Empire State Building and was going to move it back to his desert city. The illustrations and text described how the building would be completely dismantled for transport, including which parts would need to be discarded and re-fabricated for the erection phase. A very interesting book for adult reading.

At The Las Vegas Casino Death Watch web site, they have this comment about the Stratosphere:

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Sure, it's been through some seriously troubled times, but we don't think anyone will be demolishing the tower any time soon. At least if they do topple it, it won't hit anything that wouldn't be better off crushed.

I could only offer rather wild speculation about the demolition process that would be used, and it would likely depend upon whether the rest of the casino and hotel were to be demolished at the same time.

If you think implosion is unfeasable, then you're probably not thinking like a demolitions expert.

You're probably thining "If ya knock one leg out, then let it fall, etc" The vision most people have is that the other two legs will form a pivot point near the ground, and the structure will fall into adjacent lots, etc.

The reality is, when the time comes, the demolition will probably knock an arm out first, as well as cripple the other two arms - at a point ABOVE where the three supports meet and divide again. This will allow the top to topple over and remain on the property. Then chop the legs in half so they fall on top of the pile, etc.

By the way, let's not forget that there is a fourth leg/arm. The central part with the elevator and stairs, etc.

Demolishing just the tower would be difficult. If you take it out along with the hotel, though, regular implosion should work fine.

BTW I don't think there's a crane inside the structure. What would be the point? Tall structures are built using cranes, yes. But as the building rises, the cranes are placed on the buildings rather than inside them. When the job is finished, the crane's dismantled and taken away.

Oh, someone else do the obligatory "I have a tower in Vegas I could be persuaded to sell.." joke. Thanks.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Someday in the future, the structural systems supporting the Stratosphere Tower will age to the point that it will need to come down. What is the process for dismantling a huge concrete structure? It's so big, I don't think an implosion is feasible. I think there is a crane encased in the structure that was used when it was built, but in hundreds of years, will it still be functional? Will they use helicopters to take it down a bucket at a time?

I don't think that there is a procedure. The Singer Building (build 1908- demolished 1969) at 612' is the tallest man made building ever demolished. If they ever have to take down the Fountainbleau, it will set a new record.


The tower is probably going to be economically viable long after the hotel. That should make the task easier. With buildings, implosion is a matter of economics, not necessity. It is simply much cheaper than knocking a building down with a crane and a ball. But, imploding a tower is impossible, as their is no cavity to implode. The correct term would be explosion.

Here's a video of a 411 meter radio tower being exploded which is obviously a much simpler task then bringing down a concrete tower.

Here's a video of a 50 meter concrete tower being taken down with a ball. Obviously it helps if there is nothing of value nearby. Crane mounted wrecking balls are almost never used.

I know in Japan they use computer controlled lifts to knock the building down one floor at a time (lowering the building down a floor at a time). I don't think that will work with the Stratosphere tower.

Well, the good news is that the Space Needle in Seattle is 50 years old, Gateway Arch in St Louis is 46 years old, and the CN Tower in Toronto is 37 years old. They will probably have to experiment on those structures first.