Wikipedia

List of tallest voluntarily demolished buildings

Voluntary building demolition refers to a decision by a landowner or governing authority to demolish a building for various reasons, such as severe structural damage or land redevelopment. Involuntary (or unplanned) demolitions, such as a building collapsing during an earthquake or a terrorist attack, are excluded from this list. Similarly, structures that are not buildings, including roller coasters, drop towers, chimneys, telecommunication or observation towers, and guyed masts, are not included.

The demolition of especially tall buildings presents unique challenges, particularly when their location is within densely populated areas of their respective cities. They are most often deconstructed floor-by-floor down to the basement, as opposed to controlled implosion of the structure, which would most likely damage surrounding structures.

The following list includes the tallest demolished buildings, with a height of at least 100 metres (330 ft).

Rank Building name City Country Height Floors Year completed Year demolished Method Reason
(m) (ft)
1AXA TowerSingapore Singapore2357715219862023DeconstructionDemolished to make way for Skywaters Residences.[1]
2270 Park AvenueNew York United States2157075219602021DeconstructionDemolished to make way for a taller building at 270 Park Avenue.[2]
3Torre de la EscolleraCartagena Colombia206676582007 (halted)2007DeconstructionTopped out, but never completed. Demolished due to severe structural damage caused by a storm on 13 May 2007. Prior to its destruction, it held the title of the tallest building in Colombia.[3]
4Singer BuildingNew York United States1876124719081968DeconstructionDemolished to make way for One Liberty Plaza.[4]
5CPF BuildingSingapore Singapore1715614619762018DeconstructionDemolished to make way for a 29-story office tower (only 10 meters taller).[5] Second-tallest building demolished in Asia.[6]
6Meena Plaza IAbu Dhabi United Arab Emirates168.5553462014 (halted)2020ImplosionTopped out, but never completed. Tallest building ever to be demolished using explosives.[7][8]
7Fuji Xerox TowersSingapore Singapore1655413819872023DeconstructionDemolished to make way for Newport Residences.[9]
8World Trade CenterTokyo Japan1635334019702023DeconstructionDemolished as part of the Hamamatsucho Station West Entrance District redevelopment.[10]
9Morrison HotelChicago United States1605264519251965ManualDemolished to make way for Bank One Plaza.[4]
10Deutsche Bank BuildingNew York United States1585183919742011DeconstructionHeavily damaged from the September 11 attacks.[4]
11UIC BuildingSingapore Singapore1524994019732013DeconstructionDemolished to make way for V on Shenton.[5]
12=One Meridian PlazaPhiladelphia United States1504923819721999DeconstructionHeavily damaged from a fire on 23 February 1991.[4]
12=Tun Razak TowerKuala Lumpur Malaysia1504923519832014DeconstructionDamaged from the 2014 fire that broke out on the 27th floor of the building.[5]
14City Investing BuildingNew York United States1484873319081968ManualDemolished to make way for One Liberty Plaza.[4]
15Mizuho Bank Uchisaiwaichō Head Office BuildingTokyo Japan1434693819812023DeconstructionDemolished as part of the Uchisaiwaicho 1-Chome District Redevelopment.[11]
16The Ritz-Carlton, Hong KongHong Kong Hong Kong1424653119932009ManualDemolished to make way for China Construction Bank Tower.[4]
17Grand Prince Hotel AkasakaTokyo Japan1414633919822013DeconstructionDemolished to make way for Tokyo Garden Terrace.[4]
18Hennessy CentreHong Kong Hong Kong1404584119832008ManualDemolished to make way for Hysan Place.[4]
19Funkhaus am Raderberggürtel [de]Cologne Germany1384533419802019DeconstructionPartial vacancy since 2003.[citation needed]
20=Ardmore Park Old Block 1Singapore Singapore1374493619781997ManualDemolished to build new structures on the site.[12]
20=Ardmore Park Old Block 2Singapore Singapore1374493619781997ManualDemolished to build new structures on the site.[12]
20=Ardmore Park Old Block 3Singapore Singapore1374493619781997ManualDemolished to build new structures on the site.[12]
23Shaw TowerSingapore Singapore1344403519752020DeconstructionDemolished for redevelopment of the tower's site.[13]
24J. L. Hudson Department Store and AdditionDetroit United States1344392919111998ImplosionHistoric J.L. Hudson Department Store;[14] replaced by Hudson's Detroit.
25National City Company BuildingNew York United States1314323219281982ManualDemolished to make way for 60 Wall Street.[citation needed]
26Palace IIRio de Janeiro Brazil1304262219951998ImplosionPartially collapsed on 22 February 1998 due to engineering error.[15]
27=Savoy-Plaza HotelNew York United States1284203319271965ManualDemolished to make way for the General Motors Building.[4]
27=State Office BlockSydney Australia1284203219651997ManualDemolished to make way for Aurora Place.[5]
29The ExcelsiorHong Kong Hong Kong1264143719732019ManualDemolished to make way for a 135-metre (443 ft) tall office tower.[16]
30=Bank Ekspres TowerIstanbul Turkey1254102719992016ManualDemolished due to the financial crisis and debts.[citation needed]
30=CAGA HouseSydney Australia1254103019771992ManualDemolished to make way for Governor Phillip Tower.[5]
32Bayer-HochhausLeverkusen Germany1224003219632012ManualVarious issues with structure.[17]
33Landmark TowerFort Worth United States120393.63019522006ImplosionAbandoned since 1990, and later damaged in a tornado in 2000. The cost to renovate the building was deemed not viable.[18]
34Empire Landmark HotelVancouver Canada1203934219732019DeconstructionDemolished to make way for a pair of new high-rise residential towers.[19]
35Asahi Seimei Otemachi BuildingTokyo Japan119.63922919712023DeconstructionDemolished to make way for Torch Tower.[citation needed]
36Electric TowerBuffalo United States119389N/A19011902ManualDemolished after the World's fair ended along with the rest of the fair grounds.
37=First National Bank BuildingPittsburgh United States1183872619121970ManualDemolished to make way for One PNC Plaza.[20]
37=Jinhua BuildingXi'an China1183872119962015ImplosionDemolished for redevelopment of the tower's property. It was not used for decades even though it was legally the property of Jinhua Pharmaceutical Factory.[21]
39Centre International RogierBrussels Belgium1173843019602001ManualDemolished to make way for Rogier Tower.[22]
40AfE-TurmFrankfurt Germany1163813219722014ImplosionDemolished for redevelopment of the tower's site. Tallest building in Europe to be demolished using explosives.[23]
41Ocean Tower (The Leaning Tower of South Padre Island)South Padre Island United States115379302008 (halted)2009ImplosionDemolished after cracks were found in the building's supporting columns, and various other deficiencies were discovered during construction. Never opened.[24]
42=Trinity Court BuildingNew York United States1143742619272015ManualDemolished to make way for 76 Trinity Place.[25]
42=Capital One TowerLake Charles United States1143742219832024ImplosionSeverely damaged by Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta in 2020 and subsequently left vacant until its demolition in September 2024.[26]
44=Pearl Bank ApartmentsSingapore Singapore1133723819762019DeconstructionDemolished to make way for One Pearl Bank.[27]
44=Richfield TowerLos Angeles United States1133721319291969ManualDemolished to make way for City National Plaza.[28]
46Edifício São VitoSão Paulo Brazil1123672719592011ManualBuilding fell into disrepair.[29]
47Landmark Hotel and Casino Las VegasParadise United States1113643119691995ImplosionDemolished to make way for a parking lot for the Las Vegas Convention Center.[30]
48Wilson Mendes Caldeira Building [pt]São Paulo Brazil1103613219631975ImplosionImploded to make way for the Sé metro station and Praça da Sé.[citation needed]
49=Furama Hong Kong HotelHong Kong Hong Kong1103603219732002ManualDemolished to make way for AIA Central.[31]
49=Chongqing passenger transport building / Chaotianmen HotelChongqing China1103603219962012ImplosionDemolished to make way for Raffles City.[32]
51Yamato Seimei BuildingTokyo Japan1093592619842023DeconstructionDemolished as part of the Uchisaiwaicho 1-Chome District Redevelopment.[citation needed]
52=Stardust Resort & Casino Las VegasWinchester United States1083543219902007ImplosionDemolished to make way for Echelon Place and Resorts World Las Vegas.[33]
52=Lisbon Bank BuildingJohannesburg South Africa1083542619672019ImplosionA fire in 2018 caused the structure to be deemed unstable.[34][35][36]
52=Yufeng BuildingNanchang China1083542619902017ImplosionDemolished due to poor management and urban planning.[37]
55Sheraton Lincoln HotelHouston United States1073522819622011DeconstructionThe hotel had sat vacant since 1986 at the time of its demolition.[38]
56Millennium Hotel CincinnatiCincinnati United States1073503219772022ManualDemolished due to dilapidated state and closure.[39]
57=Windsor TowerMadrid Spain1063483219792005ManualHeavily damaged from a fire on 12 February 2005.[40]
57=Hotel Sofitel TokyoTokyo Japan1063482619942008Deconstruction[citation needed]
57=Manhattan Life Insurance BuildingNew York United States1063481818941963 or 1964ManualDemolished to make way for an annex to 1 Wall Street.[41]
60=Farmers Bank BuildingPittsburgh United States1053452719021997ImplosionDemolished due to a lack of tenants.[42]
60=Crowne Plaza HotelKuala Lumpur Malaysia1053452619732014DeconstructionDemolished to make way for the proposed Tradewinds Square.[43]
62=Capital Plaza TowerFrankfort United States1033382819722018ImplosionFalling concrete and water leaks from the building were reported in its later years. It was demolished to make way for a new 5-story office building, park, and 1,100-space parking garage.[44]
62=Supertech Apex TowerNoida India103338322009–2012 (halted)2022 ImplosionDemolished due to violation of national building code, along with the slightly smaller Ceyane Tower.[45]
64Enterprise HouseMelbourne Australia1023362419732020DeconstructionDemolished to redevelop the tower's site.[46]
65New York Tribune BuildingNew York United States1023351918751966ManualDemolished to make way for 1 Pace Plaza.[47]
66Friedrich-Engelhorn-HochhausLudwigshafen Germany1013332819572014ManualDemolished for the new BASF headquarters building.[48]
67Martin TowerBethlehem United States1013322119722019ImplosionDemolished for mixed-use rezoning of the tower's property.[49]
68Sparkasse Hagen TowerHagen Germany1013312119752004ImplosionDemolished due to damage from water leakage problems.[50]
69Tower BuildingBaltimore United States1013301619121986ManualDemolished after it was found structurally unsafe.[51]
70=Drapers' GardensLondon United Kingdom1003283019672007DeconstructionDemolished for redevelopment of the tower's site.[52]
70=Southwark TowersLondon United Kingdom1003282519762008DeconstructionDemolished to make way for The Shard.[52]

References

edit
  1. ↑ Andres, Gabrielle (5 August 2022). "Singapore's tallest skyscraper to be built by Alibaba and local partners". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  2. ↑ Young, Michael (7 June 2021). "270 Park Avenue's Demolition is Complete While New Steel Superstructure Rises in Midtown East". New York Yimby. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Desmontarán la Torre de La Escollera en Cartagena" [Dismantle the Torre de La Escollera in Cartagena]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). 20 May 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Livabl (22 June 2014). "The 10 tallest buildings in the world ever to be demolished". Livabl. Archived from the original on 30 March 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "The 10 Tallest Buildings Ever Demolished". The Urban Developer. 22 May 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "CPF Building". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Archived from the original on 18 July 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "Meena Plaza I, Abu Dhabi". Emporis. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Meena Plaza demolition: Iconic Abu Dhabi towers brought down in 10 seconds". Khaleej Times. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Fatal collapse at Tanjong Pagar building site: Concrete wall fell onto street during demolition". Channel News Asia. Singapore. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Kitazawa, Takuya (30 June 2021). "Tokyo's World Trade Center Building closes for demolition". The Asahi Shimbun. Japan. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "More Details Emerge on Tokyo District Redevelopment". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Archived from the original on 20 July 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 Lee, Arthur (21 January 1997). "Breaking up is hard to do". Business Times. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  13. ↑ "Brutalist Tower to be Razed in Singapore". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  14. ↑ Jordan, Jerilyn (24 October 2018). "Detroit's Hudson Building imploded 20 years ago today". Detroit Metro Times. Detroit. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Brazilian lawmaker taking heat as crumbling apartments razed". Deseret News. 1 March 1998. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "Excelsior turned-office plan hasn't been approved". The Standard. Hong Kong. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "Bayer AG". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  18. ↑ McClatchy (11 February 2016). "The Landmark Tower Implosion: 10 years after the fall". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth. Archived from the original on 20 July 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  19. ↑ Mooney, Harrison (18 May 2019). "Time-lapse video shows 'quiet' demolition of Vancouver's Empire Landmark Hotel". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  20. ↑ "First National Bank Building". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  21. ↑ "118-meter-high building in Xi'an demolished". China Daily. Xi'an. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  22. ↑ "Central International Rogier". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  23. ↑ "AfE Turm". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  24. ↑ Brezosky, Lynn (25 February 2015). "Leaning South Padre tower turned into 55,000 tons of debris". My San Antonio. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  25. ↑ "Trinity Court". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  26. ↑ Shafiq, Saman (9 September 2024). "Watch Louisiana tower turn into dust as city demolishes building ravaged by hurricanes". USA Today. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  27. ↑ Luo, Stephanie (13 February 2018). "Pearl Bank Apartments in Outram sold en bloc to CapitaLand for S$728m". The Straits Times. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  28. ↑ Bartlett, James T. "Richfield Tower's Art Deco Doors". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  29. ↑ "Edifício São Vito". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  30. ↑ Buntain, Rex (7 November 1995). "Landmark Falls". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  31. ↑ "Furama Hotel Hong Kong". Hip Hing Construction. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  32. ↑ "Chongqing Chaotianmen Hotel". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  33. ↑ Wright, Jarah (13 March 2023). "Vegas History: Monday marks 16 years since Stardust casino's main towers imploded". KTNV Las Vegas. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  34. ↑ "37 Sauer Street, Johannesburg". Emporis. Retrieved 24 November 2019.[dead link]
  35. ↑ "Almost 900kg of explosives used to demolish Bank of Lisbon building". TimesLIVE. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  36. ↑ "Building where fatal fire started was bad but it was not the worst". TimesLIVE. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  37. ↑ "26-storey building razed in China". The News. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  38. ↑ "Sheraton-Lincoln Hotel". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  39. ↑ LaFleur, Pat; Smith, Lisa (23 February 2021). "Long-awaited demolition of blighted Millennium Hotel set to begin in March". WCPO 9 Cincinnati. Scripps Media, Inc. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  40. ↑ "Windsor Tower going down". Professional Demolition International. 12 April 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  41. ↑ Matlins, Melissa. "Manhattan Life Insurance Company Building". Skyscraper Museum. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  42. ↑ "Farmers Bank Building". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  43. ↑ "Tradewinds confirms demolition to go ahead". The Malaysian Reserve. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  44. ↑ "Capital Plaza Tower Demolished in Frankfort". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  45. ↑ Biswas, Soutik (26 August 2022). "Noida twin towers demolition: How explosives will bring down skyscrapers". BBC News. India. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  46. ↑ Dragomir, Laurence (26 June 2019). "Commercial is the flavour of the month". CBD News. Archived from the original on 3 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  47. ↑ "New York Tribune Building". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  48. ↑ "BASF Hochhaus E 100". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  49. ↑ "Martin Tower: Former Bethlehem Steel headquarters demolished". BBC News. US & Canada. 20 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  50. ↑ "Sparkasse Hagen". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  51. ↑ "Tower Building". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Archived from the original on 3 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  52. 1 2 "What's The Tallest Building Ever Demolished In London?". Londonist. London. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_tallest_voluntarily_demolished_buildings&oldid=1362148000"