New demolition techniques

A Japanese construction company has developed a demolition method that does not produce the usual noise and dust, Reuters reported on Feb. 19.

The Taisei Construction Group is shrinking the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka in Tokyo with little or no noise.

Each floor in the building is being demolished in a new technique never before seen. This technique was developed by Hideki Ichihara of the Taisei Construction Group.

Photos illustrating the Taisei Group 'miniature'
Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka in Tokyo

'The building will be downgraded gradually in stages. The height of the building at first was 140 meters but was now reduced to about 80 meters, "said Hideki Ichihara, director of construction engineering at Taisei.

As expected, this hotel will disappear in the next six months.

It is difficult to see the demolition of the building if viewed from outside, but inside there are a lot of workers busy working, said Ichihara.

A system of massive machines is placed on the top floor to destroy the columns, trusses and most of the floor.

After that, the racks underneath will pull the rest of the floor and all debris down one step.

A crane, also inside the building, will carry all of these blocks to the ground and be designed to generate electricity for other devices.

New demolition techniques are well suited to a crowded city like Tokyo, said Ichihara.

'You can use explosives to collapse a building if there are no houses around. But if you destroy a building in a crowded residential neighborhood, the neighboring houses will be affected. That is why we do not usually use explosives to destroy homes in Japan , "said Ichihara.

Ichihara also said that the technique could be applied to other parts of the world.

New home demolition techniques are less polluting and quieter than conventional explosives.