List of tallest voluntarily demolished buildings

Voluntary building demolition is the decision by either the landowner or a higher government body to demolish a structure for any number of reasons, ranging from severe structural damage to the redevelopment of the land the building sits upon. Involuntary (or unplanned) building demolitions, such as the collapse of a building during a severe earthquake or by a terrorist attack, are not included in this list.

Tallest voluntarily demolished buildings over 100 meters (328 feet) in height

The demolition of especially high buildings present unique challenges, especially when their location is within densely populated areas of their respective cities. Buildings in excess of 100 meters (328 ft) in height are most often deconstructed floor-by-floor down to the building's basement, as opposed to controlled implosion of the structure, which would most likely damage surrounding structures.

Rank Building name City Country Height Floors Year completed Year demolished Method Reason
(m) (ft)
270 Park AvenueNew York United States2167085219602021[1]DeconstructionWill be demolished to make way for a taller building for JPMorgan Chase[2]
1Singer BuildingNew York United States1876124719081968DeconstructionDemolished to make way for One Liberty Plaza.
2CPF BuildingSingapore Singapore1715614619762017DeconstructionDemolished to make way for a 29 storey office tower.
3 Meena Plaza I Abu Dhabi  United Arab Emirates 168.5 553 46 2015 2020 Implosion Topped out, but never completed. Tallest building ever imploded.[3]
4Morrison HotelChicago United States1605264519251965ManualDemolished to make way for Bank One Plaza.
5Deutsche Bank BuildingNew York United States157.65173919732011DeconstructionHeavily damaged from the September 11 attacks.
6UIC BuildingSingapore Singapore1524994019732013DeconstructionDemolished to make way for V on Shenton.
7One Meridian PlazaPhiladelphia United States1504923819721999DeconstructionHeavily damaged from a fire on February 23, 1991.
8Tun Razak TowerKuala Lumpur Malaysia1504923519832014Deconstruction
9City Investing BuildingNew York United States1484873319081968ManualDemolished to make way for One Liberty Plaza.
10The Ritz-Carlton, Hong KongHong Kong Hong Kong1424653119932009ManualDemolished to make way for China Construction Bank Tower.
11Grand Prince Hotel AkasakaTokyo Japan1414633919822013DeconstructionDemolished to make way for Tokyo Garden Terrace.
12Hennessy CentreHong Kong Hong Kong1404584119832008ManualDemolished to make way for Hysan Place.
13The Harmon HotelParadise United States1384534720092015ManualFound to be structurally deficient and demolished. Never opened.
14Funkhaus am RaderberggürtelCologne Germany1384533419802019DeconstructionPartial vacancy since 2003.
15J.L. Hudson's Department Store and AdditionDetroit United States1344392919271998ImplosionWas neglected for 12 years, and considered beyond repair. The decision was controversial.
16National City Company BuildingNew York United States1314323219281982ManualDemolished to make way for 60 Wall Street.
17Savoy-Plaza HotelNew York United States1284203319271965ManualDemolished to make way for General Motors Building.
18State Office BlockSydney Australia1284203219651997ManualDemolished to make way for Aurora Place.
19The ExcelsiorHong Kong Hong Kong126.3414.53719732019ManualDemolished to make way for a 135 meters office tower.
20CAGA HouseSydney Australia1254103019771992ManualDemolished to make way for Governor Phillip Tower.
21Bayer-HochhausLeverkusen Germany1224003219632012Manual
22Empire Landmark HotelVancouver Canada120393.74219732019DeconstructionDemolished to make way for a pair of new high-rise residential towers.
23First National Bank BuildingPittsburgh United States1183872619121969ManualDemolished to make way for One PNC Plaza.
24 Jinhua BuildingXi'an China1183872119992015Implosion Demolished for redevelopment of the tower’s property.
25Centre International RogierBrussels Belgium1173843019602001ManualDemolished to make way for Rogier Tower.
26AfE-TurmFrankfurt Germany1163813219722014ImplosionDemolished for redevelopment of the tower’s site. Tallest building to have been imploded in Europe.
27Landmark TowerFort Worth United States1163803019522006ImplosionAbandoned since 1990, later damaged in tornado in 2000. Cost to renovate the building was deemed too prohibitive.
28Ocean TowerSouth Padre Island United States1153793020062009ImplosionDemolished after cracks were found in the building's supporting columns during construction. Never opened.
29Trinity Court BuildingNew York United States1143742619272015ManualDemolished to make way for 76 Trinity Place
30 Pearl Bank Apartments Singapore  Singapore 113.4 372 38 1976 2019 Deconstruction Demolished to make way for One Pearl Bank.
31Richfield TowerLos Angeles United States1133721319291969ManualDemolished to make way for City National Plaza.
32Landmark Hotel and Casino Las VegasParadise United States1113643119691995ImplosionDemolished to make way for a parking lot for Las Vegas Convention Center.
33Wilson Mendes Caldeira BuildingSão Paulo Brazil1103613219631975ImplosionImploded to make way for the metro station and Praça da Sé.
34Furama Hong Kong HotelHong Kong Hong Kong1103603219732002ManualDemolished to make way for AIA Central.
35=Stardust Resort & Casino Las VegasWinchester United States1083543219912007ImplosionDemolished to make way for Echelon Place and Resorts World Las Vegas.
35=Lisbon Bank BuildingJohannesburg South Africa1083542619672019ImplosionImploded due to a fire in 2018 which caused the structure to be unstable.[4][5][6]
37Sheraton Lincoln HotelHouston United States1073522819622011Manual
38New York World BuildingNew York United States106.63502018901955ManualDemolished to make way for an entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge.
39Windsor TowerMadrid Spain1063483219792005ManualHeavily damaged from a fire on February 12, 2005; thus not quite voluntarily demolished, exactly the same than nº 4.
40=Farmers Bank BuildingPittsburgh United States1053452719021997ImplosionDemolished due to a lack of tenants.
40=Crowne Plaza HotelKuala Lumpur Malaysia1053452619732014DeconstructionDemolished to make way for the proposed Tradewinds Square.
42Capital Plaza TowerFrankfort United States1033382819722018Implosion
43Friedrich-Engelhorn-HochhausLudwigshafen Germany1013332819572014Manual
44Martin TowerBethlehem United States1013322119722019ImplosionDemolished for mixed-use rezoning of the tower’s property.
45Sparkasse Hagen towerHagen Germany1013312119752004Implosion
46Tower BuildingBaltimore United States1013301619121986Manual
47Southwark TowersLondon United Kingdom1003282519762008DeconstructionDemolished to make way for The Shard.

Tallest voluntarily demolished buildings 30 meters (98 feet) to 100 meters (328 feet) in height

Rank Building name City Country Height (m) Height (ft) Floors Year completed Year demolished Method Reason
48 Genesee Towers Flint  United States 99.4326 19 1968 2013 Implosion The building was demolished due to the risk of falling concrete from the structure.
49 CRA Building Melbourne  Australia 99.1325 26 1962 1988 Manual Demolished to make way for 101 Collins Street.
49= Angkasa Raya Building Kuala Lumpur  Malaysia 99.1325 24 1977 2011 Deconstruction
51 1515 Tower West Palm Beach  United States 97.6320 30 1974 2010 Implosion Damaged by hurricanes in 2004.
52 Lodge on the Park Hong Kong  Hong Kong 96.6317 29 1988 2011 Manual Demolished to make way for Kennedy Park at Central.
53 Saint Paul Building New York  United States 96315 26 1898 1958 Manual Demolished to make way for Western Electric Building.
54 Houston Main Building Houston  United States 95.1312 21 1952 2012 Implosion
55 One James River Plaza Richmond  United States 94.4310 21 1978 2020 Implosion
56 Beautiful City Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 93.3306 28 1978 2003 Manual Demolished to make way for CASA 880.
57= Limebank House London  United Kingdom 93305 26 1969 1998 Manual
57= Zhongyin Building Wenzhou  China 93305 1997 2004 Implosion Deemed unsafe. Never opened.
58 Poltegor Centre Wrocław  Poland 92.1302 25 1982 2007 Manual Demolished to make way for Sky Tower.
59 Skrunda-1 Receiver Building Skrunda  Latvia 91.4300 19 1991 1995 Implosion Demolished as a result of then-US President Bill Clinton’s commitment to help the Latvian government comply with a treaty involving the withdrawal of Russian troops.
60 20 Fenchurch Street London  United Kingdom 91.1299 25 1968 2008 Deconstruction
61= 109 Bluevale StreetGlasgow  United Kingdom 90.8298 30 1968 2016 Deconstruction
61= 51 Whitevale Street Glasgow  United Kingdom 90.8298 30 1968 2016 Deconstruction
63 Sander Hall Cincinnati  United States 90.5297 27 1971 1991 Implosion Demolished because of various problems.
64 Tai Sang Commercial Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 90295 27 1997 2009
65= 10 Red Road Court Glasgow  United Kingdom 89292 31 1968 2015 Implosion
65= 21 Birnie Court Glasgow  United Kingdom 89292 31 1968 2013 Implosion
65= 33 Petershill Drive Glasgow  United Kingdom 89292 31 1968 2015 Implosion
65= 63 Petershill Drive Glasgow  United Kingdom 89292 31 1968 2015 Implosion
65= 93 Petershill Drive Glasgow  United Kingdom 89292 31 1968 2015 Implosion
65= 123 Petershill Drive Glasgow  United Kingdom 89292 31 1968 2015 Implosion
69 World Trade Centre London  United Kingdom 89292 19 1991 2004 Damaged by the 1996 Docklands bombing.
70 Key Bank Tower Salt Lake City  United States 88.4290 20 1980 2007 Implosion Demolished to make way for City Creek Center.
71 Old Toronto Star Building Toronto  Canada 88.1289 22 1929 1972 Manual Demolished to make way for First Canadian Place.
72 Hong Kong Hilton Hong Kong  Hong Kong 86.6284 26 1962 1992 Demolished to make way for Cheung Kong Center.
73= Northwestern Mutual East TowerMilwaukee United States862831619792014DeconstructionDemolished to make way for Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons.
73= Liggett BuildingNew York United States862832219222016DeconstructionDemolished to make way for One Vanderbilt.
74 Lake View HotelNanchang China862812219972010Implosion
75 Hotel Grand ChancellorChristchurch New Zealand852792619862012ManualDamaged by 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
76 High-rise of PécsPécs Hungary842762519762016DeconstructionUnoccupied from 1989 due to structural instability.
75 DunesParadise United States842752419611993ImplosionDemolished to make way for Bellagio Las Vegas.
77 SandsParadise United States832741819651996ImplosionDemolished to make way for The Venetian Las Vegas.
78 Owasina Hall Calgary  Canada 83.5274 22 1972 2016 Deconstruction Demolished to be redeveloped.[7]
79 Elegant Court Hong Kong  Hong Kong 83273 25 1987 2009 Demolished to make way for 21 Whitfield.
80 C&S Bank Tower Atlanta  United States 81266 20 1968 1993 Manual Demolished after the NationsBank Plaza (now Bank of America Plaza) was completed.[8]
81 Northwestern National Bank BuildingMinneapolis United States802641619301984ImplosionDamaged by the 1982 Thanksgiving Day fire. The Wells Fargo Center now stands on the site.
82 103 Colmore Row Birmingham  United Kingdom 80262 23 1976 2016 Manual
83 153 Petershill DriveGlasgow United Kingdom802622719692012Implosion
84 Four Seasons Hotel MaputoMaputo Mozambique802622219742007ImplosionDue to the Mozambican War of Independence, the building was never finished.
85 Winchester House London  United Kingdom 80260 22 1968 1997
86 10-30 Petershill Court Glasgow  United Kingdom 79259 31 1968 2015 Implosion
87 153-213 Petershill Court Glasgow  United Kingdom 79259 31 1968 2012 Implosion
88 Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis  United States 78255 18 1956 2005 Implosion
89 Commonwealth Building Louisville  United States 78255 21 1928 1994 Implosion
90 Hotel Vancouver (1916) Vancouver  Canada 77.1253 1916 1949 Demolished to be redeveloped.[9]
91 Traveler's Insurance Building Boston  United States 77253 18 1959 1988 Implosion Demolished to make way for 125 High Street.
92 Crocodile House 1 Hong Kong  Hong Kong 77251 23 1982 2008 Demolished to make way for Agricultural Bank of China Tower.
93 Melbourne Industrial Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 77251 23 1977 2005 Demolished to make way for One Island East.
94 Hôtel de la Montagne Montreal  Canada 75246 20 1974 2014 Demolished to be redeveloped.[10]
91= Hotel Laurentien Montreal  Canada 75246 20 1948 1978 Demolished to be redeveloped.[11]
91= Maths Tower Manchester  United Kingdom 75246 18 1968 2005
92 Sheraton-Oklahoma Hotel Oklahoma City  United States 75245 24 1932 1977 Implosion Demolished because it was in the way of an urban development.
93 McGuire Apartments Seattle  United States 74242 25 2001 2011 Manual Structural instability.
94 Qingdao Railway Plaza Qingdao  China 74241 24 1991 2007 Implosion
95 Aik San Factory Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 73240 22 1972 2005 Demolished to make way for One Island East.
96 Lee Gardens Hotel Hong Kong  Hong Kong 73240 22 1970 1990 Demolished to make way for Manulife Plaza.
97 International Complex Kuala Lumpur  Malaysia 73240 18 1978 2014 Deconstruction Demolished to make way for the proposed Tradewinds Square.
98 Inn on the Park Toronto  Canada 72.5238 23 1971 2016 Manual Demolished to be redeveloped.[12]
99= 20 Rosemount Street Glasgow  United Kingdom 72236 25 1967 2013 Implosion Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
99= 40 Rosemount Street Glasgow  United Kingdom 72236 25 1967 2016 Implosion Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
101 Pabst Building Milwaukee  United States 72235 14 1891 1981 Deconstruction Demolished to make way for 100 East Wisconsin
102 HSBC Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 70230 13 1935 1978
103 St. Johns House Bootle  United Kingdom 70 230 19 1981 2001 Implosion Suffered from sick building syndrome.
104 Anada Tower Hong Kong  Hong Kong 70229 21 2008 Demolished to make way for Agricultural Bank of China Tower
105 Le Tripode Nantes  France 70229 18 1972 2005 Implosion
106= 40 Stirlingfauld Place Glasgow  United Kingdom 69226 24 1975 2008 Implosion Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
106= 45 Stirlingfauld Place Glasgow  United Kingdom 69226 24 1975 2008 Implosion Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
107 Pacific Palisades East Vancouver  Canada 68223 22 1966 1994 Implosion Demolished to make way for The Palisades Apartments
108 Birmingham Post & Mail Birmingham  United Kingdom 67220 16 1964 2005 Deconstruction
109 Traymore Hotel Atlantic City  United States 67220 16 1906 1972 Implosion
110 Zhejiang University Number 3 Hangzhou  China 67.1220 20 1993 2007 Implosion [13]
111= Swire House Hong Kong  Hong Kong 66.8219 20 1962 1998 Demolished to make way for Charter House.
111= Lord Simcoe Hotel Toronto  Canada 66.8219 20 1956 1980 Manual Demolished to be redeveloped.[14]
112 Vanderbilt Avenue Building New York  United States 65214 18 1913 2016 Deconstruction Demolished to make way for One Vanderbilt.
113 Draper Tower Nashville  United States 65212 12 1990 2018 Implosion Demolished to make way for Nashville Yards.
114= Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur  Malaysia 65212 16 1973 2012 Deconstruction Demolished to make way for the new Hotel Equatorial
114= Concourse Building Toronto  Canada 65213.3 1928 2013 Demolished to be redeveloped.[15]
115 City Hall Annex Jacksonville  United States 64210 15 1960 2019 Implosion Demolished to make way for redevelopment.
116 Ronan Point London  United Kingdom 64210 22 1968 1986 Manual Damaged by gas explosion in 1968. It was demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
117 Crocodile House 2 Hong Kong  Hong Kong 63208 19 1966 2008 Manual Demolished to make way for Agricultural Bank of China Tower.
118 Stephenson Tower Birmingham  United Kingdom 63207 20 1967 2011 Deconstruction Demolished to make room for redevelopment at Birmingham's New Street Station.
119 Dalton Tower Birmingham  United Kingdom 61200 21 1971 2011 Implosion Demolished to make room for new student housing.
120 Chartered Bank Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 60197 18 1959 1986 Manual Demolished to make way for Standard Chartered Bank Building.
121 Hyatt Regency Hong Kong  Hong Kong 60197 18 1964 2006 Manual Demolished to make way for iSQUARE.
122 Williamson Building Cleveland  United States 60196 16 1900 1982 Implosion Demolished to make way for 200 Public Square.
123 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis  United States 59195 1982 2014 Manual Demolished to make way for U.S. Bank Stadium.
124= Clyde Tower Birmingham  United Kingdom 59194 20 1967 2006 Implosion
124= Lawrence Tower Birmingham  United Kingdom 59194 21 1971 2011 Implosion Demolished to make room for new student housing.
124= The Oregonian Building Portland  United States 59194 13 1892 1950 Manual
125 Carlton House Hotel[16] Pittsburgh  United States 58.83193 21 1952 1980 Implosion Demolished to make way for the BNY Mellon Center.
126 Vienna Wood Community Hefei  China 59192 16 2005 2005 Implosion
127= Stafford Tower Birmingham  United Kingdom 58190 21 1971 2014 Implosion Demolished
127= 16-18 Pinkston Drive Glasgow  United Kingdom 58190 20 1967 2013 Manual Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
127= 17-19 Pinkston Drive Glasgow  United Kingdom 58190 20 1967 2013 Manual Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
127= 2 Queen Elizabeth Square Glasgow  United Kingdom 58190 20 1965 1993 Implosion Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
127= 16-18 Fountainwell Place Glasgow  United Kingdom 58190 20 1967 2008 Implosion Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
127= 16-32 Queen Elizabeth Square Glasgow  United Kingdom 58190 20 1965 1993 Implosion Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
133 Rochor Centre Singapore  Singapore 57.84 189.76 17 1977 2018 Deconstruction Demolished to make way for the North–South Corridor expressway tunnels.
134= Tung Ying Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 57186 17 1965 2006 Demolished to make way for The ONE.
134= Tung Sang Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 57186 17 1972 2006 Demolished to make way for York Place.
136 Home Insurance Building Chicago  United States 54.9180 12 1885 1931 Manual Demolished to make way for the Field Building.
137= City East Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 53.3175 16 1973 2007 Manual Demolished to make way for Gardeneast Serviced Apartments.
137= Hotel Fontenelle Omaha  United States 53.3175 14 1916 1983 [17]
137= Jardine House Hong Kong  Hong Kong 53.3175 16 1957 1980 Manual Demolished to make way for Wheelock House.
140= Cornwall Tower Birmingham  United Kingdom 52.1171 18 1970 2014 Implosion Demolished to make way for low-rise housing.
140= Normansell Tower Birmingham  United Kingdom 52.1171 18 1972 2012 Implosion
142 Portland Airport Administration Building Portland  United States 50.3165 8 1958 2002
143 Regal Constellation Hotel Toronto  Canada 50.1164.3 15 1966 2011 Demolished to make way for a Park 'N Fly parking lot. [18]
144 Chiao Shang Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 50164 15 1964 2004 Demolished to make way for 100QRC.
145= Philipsbygget Oslo  Norway 47.2155 15 1958 2000 Implosion Demolished to make way for KPMG-bygget.
145= Prudence Building New York  United States 47.2155 14 1911 2016 Deconstruction Demolished to make way for One Vanderbilt.
147 Hotel Wellington Annex Albany  United States 45.1148 11 1922 2014 Implosion Demolished to make way for the Albany Capital Center.
148 Olympic National Life Building Seattle  United States 44.2145 12 1905 1982 Implosion Demolished to make way for the DocuSign Tower.
149= Alexandra House Hong Kong  Hong Kong 43.3142 13 1952 1974
149= Dragon Seed Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 43.3142 13 1966 2008 Demolished to make way for Prosperity Tower.
149= Luk Hoi Tong Building Hong Kong  Hong Kong 43.3142 13 1961 2008 Demolished to make way for LHT Tower.
152 Chamber of Commerce Building Portland  United States 41.1135 8 1892 1934 Manual
153 Mapes Hotel Reno  United States 40.5133 12 1947 2000 Implosion
154 Kingsford Industrial Centre Hong Kong  Hong Kong 39.9131 12 1986 2006 Demolished to make way for The Spectacle.
155 Corbett Building Portland  United States 39.6130 10 1907 1988 Implosion Demolished to make way for Pioneer Place.
156 City Hall El Paso  United States 38124 10 1979 2013 Implosion Demolished to make way for Southwest University Park.
157 Metropolitan Hall of Justice Salt Lake City  United States 36.9121 9 1966 2001 Implosion Made way for new Salt Lake City Main Public Library Building.
158 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Oklahoma City  United States 35.6117 9 1977 1995 Implosion Damaged by the Oklahoma City bombing.

References

  1. "Demolition of Former J.P. Morgan Chase HQ Progressing in Manhattan". Construction Equipment Guide. August 8, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  2. Bagli, Charles V. (February 21, 2018). "Out With the Old Building, in With the New for JPMorgan Chase". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  3. "Meena Plaza I, Abu Dhabi | 1465010 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  4. "37 Sauer Street, Johannesburg | 166630 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  5. "Almost 900kg of explosives used to demolish Bank of Lisbon building". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  6. "Building where fatal fire started was bad‚ but it was not the worst". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  7. "Owasina Hall, Calgary | 187476 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  8. "C&S Bank North". Emporis. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  9. "Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver | 135508 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  10. "Hôtel de la Montagne, Montréal | 188470 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  11. "Hotel Laurentien, Montréal | 102461 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  12. "Inn on the Park - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  13. Tao, Jessie (9 January 2007). "Demolition blasts cause grave concern". China Daily. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  14. "Lord Simcoe Hotel, Toronto | 202390 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  15. "Concourse Building, Toronto | 112649 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  16. "Carlton House". Emporis.
  17. "Hotel Fontenelle, Omaha | 102894 | EMPORIS". Emporis. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  18. "Regal Constellation West Tower, Toronto | 112592 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
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