Heathrow Old Control Tower Demolition

Tags: infrastructure, steel, masonry, glass

Heathrow Old Control Tower Demolition - Webb Yates Engineers
Heathrow Old Control Tower Demolition - Webb Yates Engineers
Heathrow Old Control Tower Demolition - Webb Yates Engineers
Heathrow Old Control Tower Demolition - Webb Yates Engineers
Heathrow Old Control Tower Demolition - Webb Yates Engineers

As part of the on going development and evolution of Heathrow Airport, the Old Control Tower has been demolished to make way for the development of the new Terminal 2. Webb Yates Engineers were appointed to assess the building and advise on the most suitable method of demolition to maintain stability of the remaining structure during the process. The location in the centre of the main terminal area surrounded by public roads and with the main bus station to one side meant that stability and control of debris was paramount. The generation of dust or other airborne debris could cause significant disruption to aircraft and pose a safety risk, therefore, dust suppression and methods of demolition were chosen to limit this. The tower was demolished piece by piece using high reach demolition equipment to crush and cut structural elements before lowering to the ground.

There are a number of critical services running below the structure that had to be maintained throughout the demolition. Protection measures had to be installed and a regime of monitoring was implemented to monitor how below ground structures reacted to the removal of the building above them.