Kaboom! Watch the Sir John Carling building implode

guest · 2016-12-02

The biggest blast in Ottawa’s history was over in seconds on Sunday July 14, 2014, with 420 kilograms of explosives reducing the 11-storey Sir John Carling Building to 40,000 tonnes of rubble.

Hundreds of people gathered 300 metres away from the federal office tower at 930 Carling Ave. that overlooked Dow’s Lake to catch a glimpse of the $4.8-million demolition.

The force of several explosions at 7 a.m. shook the ground before the building began to collapse, firing a large amount of dust into the air.

The overwhelming amount of dust sent some people running away from the property to their cars, while others covered their faces with their clothing.

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly put the final stamp of approval on the Sir John Carling site for a new Civic hospital Friday saying, in a statement that she would request federal officials “make all the necessary preparations to make this land available as the future location” of a new hospital. This followed consensus by politicians from all three levels of government.

Photos: Carling building demolished

The Sir John Carling building was demolished in a controlled implosion on Sunday, July 13, 2014.

The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. Pierre Martin / For Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. Pierre Martin / For Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. Pierre Martin / For Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. Pierre Martin / For Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. Pierre Martin / For Ottawa Citizen
People look on as the Sir John Carling building demolished in Ottawa on Sunday, July 13, 2014. The former headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at 930 Carling, completed in 1967, is being demolished at a cost of $4.8 million. Justin Tang / CP
Security was tight around the 1,000 metre perimeter of the Sir John Carling Building (middle), which was demolished successfully, in Ottawa on Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Members of the public gathered early Sunday morning to watch as the Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Members of the public gathered early Sunday morning to watch as the Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
People react as the Sir John Carling building demolished in Ottawa on Sunday, July 13, 2014. The former headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at 930 Carling, completed in 1967, is being demolished at a cost of $4.8 million. Justin Tang / CP
Members of the public gathered at a vantage point near Carling Road early Sunday morning to watch as the Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Members of the public gathered early Sunday morning to watch as the Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Citizen reporter Meghan Hurley snaps photos on her phone in the dust following the demolition the Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling building implodes as it is demolished in Ottawa on Sunday, July 13, 2014. The former headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at 930 Carling, completed in 1967, is being demolished at a cost of $4.8 million. Justin Tang / CP
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014.
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building in Ottawa was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building is obscured by dust after it was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building is obscured by dust after it was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
The Sir John Carling Building is obscured by dust after it was demolished early Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Members of the media and others in the VIP viewing box for the demolition of the Sir John Carling Building saw a wall of dust approach quickly after the building went down on Sunday morning, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Members of the public who gathered early Sunday morning to watch the demolition of the Sir John Carling Building soon after found themselves in a cloud of dust, July 13, 2014. David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen
Members of the public who gathered early Sunday morning to watch the demolition of the Sir John Carling Building soon after found themselves in a cloud of dust, July 13, 2014.
A woman films on her iPad as the Sir John Carling building is demolished in Ottawa on Sunday, July 13, 2014. The former headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at 930 Carling, completed in 1967, is being demolished at a cost of $4.8 million. Justin Tang / CP
An Ottawa Police officer blocks Carling Avenue as smoke fills the air following the demolition of the Sir John Carling building in Ottawa on Sunday, July 13, 2014. The former headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at 930 Carling, completed in 1967, is being demolished at a cost of $4.8 million. Justin Tang / CP
Smoke fills the air along Carling Avenue following the demolition of the Sir John Carling building in Ottawa on Sunday, July 13, 2014. The former headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at 930 Carling, completed in 1967, is being demolished at a cost of $4.8 million. Justin Tang / CP
People look on at Carling Avenue after the demolition of the Sir John Carling building in Ottawa on Sunday, July 13, 2014. The former headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at 930 Carling, completed in 1967, is being demolished at a cost of $4.8 million. Justin Tang / CP