Bethlehem’s tallest building, Martin Tower, was imploded Sunday morning, May 19, Lehigh Valley Live reported. The 21-story monolith, once the world headquarters of the steel company, had been vacant since 2007, the report said.
Demolition of Martin Tower began around 1:30 a.m. and was completed within a few minutes. The demolition was performed by Controlled Demolition Inc., a specialist company that managed the entire project for the developer/property owner.
The demolition process involved more than 3,860 holes drilled at strategic locations on the building’s exterior and explosives placed to drop the structure. The method of demolition was chosen to ensure a safe, efficient and successful outcome that minimized the impact on neighboring properties.
CDI first bid the implosion in 2015 and was awarded a turnkey contract to bring Martin Tower down to grade on behalf of the property owner. The company then provided torchmen to perform specialty burning to prepare the structure for implosion, along with explosives-handling operations, adjacent property inspections/vibration air overpressure monitoring and community outreach.
Aside from being the tallest building in the region, the Martin Tower was also a historic landmark that had earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places. The tower served as the corporate headquarters of Bethlehem Steel for more than three decades before the company closed in 2001.
The building was slated to be redeveloped into a $200 million mixed-use development featuring medical offices, retail stores, a hotel and 528 apartments. The tower’s owners, Norton Herrick and Lewis Ronca, want to create a modern, urban setting while respecting the area’s rich industrial history.
