Demolition Magazine Article
March/April 1999
Pages 33-36
New World Record at Bow Valley Center in Calgary

On a chilly fall morning of October 4, 1998, you would have imagined, with residents staking their spots high above the surrounding hills, scaling rooftops for "eagle-eye" views and testing the perimeter barricades to the limits, that there was anticipated coming of a special dignitary to Calgary.

No, it wasn’t the Prime Minister or the President. It was the Grand Dame of the Inner City, the lady that represented vitality and health, life and death. This Lady was the Bow Valley Hospital.

She wasn't coming. She was going. She was leaving in a style that was representative of the way she and her people have served the community, with dignity and style. The Lady created a maelstrom of emotions for those who were there, from those that were born to her, to those that were nurtured by her people before they left this world.

Today was a day that many residents concluded was an end to an era. For almost 90 years, the Lady stood as a centerpiece of the Bridgeland section of Calgary, supplying the life blood for her 3,000 employees.

Reductions in the Alberta health care system dictated it was time for her to retire, along with her sisters, the Holy Cross and Crace Hospitals. Only their brother, the Peter Lougheed Hospital, was left to serve the people of Calgary.

This reorganization of health care is expected to save the Calgary Regional Health Care Authority $35 million dollars CAN a year. In April and June of 1997, services were moved from the Bow Valley Center to Lougheed, and the tender was issued for the removal of the Lady from her site.

Implosion was chosen for its expediency and safety. McColman & Sorls Demolition was the low bidder and chose NADC-member Engineered Demolition, Inc. (ENDE) of Hayden Lake, Idaho to perform the work. A big seller to Alberta Public Works was the fact that ENDE holds the record for the largest implosion ever, as well as a perfect record for successfully imploding shear wall structures in multi-building complexes.

The site posed particular challenges as the Lady had undergone numerous expansions and facelifts over her ninety years. This created a confusing network of twenty definitive structures in her massive seven building, 1.2 million square foot complex. Her shear wall stairwells and elevator shafts added a twist to the technical challenge because so many structures have never been successfully felled in any sequence, anywhere.

ENDE guided the surgical team from McColman to precisely prepare the structural steel building as well as dissect the innards of the remaining reinforced concrete structures. At one point, McColman chose to have ENDE perform the actual pre-weakening of the steel building to keep in compliance with the detailed work plan. The 1,500 or so concrete columns were drilled to the exacting specifications of ENDE’s on-site representative and superintendent, Pete Mitchell.

During the ensuing three weeks, over 7,000 holes were drilled in columns and pre-weakened shear walls. These critical failure points were then loaded with 3,850 pounds of explosives. Over six miles of detonating cord was used to begin the dynamic structural failure that would last for over 20 seconds.

The location of the Lady was within an old and highly respected residential neighborhood, necessitating sensitive community relations and performing a great amount of “hand-holding”. After the Award of Contract, all work that was to be executed conventionally went smooth. A slight oversight was that no one told the City of Calgary and its Fire Marshal, Sandy McKenzie, that the complex was to be imploded.

Upon inquiry from ENDE about the acquisition of a permit, ENDE was told that “the buildings are not to be imploded.” After a series of hastily called meetings, ENDE was able to referee a mutually agreeable peace treaty and get the necessary permit. The Fire Marshal always emphasized that public safety was #1 and he helped to make this project a success.

On the morning of bidding the Lady goodbye, it would be untrue to say that there were no last minute complications. With the five minute countdown underway, several reckless hot air balloonists tried to intrude within the pre-established no-fly zone set by authorities to safeguard the glide path of Calgary Airport. ENDE was forced to delay the countdown until the Calgary Police helicopter, “Hawk”, was able to clear out the balloonists.

With only a 3 minute delay, the carefully sequenced explosives began escorting the lady out of Calgary and into the history books. The beautiful old girl had served her community well. She was the most multiple structures ever successfully imploded at one time.

Eric Kelly, VP and Chief Blaster for ENDE, who designed the project, described the job as "picture perfect" as there were only seven broken windows and no property damage. After the implosion and festive farewell to the Lady, there were tears and cheers for the harmonic cooperation of all parties involved.

The citizens of Bridgeland have high hopes for the site and hosted a design fair in November to propose ideas for new development in the area. From the rubble of an obsolete hospital, "New Hope" is the term for the dreams of the neighborhood. With the massive complex out of the way, and the panoramic views not seen for some 90 years, the City of Calgary will have new eyes upon it and the residents will soon recognize an increase in real estate values.

In a little over 20 seconds, a part of Calgary’s history was brought spectacularly to earth. "A gallant way for the old girl to go out."