Final preparations are underway for the implosion of a longtime Buffalo building that will soon give way to mixed use development in Gates Circle.
Contractors were preparing the explosives and related equipment for Saturday morning's scheduled demolition of the former Millard Fillmore Gates Circle hospital's main building. The series of controlled explosions, scheduled for 7 a.m., will bring the building down and turn it into rubble in just a matter of seconds.
City officials and project leaders hosted one last media briefing outside City Hall on Friday morning.
"We have been monitoring the weather conditions. At this point, everything looks favorable for the implosion to move forward as has been scheduled," said Mayor Byron Brown.
Road closures will begin overnight, with the earliest restrictions happening at 3 a.m. A public viewing area will be hosted at West Delavan and Delaware, though Mayor Brown suggested the best and safest way to enjoy the event was by watching it on broadcast news coverage in one's own home.
Residents living closer to the site have been warned to keep windows closed due to the expectation of dust that could rise about 50 feet and travel a couple of blocks, depending on the weather.
"We're doing a pre-demolition survey," said John Yensan with Ontario Specialty Contracting, when asked about concerns be residents about damage to nearby houses. "Currently we have a crew out, photographing and documenting the existing conditions of the structures in the surrounding area. Furthermore, we'll be doing seismic monitoring at six or seven locations during the implosion. After the implosion we'll do a post-demolition survey of those same structures to verify there hasn't been any damage."
Any damage, Yensan added, would be compensated.
Four warning alarms will be sounded by the Buffalo Fire Department on the scene. The first will take place at 6:30 a.m., followed by additional alarms at 6:50 a.m., 6:57 a.m. and then 6:59 a.m., the one-minute warning for the implosion.
The former hospital building is coming down as part of a redevelopment of the property. Plans call for a mix of residential and business. One of the first elements of the project is a senior home.
Masonry recovered from the former hospital after implosion will be recycled, say officials. Steel recovered from the wreckage will be sent away to be recycled as well.
