Damaged by Storms, Brought Down by Demo
February 11, 2025
In a feat of engineering precision and teamwork, NDA member Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition (LND) successfully brought down the Capital One Tower in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with a stunning implosion. The tower, a local landmark, had endured severe wind and water damage during Hurricane Laura in 2020. For years, the building stood empty, a ghostly reminder of the storm’s wrath. With no tenants or buyers stepping up to revive it, the city of Lake Charles decided it was time for the tower to go, setting a deadline for demolition by the end of 2024. LND, known for its expertise and full-suite demolition services, was entrusted with the task.
“In a post-COVID-19 environment, the owners were unable to successfully fill the building with tenants or find a buyer who wanted to renovate it,” says Joshua Stevens, senior project manager/ estimator at LND. The damage, coupled with changing economic dynamics, left little choice but to remove the 22-story structure from the city’s skyline. What set LND apart from other bidders was its comprehensive demolition package, covering everything from initial abatement to final cleanup. “Our company was able to offer a complete demolition package: abatement, utility disconnects, implosion and cleanup for a competitive price,” Stevens says.
From Preparation to Implosion
The project officially kicked off in late May 2024, beginning with asbestos abatement by Gill Industries. “After several entire floors had been abated, LND began to gut out the interior of the structure to expose structural elements and make debris clean-up easier,” Stevens says. Careful planning was essential from the start.
“One major challenge that arose early in the process was the cutting and capping of all utilities,” Stevens says. “The only remaining tenants in the building were a couple of data/communications companies that had fiber optic lines running through the building and serving multiple customers. We had to work with them diligently for several weeks to make sure all their lines were relocated to prevent any of their
customers from losing service.”
With the utilities finally rerouted, LND turned its attention to dismantling the sky bridge that connected the Capital One building to the adjacent parking garage. The team’s high-reach excavator was put to work, severing the connection and isolating the building in preparation for the big day.
Strategic Planning and Collaboration
The demolition of the Capital One Tower demanded a precise, strategic approach. The building’s unique structural design posed its own set of challenges. “The building contained four reinforced concrete elevator cores and clear structural steel spans to a single row of perimeter steel columns,” Stevens says. “Given the poor connection between the structural steel and concrete cores, CDI developed a delay pattern that prevented isolation of the cores and potential ‘stand-up’ of same.”
Achieving this required meticulous interior demolition and specialized structural modifications. After experimenting with various tools, the team found that Brokks were best suited for the job. Delta Demo Group supplied additional machines and operators to LND’s team. “Delta Demo Group provided a team of four Brokks and operators to come alongside our team and complete the shear wall modifications,” Stevens says. “It was truly a collaborative effort.”
Countdown to Implosion
By late August, preparations were nearing completion, and NDA member CDI’s crew arrived on-site to begin drilling. “Due to the amount of facial rebar present in the first and second floors of the structure, the pneumatic drills were not sufficient,” Stevens says. “We called in multiple concrete core drilling crews to keep the project moving forward.”
As shot day approached, the mood was a blend of nervous anticipation and quiet confidence. “With all preparations completed, shot day arrived on Sept. 7, 2024,” Stevens says. Nearly 100 law enforcement officers from various agencies, including the Lake Charles Police Department, Louisiana State Police and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, secured the exclusion zone. “These included officers on motorcycles, in patrol cars, out in the water on boats, as well as on foot. A few minutes before the shot, we confirmed everything was secure and pressed the button at 8 a.m. The building fell beautifully.”
Aftermath: Dust Settles, Cleanup Begins
As the dust began to settle, LND’s team sprang into action. “We mobilized a team of sweeper trucks and water sprayers to begin cleaning the roads and parking lots in order to get them back open as soon as possible,” Stevens says. The efficiency of the operation meant that by lunchtime, street closures were lifted, and the LND team could celebrate a job well done.
The cleanup phase commenced the following week and lasted about 90 days. Throughout this process, sustainability remained a focus. “We estimate that there will be 1,500 tons of steel and 20,000 tons of concrete recycled in this project,” Stevens says. By gutting the building beforehand, LND maximized the amount of material that could be repurposed.
Challenges Met Head-On
Stevens was candid about the challenges the team faced throughout the project. “Time was a major challenge,” he says. “The schedule had to be very aggressive to satisfy the city’s requirements, and we had to work around local events.”
Clear communication was crucial, especially with so many stakeholders involved. “This project required coordination between so many people to be successful: the City of Lake Charles, subcontractors, neighbors, etc., all had to be kept up to date throughout the planning phase. Internally, our team did a fantastic job of banding together to solve problems as they came up.”
The building’s stubborn concrete cores were another obstacle. “The shear wall modifications and the drilling operations were slow going and required specialized equipment,” Stevens says. But through perseverance and ingenuity, LND managed to overcome these hurdles, delivering a successful project on time.
A Picture-Perfect Implosion
Looking back, Stevens has no doubts about the outcome. “Absolutely,” he responded when asked if the job was a success. “Success to me is a smooth operation where all the moving parts come together as planned. It’s also about safety, communication and being able to celebrate the team’s hard work at the end of it.”
“The entire project for the Capital One Tower was an honor to head up with an A-plus team with LND,” says Lloyd Nabors, owner of LND. “With 40-plus years in demolition, every job gives us a challenge that my team and I choose to conquer. The preparation and the coordination for this tower is proof it still takes physical manpower and teamwork to exceed our own expectations. I am proud to say we worked with great people to make this all come together and have a highly successful implosion making the way for a new beginning in Lake Charles.”
The Capital One Tower’s implosion was accomplished through careful planning, teamwork and the skilled hands of Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition. With cleanup expected to finish by the end of the year, Lake Charles will soon have a new chapter to write where the iconic tower once stood.