Another Large Piece of St. John's in Joplin Demolished
By: KODE/KSN, Joplin, MO
Updated: July 27, 2012
JOPLIN, MO.--- Demolition of the former St. John's hospital building in Joplin takes down a major part of the structure this week.
The remaining framework on the southwest and northwest corner of St. John's Hospital is partially knocked down. Crews knocked out the lower columns of what's left of the West tower. They then used a 5,000 pound wrecking ball to take down the support columns. The main elevator shaft has already been removed from the West tower.
"Once we're past the main elevator shaft, we knock out the lower remaining columns in the next phase and the weight of what's left would take the rest of the structure of the West tower down," says Dan O'Connor, Senior Project Manager.
The next step is to take down a steel frame structure.
The building was destroyed by the May 2011 tornado. Construction on a new Mercy Hospital is underway on the south side of Joplin.
The remaining framework on the southwest and northwest corner of St. John's Hospital is partially knocked down. Crews knocked out the lower columns of what's left of the West tower. They then used a 5,000 pound wrecking ball to take down the support columns. The main elevator shaft has already been removed from the West tower.
"Once we're past the main elevator shaft, we knock out the lower remaining columns in the next phase and the weight of what's left would take the rest of the structure of the West tower down," says Dan O'Connor, Senior Project Manager.
The next step is to take down a steel frame structure.
The building was destroyed by the May 2011 tornado. Construction on a new Mercy Hospital is underway on the south side of Joplin.
