Results tagged “universityave”

On Friday we reminisced about the implosion of Veterans Stadium in 2004 and warned you about yesterday's planned destruction of Pennsylvania Hall in University City.

Two yawning Phillyists were in the area about an hour before the 6:50 AM event to scout out some viewing angles. After having a few of our positions rejected by the police, we set up shop (well, tripod) on a hill near University Ave and Curie Blvd. Unlike the Vet implosion, there were very few observers with the exception of the police and streets department, ready to clean up the inevitable widespread mess.

The most impressive part of an implosion like this one is the sound. It comes with no warning and shakes the ground, the air, and your internal organs even before any change to the building is visible. Then after a gravity-defying delay, the structure quickly comes down before being obscured by a cloud of dust. (Unfortunately, our video below is composed from a series of still photos, so there is no sound.)

Implosions are awesome.

Just ask the thousands of people who crowded into South Philly's streets, and eventually, onto Interstate 76 to watch the implosion of Veterans Stadium at 7:00 AM on March 21, 2004. Some kept their Saturday night parties raging until morning. Others got an early start to their Sundays. Both groups had their drinks to keep them going: beer in paper bags or Wawa coffee in paper cups.

Phillyist was part of the sober set and somehow found a street parking spot on Broad Street near Oregon Ave. The surprising number of onlookers there didn't prepare us for the size of the crowd gathered on the north shoulder of I76. People were packed into every spot with a view including rooftops, bleachers, and to the dismay of the Philadelphia Police, the lanes of the interstate while traffic was still trying to pass through the area. The cops were barely able to clear the highway long enough to let these cars through. Then they just gave up.



After a few moments of giddy anticipation, we heard - and - a low rumble. Then... HOLY SHIT.



We bring this up now because this weekend offers another Sunday morning filled with noise and dust. Pennsylvania Hall, located near the intersection of Civic Center Blvd and S. University Ave, is being imploded to make way for an expansion of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. It won't be as impressive as the fall of the Vet, since Pennsylvania Hall is only a four-story building. But we're going to try to make it, and only police barricades or an extremely soft, warm bed will keep us from bringing you the photos.