Question - The Demolition of the Orpheus Ballroom

Aaron2015 · May 31, 2015

The big Orpheus ballroom here in Belfast, Northern Ireland is scheduled for demolition this summer. It was built in 1932 and has survived countless bombings during the war and the troubles in Northern Ireland. A sign she is extremely well constructed. Sadly the time has come to pull her down to make way for a new University. Does anyone know how long it will take to demolish this 5-storey building? Could it take days, maybe weeks, perhaps months to achieve?

lantraxco · May 31, 2015

Depends on how much damage to surrounding buildings, streets, people you can accept. I can dispatch a predator drone to take care of that for you, lend/lease you know. Happily blame it on the Islamic State and none the wiser, eh?

:usa

Aaron2015 · May 31, 2015

All of the building here are being demolished. The Orpheus is now standing alone and is the last one to go.

The giant Interpoint building came down very fast. I think the Orpheus will be a bigger challenge to pull down.

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Aaron2015 · May 31, 2015

All of the buildings here are being demolished. The Orpheus is now standing alone and is the last one to go.

View attachment 136013

The giant Interpoint building came down very fast. I think the Orpheus will be a bigger challenge to pull down.

View attachment 136011

View attachment 136012

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CM1995 · May 31, 2015

What is the buildings construction? Load bearing masonry? How are the floors constructed - PIP concrete, pre-cast panels, steel or wood?

This demo project is out of my league but I would put a month to a month and 1/2 depending on the job site working requirements as a wild guess.

Aaron2015 · May 31, 2015

Double post! How did that happen?

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Aaron2015 · May 31, 2015

I will check the history of the building. I have an old newspaper somewhere which describes in great detail how it was construction and the materials used in 1932. It was originally a giant shopping mall and all of the floors were fully open. The top floor is the ballroom. I will look for the newspaper.

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Aaron2015 · May 31, 2015

The staircase inside

Aaron2015 · Jun 1, 2015

Construction of five-storey building
195 feet high
Built with Brick, Concrete and Steel frames
Marble ground floor
Oak floors x3
Maple timber dance floor
Iron/Bronze railing staircases
150 cast-iron columns (weighing 150 tons)

The building was a large department store with four floors of shops like this (photo taken inside the building in 1932) and the top floor was the giant ballroom.

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kshansen · Jun 1, 2015

Seams a major shame to tear down a building like that, too bad it couldn't it be remodeled and re-purposed? I'm betting the new building will not be built with the quality materials that one was, it Ireland is anything like the USA.

lantraxco · Jun 1, 2015

Jack the thing up and move it. Turn it into a museum perhaps, and keep the ballroom.

Sort of reminds me of the US slang term "Built like a brick outhouse"

Aaron2015 · Jun 1, 2015

There is another pre-war building beside the Orpheus and this will be demolished as well. A shame. I really like the art deco style of the 1930's.

Say goodbye to the 'Metropole building' as well.

The entire street is being demolished to make way for a new University which will look like this:

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kshansen · Jun 1, 2015

Hope this new university has a design school and a architecture school, cause from the looks of those newer buildings you are in need of someone who can draw something other than straight lines and flat surfaces. It's the same over here.

While I'm bitching does anyone know anything about acoustics these days? So many new buildings I've been in hurt my ears, and I'm used to working in a shop with welders using air-arcs, needle scallers and myself running the odd air wrench changing a bolt on cutting edge! Can't understand someone sitting next to you but can hear 90% of the conversation of a couple 30 feet away!

Garrie Denny · Jun 20, 2015

A lot of these old buildings are very plagued with cancer of the concrete that was used in their day, this is a very expensive fix. although very sad to see a building with such beauty be torn down, this is often the only way an owner can justify the destruction of same. Fix$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ? Sell$$$$$$$$$$$$? for apartments ,shopping malls, etc, that's life im afraid.

Garrie Denny · Jun 20, 2015

CM1995; I 2 have no large domo experience, but I would say minimum 12 weeks, possible 36.

Wolf · Jun 22, 2015

Post some pictures of the demo once you get working on it! Thanks.

Wolf · Jul 18, 2015

Did you guys knock the orpheum yet? Is it down or still standing/ any photos?

Question - The Demolition of the Orpheus Ballroom

Aaron2015

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lantraxco

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CM1995

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Aaron2015

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kshansen

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lantraxco

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