A metro Atlanta office tower that once housed the Georgia Department of Revenue is coming down in a matter of seconds. The vacant, 18-story building at 1800 Century Blvd. in Chamblee is set to be imploded Saturday morning, WSB-TV reported.
The detonation is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
Months of prep for seconds of work
Workers have spent several months gutting the building and removing its windows, according to WSB-TV. Dave Savignano, owner of Cartersville-based Atlas Demolition, told the station it takes a great deal of engineering to place the explosive charges and time the detonations.
"And within two seconds, the building should be safely on the ground," he said. "It usually takes two to three seconds."
Savignano said implosions of high-rise buildings like this one make up less than 1% of building demolitions, and this one is breaking new ground. "This will be the first time that a triangle-shaped building has been imploded," he told WSB-TV. "So all the engineering is very unique on it."
Why it's coming down
The tower was built in 1981 and has been empty since 2024, WSB-TV reported. There were plans to convert it into residential space, but they were scrapped.
"There's really no use for it as a residential structure," Savignano said. "It just costs too much to convert it to residential."
Nobody found a commercial use for it either. At 45 years old, the building was seen as too dated, he told the station.
Safety zone and road closures
According to a public notice posted by Atlas Demolition, a 750-foot restricted area takes effect at 6:45 a.m. Saturday, when safety restrictions and road closures begin. Roads and restricted areas are expected to reopen around 8:15 a.m.
Property owners and occupants within the 750-foot radius are asked to stay inside during the restricted period, and anyone planning to leave should do so before 6:45 a.m., the notice says. Re-entry won't be allowed until restrictions are lifted.
WSB-TV reported that Chamblee and Brookhaven police, along with the FBI, will close roads and set up a wide perimeter to keep the public at a safe distance.
The permittee listed on the notice is Acworth Recycling LLC, doing business as Atlas Demolition. The notice lists the blast's anticipated duration as about 30 minutes and the last anticipated day of the project as Jan. 2, 2027. Only one implosion is scheduled. If the schedule changes or another blast is needed, the permittee must give supplemental notice at least two business days ahead.
The notice says written notification went to all property owners within 750 feet of the blast at least 10 business days in advance, and signage was to be posted at the site at least 72 hours before blasting. The City of Chamblee's approved liaison for the project is William Robbins, deputy director of planning and development.
Savignano said there has been a "tremendous amount" of traffic to his company's website from people who want to watch. WSB-TV plans to livestream the implosion.
What's next for the site
Neither WSB-TV nor the Atlas notice said what will be built on the site after the building is gone.
Why it matters for contractors
The Chamblee tower is a clear example of what can happen to an older office building when a conversion doesn't pencil out: demolition. Savignano put it plainly, saying it simply costs too much to turn this building into housing. Developers and contractors weighing office-to-residential conversions should take note of the reasons, including the building's age, dated design and conversion costs.
For demolition contractors, it's a showcase job. Gutting and stripping the building took months, the implosion itself takes seconds, and the project's last anticipated day isn't until Jan. 2, 2027. That spreads work across interior demolition, explosives engineering, hauling and site cleanup.
For everyone else working in the Chamblee and Brookhaven area Saturday morning, plan around the closures. Crews and deliveries near Century Boulevard should avoid the 750-foot restricted zone from 6:45 a.m. until roads reopen, expected around 8:15 a.m.
And once the site is cleared, it becomes a redevelopment opportunity worth watching.