Where Pin and Ken Went To Witness The Implosion Of The Old Prudential Building
11 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Journey With Pin Tags: building, Houston, implosion, ken fountain, medical center, pin Lim, prudential, the eastender notes
(Jan 8th, 2012)
“6 hours of forplay, and 14 secs of orgasmic explosion” — Pin, at the end of the event.
6am
The implosion was scheduled to happen at 7:50am. Ken had scouted the area around the old Prudential Building for the best view of the event. There was a Parking Garage right across the building at TCM Transit Center. Perfect view from the top floor. When we arrived to set up, there were already a few people there. We were soon told by someone who identify himself as an Academia that the garage itself is in the explosion zone, and we will be evacuated. No point staying.
6:30am
We found a spot right behind the Texas Children’s Hospital in front of St Luke’s. The Prudential was visible across of 2 streets, flanked by a Parking Garage on the right (which was cordoned off), and the TCH complex on the right. A good number of people soon gathered. We assumed they too found out that this was the next best spot. We were soon told by an HDP officer that we could not be there, not even on the sky bridge on the second floor which was protected by glass.
We thought this was a little ridiculous as no one from TCH was evacuated…..
No point protesting. The officer was nice, at least. Heavy fog from the morning has not cleared, and we got news that the implosion was postponed to after 9am.
Before we left, the officer revealed that we could watch the event at the Holiday Inn at Fannin.
7:30am
There was already a large crowd gathered at the parking lot of the Holiday Inn. It was a little further than we thought. There was a straight view of the building, but not spectacular. Other buildings and trees were a distraction. But under the circumstances, it was the best view we were going to have.
We found a good spot and settled down. There were maybe a few hundred people there, lots with cameras, and plenty with children.
Fog got worse. We can’t even see the building at this point.
9:30am
Fog cleared somewhat. Ken found the MD Anderson website on his phone, which just updated that the implosion will happen at 11:15am. We saw a few people leave at this point. But most were determined to stay.
The fog was threatening to stay, and it even rained for 30 seconds.
10:30am
We can see the building clearly now. I was hoping that the engineers might push forward the event.
11:05am.
Crowd starting to anticipate. They can sense the inevitable.
11:14am
Last minute check to make sure video and camera was working correctly.
11:15am
We barely got our equipment turned on when the first we heard the first explosion. No time to check. Shutters open, cameras overhead. Hoping for the best.
When the bomb crew said 11:15am, they meant it.
11:15am
It was all over. The building came crumbling down. 17 seconds, according to the official source. It was very impressive, the precision of it all.
11:16am
The dust and debris from the building started to cover the whole explosion zone and beyond. I had noticed earlier that some of the kids had surgical masks on. Now I know why. Everyone cleared out within minutes. It got hard to breath.
If we did not understand why we could not be on the roof at the TCM Garage before, we understood now. We would have been engulfed with thick smoke and harmful chemicals.
11:30am
Home and laundry.
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Go to Ken Fountain’s site from his perspective and background information on the event.
Gallery: http://forestphotography.smugmug.com/Events/2012-Solis/20120108-Old-Prudential/20982711_h5qfgn
