Demolition of Downtown Orlando landmark underway

THAT'S THE SOUND OF PROGRESS. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, "WHAT GOES UP, MUST COME DOWN." CREWS STARTED TEARING DOWN A LONG TIME FIXTURE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, PIECE BY PIECE. BUT THEY ARE SALVAGING THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE PART OF THE BUILDING, THANK GOODNESS. THE AMERICAN FEDERAL BUILDING, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ROUND BUILDING, HAS BEEN A PART OF DOWNTOWN SINCE THE EARLY 1960'S. THE DEMOLITION IS NEEDED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW DOCTOR PHILLIPS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. PAUL GORGIO GIVING US A UNIQUE VIEW OF THE WORK. TODAY IS A BIG DAY. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS. THE PANELS ARE FINALLY COMING OFF THE BUILDING. I'M THE ARCHITECT. I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE MILLS M. CHOICER FELLOWS. THERE'S 20 PANELS THAT WRAP THE ENTIRE CIRCLE OF THE BUILDING. THEY'LL BE REMOVED ONE BY ONE AND TAKEN TO A YARD FOR STORAGE. I'M CAROL BARNES. I HAD TO COME OVER AND SEE THE ROUND BUILDING. OUR CAMERA, HERE WE GO, BYE OLD ROUND BUILDING. WE'LL MISS YOU. IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE AMAZING THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAME AROUND FROM MILES AROUND TO SEE IT. THERE WASN'T A DISNEY OR A UNIVERSAL. THIS IS WHAT WAS AMAZING BECAUSE IT WAS SO FUTURISTIC AND SO DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING ELSE. THEY'RE CUTTING THAT INTERMEDIATE BAN. IT SEPARATES THE BOTTOM PIECE OF GLASS FROM THE TOP PIECE OF GLASS. WOW. THE CONCRETE PANELS ARE PROBABLY A COUPLE THOUSAND POUNDS EACH. THERE WE GO. THEY'RE KNOCKING OUT THE GLASS. SO ONCE YOU SEE THE FIRE AND THE SPARKS FLYING, YOU KNOW WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE IT OFF. I'M AMAZED THEY'RE USING THAT SIZE CRANE FOR REMOVING THE PANELS. IT'S THE HISTORY OF THE CITY. IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT'S ONE OF A KIND, WHY JUST WRECK IT? IT IS. IT'S KIND OF SAD TO SEE IT

Originally posted here:
Demolition of Downtown Orlando landmark underway