For six decades, the Riviera Hotel and Casino stood as a landmark on the Las Vegas Strip, hosting Hollywood film crews for movies such as Diamonds Are Forever, Casino, and the Jason Bourne series. But by May 2015, the bright lights of this Sin City destination had been switched off for good. The Riviera closed its doors to make room for an expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center, setting the stage for one of the most complex demolition projects in recent memory. This project offers a compelling case study in building demolition and implosion mechanical demolition methods, combining conventional mechanical techniques with precision explosive implosion across a 26-acre campus.
Project Scope and Site Preparation
The Riviera campus covered 26 acres and contained 20 significant structures that needed to be removed. The project was a joint effort between NorthStar Contracting Group, responsible for conventional demolition and hazardous material abatement, and Controlled Demolition Inc. (CDI), which handled the four building implosions.
Structures Targeted for Removal
The demolition scope included a diverse range of building types across the property:
- Four hotel towers slated for implosion: Monaco Tower, Monte Carlo Tower, South Tower, and South Tower expansion
- Parking structures: east garage and west garage
- Entertainment venues: Versailles Theater and convention building with its expansion
- Support facilities: central plant, east warehouse building, paint shop building, and cafe and low-rise pool buildings
- Other structures: east pylon sign, San Remo Tower, lobby structure, North Casino and its expansion, North Tower, and Beckett Tower
Hazardous Materials Abatement
The project officially began on April 18, 2016, with NorthStar performing removal of other hazardous materials (OHMs). This systematic process involved trained personnel using proper personal protective equipment to identify, package, manifest, and dispose of a wide range of dangerous substances.
The OHM removal covered:
- PCB ballasts from lighting fixtures
- Mercury-containing light tubes and neon signage
- Spent printer toner and inks
- Paints, solvents, and cleaning supplies
- Electronic waste (e-waste)
- Compressed gases, fuels, and oils
All materials were handled in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, with proper documentation maintained throughout the disposal chain.
Asbestos Abatement Protocols
Following OHM removal, NorthStar conducted extensive asbestos abatement. The team ensured all abatement personnel had current training, medical clearances, and valid respirator fit documentation. Controlled access zones (CAZs) were constructed to demarcate work areas, utilizing proper engineering controls such as containments for the various types of asbestos-containing materials being removed.
Key asbestos abatement procedures included:
- Wet removal methods using amended water to suppress airborne fibers
- Bagging and containerizing waste at the floor level where it was generated
- Transporting containers in tub carts through existing elevators
- Placing waste into lockable roll-off containers for off-site transport
- Proper labeling, documentation, and disposal at an approved landfill
Soft Demolition and Interior Clearance
After hazardous material abatement was complete, the soft demolition phase began. This stage focused on removing interior finishes, partitions, and building systems while preserving the structural frames that would later be demolished by mechanical means or implosion.
Interior Demolition Methods
NorthStar deployed skid steer loaders for interior demolition work. The company’s structural engineering partner, Sigma Engineering Solutions Inc., provided floor-loading calculations to ensure the correctly sized skid steer was used in each hotel tower and on elevated floors above the slab on grade.
The skid steers demolished walls, ceilings, floor coverings, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems (MEPs). The resulting debris was then transported to designated drop zone CAZs on each active level.
Debris Handling and Dust Control
NorthStar used wet methods throughout the project for dust suppression, employing hoses and misting devices. The debris handling workflow followed a structured process:
Conventional Mechanical Demolition
For all structures other than the four hotel towers scheduled for implosion, NorthStar used conventional mechanical demolition methods. Once a section of a building was cleared of soft debris and the CAZ was demarcated, the mass demolition process began. This approach allowed the team to work on multiple structures simultaneously, maximizing efficiency across the large site.
Equipment and Attachment Strategy
The majority of demolition was performed using hydraulic excavators equipped with specialized attachments. NorthStar planned for up to two excavators per team with four teams operating concurrently, enabling large-scale demolition and waste-sorting activities to proceed in parallel.
| Excavator Role | Attachment Type | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|
| Dismantling excavator | Shear / crusher / breaker / stinger | Cut steel beams, break concrete, dismantle roof sections |
| Material handling excavator | Grapple | Sort debris, load waste into trucks |
| Wall demolition excavator | Grapple | Dismantle exterior wall panels |
| Concrete removal excavator | Breaker | Break up concrete walls and foundations |
Selective Dismantling Techniques
By using excavator-mounted attachments, NorthStar performed demolition work safely, efficiently, and selectively. This approach allowed the team to segregate different material types as they worked, which significantly improved recycling and reuse rates.
- Roof sections were cut and removed using shear or stinger attachments, exposing the structural steel frame beneath
- Steel beams were cut with hydraulic shears and segregated from concrete and roof panels
- Exterior walls were dismantled using grapple attachments on excavators
- Concrete walls were removed using breaker attachments
- Concrete debris was properly sized and stockpiled for on-site crushing
- Crushed concrete was reused as fill material on the same site
The material segregation approach used in this project aligns closely with best practices in demolition refurbishment, where the value of recovered materials is maximized through careful sorting and processing.
Foundation Removal
For conventionally demolished structures, foundations were excavated and removed to a depth of 5 feet below grade. The one exception was in basement areas, where the slabs on grade and foundations beneath were left in place. This selective approach to foundation removal balanced the need for site clearance with practical considerations of excavation costs and structural requirements for the future convention center expansion.
Precision Implosion of the Hotel Towers
Controlled Demolition Inc. (CDI) handled the most dramatic phase of the project: the implosion of four hotel towers. The implosions were executed in two phases, with each requiring meticulous preparation and precise timing to ensure the buildings fell within their designated footprints.
Phase I: Monaco Tower Implosion
The first implosion targeted the Monaco Tower on June 14, 2016. Fifteen crew members were deployed for preparation and explosives handling operations. Explosives were placed strategically across nine levels of the tower: the basement, first, second, fifth, eighth, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 20th floors. The entire event, from the initial fire command to the settling of debris, lasted just 20 seconds.
Phase II: Triple Tower Implosion
The second phase, performed on August 16, 2016, was even more ambitious. Three structures were brought down simultaneously: the Monte Carlo Tower, the South Tower, and the South Tower expansion along with its marquee sign. A team of 10 crew members prepared the charges. The implosion required 2,725 pounds of explosives and took 19 seconds to complete.
Key Differences Between Implosion and Mechanical Demolition
The two approaches used on this project highlight important considerations for demolition planning. The table below compares the key differences between the implosion and mechanical demolition methods used on the Riviera project.
| Factor | Implosion (CDI) | Mechanical Demolition (NorthStar) |
|---|---|---|
| Time per structure | 19-20 seconds | Days to weeks per building |
| Preparation effort | Extensive (weeks of drilling, loading) | Moderate (CAZ setup, equipment positioning) |
| Crew size | 10-15 specialists | Multiple teams of 4-8 operators |
| Material segregation | Post-implosion sorting required | Selective dismantling during demolition |
| Best suited for | Tall structures with limited site access | Low-rise buildings on open sites |
| Site disruption | High vibration, dust cloud (instant) | Continuous noise, vibration (prolonged) |
Lessons for Demolition Contractors
The Riviera Hotel and Casino demolition project offers several valuable takeaways for demolition professionals and construction contractors involved in large-scale site clearance.
Integrated Hazardous Material Management
One of the most important aspects of the Riviera project was the systematic approach to hazardous material management. By tackling OHM removal and asbestos abatement as dedicated work phases before any structural demolition began, the team avoided cross-contamination and ensured regulatory compliance. This upfront investment in environmental remediation protected workers and simplified downstream demolition activities.
Selective Demolition for Material Recovery
NorthStar’s use of selective demolition techniques with multiple excavator attachment types demonstrates how material segregation can be built into the demolition process itself. Rather than demolishing first and sorting later, the team separated steel, concrete, and other materials at the point of removal. This approach reduced landfill costs, generated reusable fill material through on-site concrete crushing, and improved the project’s overall environmental performance. Contractors planning similar projects should consider how covering the inside of exterior walls and other interior systems affects the sequence of selective removal.
Combining Methods for Maximum Efficiency
The Riviera project shows that implosion and mechanical demolition are not competing approaches but complementary tools. Implosion was reserved for the four hotel towers where speed was critical and the structures were tall enough to benefit from gravitational collapse. Mechanical demolition was used for the remaining 16 structures, where selective dismantling and material recovery were more important than speed. Choosing the right method for each structure saved time and money while improving safety and material recovery rates.
Dust Control and Site Safety
Throughout the project, NorthStar maintained rigorous dust control using wet methods, misting devices, and carefully managed CAZs. This is particularly relevant when demolition occurs near existing occupied structures, as was the case with the convention center adjacent to the Riviera site. Understanding how rigid foam sheathing placement and other building envelope considerations affect containment strategies can help demolition contractors plan more effective dust control measures.
Key Takeaways
- Phase hazardous material removal as a dedicated work stage before any structural demolition begins to prevent cross-contamination and ensure compliance
- Use excavator-mounted attachments with different tool configurations to perform selective dismantling and material segregation in a single pass
- Combine implosion for tall structures with mechanical methods for low-rise buildings to optimize speed, cost, and material recovery
- Establish controlled access zones at every stage with proper signage, fencing, and engineering controls to protect workers and the public
- Plan for on-site material processing such as concrete crushing to reduce transport costs and generate reusable fill
- Implement wet methods and misting systems throughout the project for continuous dust suppression
The demolition of the Riviera Hotel and Casino stands as a textbook example of how modern demolition techniques can be combined to clear a large, complex urban site safely and efficiently. The project demolished 20 structures across 26 acres in under five months, using a phased approach that prioritized environmental responsibility, worker safety, and material recovery. For demolition contractors planning similar projects, the Riviera demonstrates the value of method selection, careful sequencing, and integrated hazardous material management.
Information for this article was sourced from the National Demolition Association and For Construction Pros.