Pinnacle Atlantic City today announced that R.E. Pierson Construction Co., Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI), Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor (PS&S), and Fireworks by Grucci have been selected as the demolition team that will prepare the legendary Sands Casino Hotel for Atlantic City's first casino-hotel implosion.

The Sands demolition also marks the first casino implosion ever on the East Coast. The Sands and adjacent buildings are being razed to make way for the development of Pinnacle Entertainment's new megaresort, which is scheduled to open in 2011 or 2012.

The structures to be demolished are situated on an 18-acre parcel of land. They include the 21-story Sands Casino Hotel, the nine-story Sands parking garage, the former Jefferson Hotel and other acquired properties. Preliminary demolition work has begun, with the implosion slated for this fall, pending state and local approvals.

"We're proud to have assembled a first-class team to ensure the success, safety and excitement of this landmark event," said Daniel R. Lee, Pinnacle's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While the implosion of the Sands will mark the end of one era, it will signal the beginning of another -- Pinnacle's new destination casino resort project planned for the center of the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk."

R.E. Pierson Construction Co. will serve as the general demolition contractor, responsible for overall site preparation activities, such as asbestos abatement, materials recycling and debris removal. Past projects include the dismantlement of the 38-story One Meridian Plaza office building in Center City Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Civic Center, and the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) will be responsible for the overall implosion design, drilling operations and explosives placement. Most recently, CDI participated in the demolition of the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. In addition, CDI was responsible for the implosions of several other Las Vegas landmarks, including the Aladdin, Dunes, Sands and Hacienda Hotels.

PS&S will provide various consulting services, including environmental services related to existing hazardous or environmentally sensitive materials on site, geotechnical/foundation engineering services associated with the removal of existing foundations, and structural engineering consulting services as related to existing superstructure issues. PS&S lent their expertise to several other Atlantic City properties, including Trump Taj Mahal and Steel Pier, Harrah's Entertainment, Showboat Casino Hotel, the Atlantic City Hilton, and the Borgata.

As America's first family of fireworks and the top name in fireworks entertainment, Grucci is known for creating spectacular fireworks extravaganzas for some of the biggest special events around the world. Working in conjunction with the implosion, Grucci will create an elaborate, state-of-the-art fireworks and light show, celebrating the commencement of construction of Pinnacle's new resort.