The Indiana Stadium & Convention Building Authority recently announced detailed plans for demolishing the RCA Dome to make room for an expansion of the Indiana Convention Center. Taking down the Dome is expected to include a combination of traditional demolition and targeted implosion.

According to the project's construction manager, a joint venture of Shiel Sexton/Powers & Sons, the process of demolishing the RCA Dome started in January with the relocation of major electrical, steam and chilled water lines crossing the site, plus the relocation of a major sewer in South Street. In addition, combined electrical and mechanical systems serving both the convention center and RCA Dome needed to be separated. That work is ongoing and is expected to be completed by early summer.

Tom Scheele, senior vice president of Shiel Sexton Inc., said many months of planning and additional discussions with the demolition contractor have resulted in a decision to dismantle about half of the structure with traditional demolition methods and removal of the remaining upper level seating areas with implosion to occur in October.

"Once about two-thirds of the demolition is complete, new construction and Dome demolition will be going on concurrently," says Scheele. The total demolition is expected to last about five months and will move from north to south so construction can begin on the new three-story Georgia Street entrance expansion.