1515 Tower facts for kids

The 1515 Tower was once a very tall apartment building in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was finished in 1974 and was known for being one of the tallest buildings in the city. Originally, it was called "The Arkona."

What Was the 1515 Tower?

The 1515 Tower stood proudly in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was a residential building, meaning people lived in apartments there. When it was built, it was the second tallest building in West Palm Beach. It had 30 floors and reached a height of about 98 meters (322 feet). For many years, it was a familiar sight in the city's skyline.

Storm Damage and Demolition

In 2004, two powerful storms, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne, hit Florida. The 1515 Tower was badly damaged by these hurricanes. The outside of the building, called the facade, was especially hit hard. Because of the damage, everyone had to move out, and the building became empty.

Why Was It Taken Down?

After the hurricanes, the building was unsafe. On August 1, 2006, the city of West Palm Beach decided that the 1515 Tower needed to be taken down. This was because the damage was too severe to fix easily or safely. The city issued a special order for its demolition.

The Implosion Day

The 1515 Tower was demolished using a special method called implosion. This means explosives are carefully placed inside the building. When they go off, the building collapses inward on itself in a controlled way. It happened on Sunday, February 14, 2010. This was a big event because the 1515 Tower was the third tallest building in the United States ever to be taken down by implosion.

What Happened Next?

After the 1515 Tower was gone, the land where it stood became empty. Since then, there have been different ideas and plans for new buildings to be built at that spot. The site is located at 1515 Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach.