Bethesda demolition update: 4733 Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

Well, it only took 11 months, but demolition of the office building at 4733 Bethesda Avenue is finally complete. There's still the debris to be hauled away. Then the JBG Companies can begin construction of a new office tower, 4747 Bethesda Avenue.

Bethesda demolition update: 4733 Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

The demolition of 4733 Bethesda Avenue continues. About one quarter of the office building remains. It will be replaced by The JBG Companies' 4747 Bethesda Avenue office project.

Bethesda demolition update - 4733 Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

The "Oldest Man" demolition continues at 4733 Bethesda Avenue, where the recent arrival of hydraulic robots has been able to increase the speed from snail to turtle. Some of the floors have been demolished, and you can see barricades on the next-to-top floor, along with the familiar veil over part of the building. Why do a controlled implosion in seconds, when you can take the scenic route, right? This building will be replaced by The JBG Companies' 4747 Bethesda Avenue office project.

Noise suppression plan filed for demolition of Bethesda Ave. office building

The slow and laborious demolition of the office building at 4733 Bethesda Avenue continues, with the demolition contractor having recently filed a Noise Suppression Plan for the final phase of the destruction. If accepted by Montgomery County, the plan will allow for noise levels of up to 85 dBA.

What will be making the racket will be robotic hydraulic demolition units, and concrete pulverizer units. Best of all for folks living and working on that block, the plan filing states that the work "will take several months to complete."

The only upside for residents across the street (unless they work at night or from home), is that the loud work will be limited to business hours on weekdays. I suspect restaurants on that block, who want to draw customers to their outdoor patios, would have preferred a controlled demolition taking only a matter of seconds, rather than this drawn-out process that calls the Oldest Man to mind.

Here's how they demolish tall buildings elsewhere in the world:

Bethesda demolition update: 4733 Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

The most deliberate tear-down in Bethesda history is also the tallest tear-down in Bethesda history. But without TNT or wrecking balls, the demolition of the office building at 4733 Bethesda Avenue is taking a heck of a long time to finish.

Click here to watch a building of the same height come down in seconds via controlled demolition.

The building will be replaced by The JBG Companies' 4747 Bethesda Avenue office-retail project.

Demolition update: 4733 Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

The office building at 4733 Bethesda Avenue is still coming down piece by piece. How they will ultimately bring down the high floors of the building will be intriguing to watch. This is believed to be the tallest building ever demolished in the history of Bethesda, so we are in uncharted territory here. The JBG Companies will replace this relic with a new office building.

Bethesda demolition update - 4733 Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

Demolition of an office building continues at 4733 Bethesda Avenue, to make way for a new JBG office building with retail, known as 4747 Bethesda Avenue. You can see that most of the glass is gone now.