News crews granted access to demolition works that will transform Memphis stadium.
Less than two years from now, the belly of the Pyramid Arena will be unrecognizable. Yesterday, demolition was in full swing to transform the 32 story iconic structure into a Bass Pro outdoor retail superstore and tourist attraction.
“The only thing that will be remaining will be the arena level, the intermediate level – which I called the mezzanine level – and the plaza level,” said Alan Barner of O.T. Marshall Architects. “All the sky boxes will be removed.”
The current work is the first of four phases, which begins with the removal of all the arena seats and interior walls.”
Phase two, which begins in mid-January, is to protect the Pyramid from the Mighty Mississippi’s tributaries at its doorstep.
“Between the Memphis Pyramid and the flood wall, we’re putting in a below-ground buttress wall,” Barner said. “In the event of large magnitude earthquake, it will prevent any kind of Pyramid displacement into the Wolf River Harbor.”
Phase three will make the Pyramid sturdy. It sits on the New Madrid Fault line.
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