Fort Worth Tornado

Fort Worth Tornado

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Tornado rips through downtown Fort Worth high-rises on March 28, 2000. The strong F2 tornado struck at 6:15 PM. five were killed and over 100 injured. Overall more than 500 million dollars in property damage to Fort Worth and suburbs of Arlington and Grand Prairie as of March 31.

Fort Worth skyline two days after the tornado, the skyscrapers near center suffered the most damage.

Rubble fills this parking lot from a destroyed church building. The Bank One skyscraper at center and Mallick Tower at right both suffered extensive damage.

This Photo shows the blown out windows of the 37-story Bank One Tower and 40-story UPR Plaza skyscrapers.

Tandy Center Tower Two lower left was hit hard along with Bank One Tower, City Center Towers at center had little damage.

Autos were tossed around as Cash America International building had a direct hit and was about totally destroyed.

Another view of Cash America International Building.

Here is a closer view of Mallick Tower.

Click thumbnail at left to view the 40-story Burnett Plaza at 558 ft. it is Fort Worth's tallest skyscraper. This skyscraper suffered no known damage yet it is located just a few blocks from the other skyscrapers, Bank One Tower and UPR Plaza.

Fort Worth Skyline to change dramatically..

Tornado ravaged Bank One Tower to be imploded!

4/19/01: A New York Firm has been selected to raze the tornado damaged 37-story Bank One Tower. Sources indicate that the building will be imploded, instead of torn down in the more conventional way. If the implode procedure takes place, then this may be a record for imploding the tallest building in the world. No official date has been set to implode the building but after all safety requirements are implemented and met, they hope it will take place by mid-summer. The building is bounded by 4th,Taylor, 5th and Throckmorton streets in downtown Fort Worth. The previous owners could not afford to repair the building so they sold the property; new owners will demolish the building and will turn the block into a parking lot. The land has more value than having to repair the building therefore hoping to prompt a development in the future.

Built in 1974 it was the tallest building in the Fort Worth Skyline until 1982, today the fifth tallest in the City. The building was built to house the old Fort Worth National Bank; world-renowned architect John Portman of Atlanta designed the building. The 454-foot tall octagon-shape tower of glass rises from an askew base that features a 5-story atrium, the signature design feature of Mr. Portmans' buildings.

The photo at left shows a close up view of the destruction two days after the tornado of March 28, 2000.

04/07/02: No implosion, all combustible materials will be stripped from the structure, the interior gutted and part of the asbestos abated. This will take up to ten weeks to complete. The structure will stand cold and dark until a more favorable opportunity exists to either demolish the structure or redevelop it to an adaptive use.

07/19/02: Fort Worth -More than two years after a tornado roared through downtown, sounding what appeared to be the death knell for the Bank One Tower, the fate of the 27-year-old Fort Worth icon still hangs in the balance...Full Story

02/04/03: Fort Worth-Developers announce plans today for converting the former Bank One Tower to 270 high-rise residential units with 30,000 square feet of retail and 300 free public parking spaces. The residences could either be sold or rented, developers said. A new 4-story square base for the tower will be added outside the building for the retail area and the top of the base will contain a plaza for the residents and at least one swimming pool.

10/22/03:The 37-story tornado-damaged skyscraper, Bank One Tower in downtown Fort Worth, gets new name and new life. Damaged skyscraper now called 'The Tower'

Check back for further updates.

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