DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - The man who designed the building now known as the "Leaning Tower of Dallas" says the strength of the center of the building may have taken the demolition company by surprise.
Thomas Taylor designed Dallas building located at Central Expressway and Haskell in 1971.
Taylor works for Datum Engineering. Datum Engineering also designed the Perot Museum, Parkland Hospital, and the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum.
"My wife has the national news on in the morning when I'm leaving," Taylor says. "Every morning, they're making the latest statement about the status of the Leaning Tower of Dallas."
Taylor says he has "tremendous respect" for the demolition company. He says the implosion of a building has so many details to prevent damage to neighboring structures. In the case of the Affiliated Computer Services building, DART light rail also runs under the building.
"Nobody got hurt, and that's extremely important in the construction industry and the design business," Taylor says.
Taylor also says the demolition company may not have planned for the design of the building itself. He says the perimeter of the building was tied to the core with steel beams, and the core was much stronger than in most buildings.
"The stability of the building depends entirely on that concrete core," he says. "Everything else around it, I would almost call Tinkertoys. They worked great as long as they had something to stabilize them."
While he is glad no one was hurt, Taylor says he is glad to see how many people have been gathering outside for lawn parties. This weekend, food trucks were parked outside, and a DJ was playing music
"Maybe if I was 50 years younger, I might be more emotional about it. I am enjoying the fact that the city's enjoying it. In one small way, I contributed to make that happen," he says, laughing. "We do a little joking around the office here, laughing a little bit."
The demolition company does not have a timeline to complete demolition.