Wrecking balls get to work on the river edge silos - the last of 5 buildings onsite.

Bricks are bundled for storage, and machines chip away at the carcass of the center silo. Meanwhile, cranes are positioned around the remaining silos at the river edge in preparation for their demolition.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) conducted a site visit to investigate treatment of bricks - which are supposed to be saved for a future riverwalk- and preservation of the red brick building below grade, which is required for the federal demolition permit.

Some bricks had fallen in the river, which was also an issue.

The USACE documents here show what was addressed during the visit.

Drone images over the weekend show the site partially cleaned up. The Sears Tower is now clearly visible from the Damen Ave bridge and 29th St.

The red brick building is fully demolished. Machines pick up bricks and rubble. Some package bricks for preservation. Cranes set up to destroy the last silo.

The center silo is reduced to rubble. It was promised to be contained in the underground portion of the structure, but spills out onto the ground. Meanwhile, the red brick building is being dismantled, and bricks are scattered along the river edge.

The center silo is whittled down to its core. The skyline view from McKinley Park is changed forever.

Work continues on the center silo.  The North (river), East, and South (29th St) sides of the silos are almost completely down along with large sections of the roof structure.  

Work moves into the 6th of 7 silos facing 29th St. Click for more images.

Machines dig into the center Silo building from the side facing 29th St. Click title above to see more photos + aerial video. Thanks to our volunteer photographers for sending in these images!

The first chunks of the Silos themselves are removed. Crumbled remains are pushed into the silos, so that they will collect and fill the underground portion of the buildings.

The second metal building, which lies parallel to Damen Ave, comes down. Chunks of concrete from the interior are left behind.

The skeleton of a metal building that caught fire in the 1990s is demolished in a single day.

Demolition contractor Henneghan stages more equipment onsite, aside from the giant crane that sat here the last two years.

According to Chicago Department of Public Health, Demolition will begin with the metal building nearest 29th St (Bldg 4). The other metal building will be next (Bldg 5), followed by the Silos at the center of the lot (Bldg 2), the red brick building (Bldg 3), and the Silos directly on the water (Bldg 1).