demolished

Demolished is the past participle of demolish and is used as an adjective to describe a structure that has been intentionally destroyed or removed. In construction and urban planning, a site may be described as demolished after the building has been razed, cleared, or dismantled. The term can also be used in the passive voice to indicate that the action has been completed, for example, "the building was demolished in 2020."

Demolition methods vary depending on size, location, and goal. Mechanical demolition uses heavy equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, wrecking balls, and hydraulic shears to tear down a structure. Implosion, a controlled detonation technique, is used to collapse a building within its footprint. Selective demolition or deconstruction aims to salvage usable materials for reuse or recycling, often preserving architectural elements or materials. Interior demolition removes non-structural components inside a building while leaving the exterior shell intact. Debris are managed with dust control, asbestos abatement where required, and recycling programs for concrete, metal, and wood.

Demolition is regulated by safety, environmental, and planning laws to reduce risk to workers and the public, protect nearby properties, and minimize waste. Permits, utility disconnections, and structural assessments are typically required before work begins. Public interest and historical preservation considerations may influence whether a building is demolished or preserved. In many urban areas demolition is part of redevelopment, land clearing, or hazard mitigation.