Hundreds watch the implosion of Vanderbilt's Carmichael tower

Vanderbilt University graduate Max Hyman sat in a lawn chair Saturday morning on the sidewalk of 25th Avenue to watch his former home fall to the ground.

Metro Nashville Police Department officials said Hyman was only one of around 200 who came to watch the historic Carmichael Tower 3 implode on West End Avenue. 

Spectators lined the sidewalks on 23rd and 25th Avenue. Some brought their breakfasts to watch it fall while others had a beer. 

Hyman said he wanted to come watch because he had lived there the past two years. During the building's last year, students painted murals and stuck bottle caps to the walls. 

"Some of the best memories I have in there is chilling with my friends until 2 in the morning," Hyman said. 

Replacing Carmichael Towers: Here's what's next

Through mechanical demolition, the adjacent Carmichael West tower 4 building will also be taken down later in the summer. The West End transformation will consist of three new residential colleges that align with Vanderbilt’s Academic Strategic Plan. 

Through FutureVU, the university's vision is to magnify campus housing so that everyone within the community can thrive in a sustainable and accessible atmosphere.

Vanderbilt officials have said the new building will be a 20-story, 340-room dormitory at the corner of West End Avenue and 25th Avenue South. 

They said the transformation is expected to be complete in the summers of 2020, 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Carmichael Towers

The towers are named in honor of the university’s third chancellor, Oliver C. Carmichael, who served from 1937 to 1946.

Carmichael Towers are the tallest buildings on campus and have been home to thousands of students since 1970.

Reach Emily West at erwest@tennessean.com or 615-613-1380 and on Twitter at @emwest22.