20-story skyscraper demolished in Houston

HOUSTON - It didn't take long - mere seconds, in fact - to create a new hole in the skyline of Houston's medical district.

Demolition crews used high explosives to implode the 20-story former Prudential Life Insurance Building that had been a landmark of the district southwest of downtown Houston since 1952. The building was also the former headquarters of CBS affiliate KHOU from 1954 to 1960.

The crews had planned initially to touch off the explosives shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday, but dense fog delayed the series of blasts until 11:15 a.m.

The Prudential Insurance Co. of America built the 500,000-square-foot skyscraper to serve as its southwest regional headquarters. The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center bought the building in 1975 and made it the center's main building in 1980 before vacating and closing the building in April 2010.

According to KHOU, the space was made so a new building that will connect Duncan Building and Mays Clinic together could be built.