Centennial Mills Water Tower Demolished by Controlled Explosion in Northwest Portland
Demolition of the Centennial Mills building in Northwest Portland commenced with a controlled explosion to bring down its water tower. The event took place on Monday in the Pearl District.
Portland, OR, August 17, 2026 —
The demolition of the historic Centennial Mills building in Northwest Portland began Monday with a controlled explosion targeting its prominent water tower. The event occurred in the city’s Pearl District.
The water tower was brought down as the initial phase of the broader demolition project for the Centennial Mills site. Further details regarding the contractor responsible for the demolition or the specific timeline for the remaining structures were not immediately available.
The Centennial Mills site has been a fixture in Northwest Portland for many years. Its demolition marks a significant change for the Pearl District landscape.
The controlled explosion was carried out on Monday, drawing attention to the commencement of the site’s deconstruction. Information regarding the specific methods used for the remainder of the building’s demolition and the plans for the site following demolition was not provided in the summary.
Story summarized from the original created by Tarek Anthony, Jonathan Bach on www.oregonlive.com, see more information here.
