WE USED TO CLAIM CREDIT FOR BUILDING THINGS, NOW WE TALK ABOUT RECORDS FOR KNOCKING THEM DOWN: Tallest structure ever demolished: federal nuke officials claim world record. “A 1,527-foot tower, once used for studies associated with nuclear weapons testing, was demolished this week at the Nevada National Security Site (previously known as the Nevada Test Site), establishing a world record, according to info released by the federal government. The National Nuclear Security Administration said the tower — known as the BREN (Bare Reactor Experiment-Nevada) tower — was taller than the Empire State Building. The aged structure (built in 1962) was torn down in a carefully staged event because of safety concerns for workers in the vicinity and risk to aircraft flying in the area.”