MIAMI — Demolition experts completed the controlled implosion of the former Mandarin Oriental, Miami hotel on Brickell Key on Sunday, bringing down the 23-story building in less than 20 seconds following blasts around 8:30 a.m. Officials said the implosion was the largest building implosion in Miami in more than a decade.

The implosion occurred a couple of minutes after blue- and pink-tinted fireworks were set off near the top of the building. Dust filled the air as building material crashed down, and people watching from a safe distance cheered and recorded videos as the framework gave way. Some watchers wore face masks as they left the area afterward.

Residents within 800 feet of the building had been asked to stay inside their apartments with windows and doors closed during the blast. Brickell Key is a human-made island at the mouth of the Miami River across from downtown Miami.

The project followed nearly two years of planning and coordination with specialized contractors and the city, developers said. Developers said implosion was selected to maintain the project timeline, minimize disruption, and ensure the safety of the Brickell Key community.

According to Swire Properties, the demolition will make way for the groundbreaking of The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami. The new project consists of two towers intended for hotel and residential use and is scheduled for completion in 2030.

The former hotel building, which opened 25 years ago, stood 23 stories tall on the human-made island before Sunday's demolition.