Mayor Jim Ferrell and City Council members took the sledgehammer to the old Toys R Us building, as demolition began at the site of the Performing Arts and Conference Center on Thursday morning.

A crowd of the core arts community joined city officials as Ferrell took the controls of the backhoe and knocked down a section of the front wall. Becca Martin, CEO of the Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, and other Chamber members applauded as the bricks tumbled.

City officials hope the Performing Arts and Conference Center will spur economic development in downtown Federal Way.

Once completed, the 41,000-square-foot facility will accommodate performances, seminars and other assembly events.

For more information, visit www.federalwaypacc.org.

Photos by Alisa Gramann, Mirror intern; Bruce Honda and Chris Carrel, city of Federal Way.