Blogs

Scaffolding Notre-Dame On April 15, 2019, people around the world watched as flames engulfed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The roof burned. The famous spire collapsed. Centuries-old timber framing was destroyed. Stone vaults were damaged. And firefighters fought desperately to save one of the world's most recognizable historic buildings. But there was another complication already surrounding the cathedral. Scaffolding. Before the fire began, Notre-Dame was already undergoing restoration. Hundre …

Scaffolding the Colosseum Some restoration projects involve buildings that are 50 years old. Some involve buildings that are 200 years old. And then there's the Colosseum. Construction on Rome's famous amphitheater began nearly 2,000 years ago. Since then, it has survived earthquakes, fires, weather, pollution, stone removal, changing uses, and more generations of visitors than its original builders could possibly have imagined. And it's still standing. Not untouched. Not complete. But standing. …

Scaffolding the Statue of Liberty Few structures are as instantly recognizable as the Statue of Liberty. Standing in New York Harbor with her torch raised above the water, Lady Liberty has welcomed generations of immigrants, visitors, and ships approaching New York City. From a distance, she looks solid. Up close, the structure is much more complicated. The Statue of Liberty is not a massive solid sculpture. Her famous green exterior is made from relatively thin sheets of copper supported by an …

Scaffolding Big Ben Few landmarks say London quite like Big Ben. Technically, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. But for generations, people around the world have used the name to describe the entire clock tower. And when you're responsible for maintaining a structure that recognizable, putting scaffolding around it is no small undertaking. The tower is more than 160 years old. It contains historic masonry, intricate architectural detai …

Restoring Ancient Structures in Italy There are old buildings. And then there are buildings that were already old before many modern countries existed. Italy is filled with structures that have survived centuries of weather, wars, earthquakes, changing cities, and generations of human use. Roman amphitheaters. Aqueducts. Temples. Stone walls. Ancient roads. Historic churches and public buildings. Some have stood for well over a thousand years. Others date back more than two thousand. Keeping str …