Blogs

Scaffolding Giant Statues Most scaffolding projects begin with a building. Buildings are usually somewhat cooperative. They have walls. Corners. Floors. Rooflines. Relatively predictable shapes. Then someone asks you to scaffold a 200-foot person. Suddenly things get interesting. Around the world, enormous statues rise above cities, mountains, temples, and monuments. Some are made from stone. Others from concrete, copper, bronze, or steel. Many require regular inspection, cleaning, restoration, …

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 …

Scaffolding the Eiffel Tower Some structures are famous because they're old. Others because they're beautiful. A few become symbols of entire countries. The Eiffel Tower managed to become all three. Rising above Paris since 1889, the tower is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Millions of visitors see the finished landmark every year. What they don't usually think about is what it takes to maintain it. The Eiffel Tower isn't a monument that can simply be built and forgotten. I …