Western Carolina University, located in Cullowhee, NC, decided to rework the facade on their aging basketball stadium. Before repair work could get underway, several challenges prevented construction crews from getting workers and materials up to height using traditional methods.
The general contractor needed an innovative solution to allow the project to get underway safely and at a minimal cost. They reached out to the North Carolina office of Scaffolding Solutions, who provided scaffolding that included the following benefits:
While the stadium wasn’t enormously high (~90 feet at points), there were a few issues that prevented workers from easily accessing the building. Normally, construction crews would use a scissor lift or similar equipment. However, both of those solutions would have caused major damage to the ground-level paving stones.
Another challenge was the uniqueness of the structure itself. Most buildings have a parapet—a sort of raised lip—around the edge of the roof where workers could use parapet clamps to secure a swing stage scaffold.
However, WCU’s basketball stadium had no such anchor points. If they used a swing stage scaffold, it would involve either an expensive or a creative solution.
This project also required a very strict time frame due to the upcoming sports season. Complicating matters further was that the stadium resides in an area prone to high winds and frequent storms. Needless to say, Scaffolding Solutions had a challenging task at hand.
While other scaffolding system providers would have implemented more expensive options, Scaffolding Solutions opted for a more creative and economical approach.
We decided to run tieback anchors across the 300-foot roof and secure them to the opposing side of the building with parapet hooks. This method allowed us to secure swing stage scaffolding to an area with no roof anchors or tieback points. From there, we ran a line down to the ground from the hooks with a counterweight to provide extra stability.
Using this system, we set up four BISOMAC hoists to suspend a pair of 45-foot Altrex platforms—which was far more efficient than the trio of 30-foot platforms offered by a competitor. We added a pair of Beta Max Leo hoists with 1,000 pounds of capacity—perfect for running 800-pound glass panels up to the work area.
We also provided training and certification to the personnel working on the platforms, thereby helping maintain compliance with OSHA regulations.
The innovative solution allowed construction personnel to work on the building’s facade without sacrificing safety or damaging the paving stones. In addition, it saved the college the expense of setting up barriers or using shorter platforms that required more manpower.
The general contractor was so pleased with the outcome that they requested two more platforms. The additional scaffolding allowed their construction crews to complete the project at an even faster rate.
Scaffolding Solutions has helped general contractors and other customers safely complete their remodeling, construction, and building maintenance projects. We provide innovative solutions designed to meet needs at reduced costs—without compromising safety.
Are you looking for professional scaffolding services in North Carolina? We can help.
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