The Virginia General Assembly Building in downtown Richmond was long overdue for a significant remodel. The structure was scheduled for partial demolition and rebuilding by Gilbane Building Company.
The improved 15-story building would blend old and new, preserving the original 1912 limestone façade while modernizing the rooms and public spaces.
Considering that the new structure had no internal elevator, Gilbane needed scaffolding for a building remodel that would allow them to get workers and materials efficiently and safely from floor to floor.
They contacted the local experts, Scaffolding Solutions, who provided a versatile solution with the following benefits and superior safety features:
Safety was one of Gilbane Building Company’s major concerns. The scaffolding had to offer a safe environment for everyone on the project. This was of critical importance as the construction progressed upwards.
Without an internal elevator, it was up to the buck hoist system to lift all the workers, tools, and materials to each floor. Work on the Virginia General Assembly Building could progress only as fast as the hoist could feed the job. To keep the project on track, reliability and lift capacity were essential.
As the project got underway, the team discovered an unexpected 15-inch variance between the base pad and the actual building façade.
After discovering the measurements didn’t match the existing building façade, Scaffolding Solutions quickly got to work revising their plans. They realized they could reconfigure the hoist and produce a new set of drawings within a single day—which was an impressive turnaround time.
For the project, Scaffolding Solutions chose a Scando 650 Dual Hoist system. The buck hoist operated like an elevator on the side of the building and was capable of lifting 7,100 pounds. It consisted of two fully enclosed cars operating independently on either side of a central mast.
Using dual cars, rather than the more common single-car option, Gilbane could easily maintain productivity on the job site. Scaffolding Solutions selected a Scando system because it integrates safety into the design.
“Our number one goal every single day is safety,” says Danny Dunbar, Project Manager for Scaffolding Solutions. “Scando has far more safety features compared to other systems.”
The Scando hoist used for the Virginia General Assembly Building construction site included:
As an added benefit, Scaffolding Solutions is headquartered in Richmond, VA. The proximity of the main office to the job site meant that the hoist technicians could be on-site quickly if equipment needed servicing.
Gilbane was delighted with everything Scaffolding Solutions provided. The equipment worked smoothly from day one, and there were no safety concerns. Selecting the Scando 650 Dual Hoist was an incredibly productive choice.
“Having a dedicated material car while still being able to move personnel floor to floor was a huge benefit,” says Dunbar.
Collaborating to solve the project’s challenges led to an excellent professional relationship between Gilbane and Scaffolding Solutions. Based on the strength of their partnership, Gilbane has since offered to team up with Scaffolding Solutions on another long-term project.
At Scaffolding Solutions, we’re dedicated to delivering scaffolding and buck hoist rentals that are dependable, cost-effective, and above all, safe. We support jobs from pre-planning to execution, with professionalism and integrity as the foundation of everything we do.
Your project deserves the best in the industry. Let’s work together to solve your challenges.