When completed in 1928, the Buncombe County Courthouse became North Carolina’s tallest local government building at 17 stories high. Over time, the landmark structure deteriorated and eventually required extensive restoration.
To get it done, remediation crews would have to work 195 feet above ground to mend the historic building’s exterior brickwork. This meant that safe and reliable scaffolding would be critical to the project’s success.
The county needed experts familiar with complex scaffolding design to provide safe access for the repair. They turned to Scaffolding Solutions, an experienced local supplier with an impressive safety record and a reputation for innovation.
Scaffolding Solutions provided the following solutions and benefits:
Erecting a rigid scaffolding against the courthouse’s delicate limestone without causing additional damage wasn’t easy. The team at Scaffolding Solutions had multiple challenges right from the start.
A building’s construction plan is used for load-bearing calculations to ensure structural stability and worker safety in a typical construction scaffolding design. But this wasn’t a typical project. Neither records nor blueprints for the 93-year-old Buncombe County Courthouse were available to help with the engineering.
The courthouse building’s shape also added complexity, as an eight-story portion of the scaffolding would have to be erected on a lower section of the roof. This load could endanger the structural integrity of the building.
Inclement weather also presented a challenge for the scaffolding design. Safe access had to account for slippery rain, ice, and snow. Any protective netting or plastic sheets had the potential to get caught in the wind. This would result in greater loads placed on the scaffolding.
The SolutionScaffolding Solutions resolved every challenge using their extensive knowledge and expertise while working within the project constraints.
To overcome the lack of drawings and records, they used custom engineering solutions for the load calculations. Their approach to anchoring started with a third-party engineer to conduct pull tests on the courthouse limestone.
By inserting anchors into the structure and measuring the force needed to pull them out, they created a solution specific to the Buncombe County Courthouse.
Scaffolding Solutions used OCTO scaffolding—recognized as a versatile and reliable system, adaptable to various industries and applications. OCTO offers ease of handling and superior strength.
Special cribbing ensured additional safety on the courthouse’s lower roof. The innovative design dispersed the scaffolding’s weight evenly onto the roof and walls, protecting construction workers above and below.
Scaffolding Solutions’ North Carolina office supported the restoration in nine phases. They installed scaffolding one step ahead of the work and took it down one stage behind.
The team consistently delivered project deliverables on schedule and budget, demonstrating their commitment to excellence and professionalism. Repair crews could safely access the structure to complete their restoration tasks, including window repairs, fixing mortar joints, and waterproofing. The Buncombe County Courthouse restoration will continue into 2021.
This project is a prime example of Scaffolding Solution’s ability to overcome challenges and excel at very complex projects requiring major engineering and manpower.
“The project was a year and a half in the making. From coming up with the scaffolding design to six months of engineering, the installation, and the takedown, the Scaffolding Solutions team managed obstacles and found ways to address the many challenges along the way.”
~Brian Lish, Carolina Business Development Manager, Scaffolding Solutions
Thanks to Scaffolding Solutions’ commitment to relationships, the general contractor awarded them another extensive project.
No matter the size of your scaffolding project, at Scaffolding Solutions, we treat every job with professionalism and integrity. From design to takedown, we deliver safe and reliable scaffolding that fits your needs.
Partner with us and get our expertise working for you to overcome your most challenging scaffolding projects.
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