Built in 1772, the Maryland State House is one of our nation’s most historic legislative buildings. Not only is it listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as being considered a National Treasure for the State, but it is also the oldest state capital in the US still actively used for legislative work.
Scaffold Resource won the SAIA Project of the Year award for Supported Scaffold for its work on the Maryland State House, as seen here. (Photo: scaffolding resource)
Atop the Annapolis-based structure sits a large wooden dome that measures 121 feet tall and 40 feet in diameter, and at more than 252 years old, it deserved some TLC.
Enter the scaffolding resource.
Supply solutions
The Christman Company, along with the Department of General Services and Maryland Historical Trust, contacted Maryland-based access subcontractor, Scaffold Resource, to create a proposal in which the company would provide engineering, complete access facilities and security evaluations throughout the duration of the project.
The Scaffold Resource team thus began its close collaboration and discussion with the general contractor to design and configure the best way to address the work required on the building while keeping its historic structure intact.
“The first step Scaffold Resource took to ensure the safety of the building, its occupants and the general public was to properly stabilize the structure by installing 16 modular stays within the dome through its hatch to the existing attic,” the company told SA. “This was a vital part of the process, as the structure needed to support the load of the scaffold, the various equipment and materials, and any weather disturbances that could cause movement and displacement of the scaffold.”
Provide access
Scaffold Resource employed a team of 10 OSHA-30 trained and certified scaffold erectors to install industrial systems scaffolding. Floor-to-ceiling access, 10 level work platforms to access each section of the dome, a Beta Max Maxial hoist, and mesh were added to the scaffold. To do this, the company had to build a 61-foot-tall access scaffold ladder tower on the south side of the building to the roof of the structure with approximately 14 linear feet of overhead protection built into the base.
After installation, a scaffold walkway was incorporated from the stair tower through the lower roof to the base of the dome at 42 linear feet to accommodate workflow from the ground to the structure. Lastly, access to the dome required precision, engineering and site investigations before erecting a scaffolding system with access to a stair tower that measures 128 feet tall and spans an area 40 feet in diameter. The stair tower was to be “drawn in” as required by the design to allow merchants a level access point to the dome façade at each deck level.
The first step Scaffold Resource took to ensure the safety of the building, its occupants and the general public was to properly stabilize the structure by installing 16 modular stays within the dome through its hatch to the existing attic. (Photo: scaffolding resource)
In total, Scaffold Resource provided about 110,000 square feet of scaffolding for the project.
Partners working on site
The close relationship between the various merchants, the GC and Scaffold Resource was “imperative when it came to the delivery and scheduling of materials using the Beta Maxial Hoist our team installed,” Scaffold Resource said. “This system moved vertically along the scaffold to transport material up and down safely while the designated subcontractor used the ladder tower.”
The engineering and planning that went into the installation had to consider the different weights of the materials being transferred and the impact they would have on the structure.
Additionally, the internal scaffolding and lifting system had to be wrapped in mesh to ensure that any loose material remained secure within its confines.
“The care, diligence and pride of each individual in this project will be reflected in the final product when the MD State House Dome is completed,” the company concluded. “This project will not only preserve more than 250 years of history, but will also allow visitors, government officials and Marylanders to learn about their country, its heritage and the great state of Maryland.”
For its work, Scaffold Resource took home the Suspended Scaffold Project of the Year award from the Scaffold & Access Industry Association.
The award is given to a member company of the Scaffolding and Access Industry Association where suspended access was used to:
• raise the general level of security in a project,
• contribute to the overall success of the project, or
• complete a dynamic installation in a new or innovative way.
For more information, visit www.saiaonline.org.
Facts and figures of the restoration project. Construction Type: Historic Renovation/Stone Removal Access Project size: 110,000 square feet of scaffolding used for exterior vertical work Contract value: $771,000 Calendar Project duration: 10 months Project completion: April 2022 Percentage of work done self-employed: 100% Scope of work
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