‘Ritzy’ restoration calls for Superior Scaffold solution

Superior Scaffold recently provided a range of access and scaffold equipment to a high-profile job in downtown Philadelphia.

Superior was called in by GC, Pullman to provide a very unique system scaffold that would allow restoration crews to get all around and on top of the marble dome to do repairs, repointing and refinishing. (Photo: Superior Scaffold)

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia is a historic, 32-story-marble-clad hotel, and it has provided luxury services for nearly a century. Due to its age, the building’s marble dome needed cleaning, repointing, and sealing. Additionally, the penthouse required marble repairs and anchoring.

Superior Scaffold utlized Fixeo units, seen here, on the job. (Photo: Superior Scaffold)

Contacted by general contractor Pullman, Superior Scaffold was tasked with finding a solution to provide crews with double access to work zones while also keeping pedestrians below the job safe.

Superior thus decided to utilize traditional supported scaffold paired with Fixeos, a “lighter alternative to full blown, heavy mast climbers, or when the project can’t be swung with traditional suspended scaffold rigs,” the company noted.

The Fixeo product, produced by France-based Fixator, allows all standard domestic suspended scaffold equipment to be converted into a light-weight MCWP that provides a stable work area that will not sway in windy applications.

Superior used the Fixeos on the top portion of the Ritz-Carlton’s building in order to get crews to spots where renovations and repairs were needed. The company also provided a canopy overhead protection system that wrapped around the entire building in order to protect pedestrians and automobile traffic below the work at height.

Fixeos were used at the top portion of the building to get crews to specific areas to renovate, repair, and clean and seal. (Photo: Superior Scaffold)

Crews then performed pointing, cleaning and marble repairs, including restoring decorative pieces, and reconstructing the building’s parapet with cast stone elements. They also restored the hotel’s brass windows. GC Pullman expects the job to finish on time and without incident.