Story

The Thurgood Marshall Judicial Building required urgent facade stabilization due to compromised granite panels, necessitating a safe and efficient access system for multiple contractors, inspectors, and quality control teams. ECRS was tasked with providing pedestrian overhead protection, full construction access via a supported system scaffold, and swing staging to facilitate ongoing restoration efforts. Additionally, ECRS built scaffolding within all setback window curtain areas, creating a base for complex swing stage rigging essential to the restoration work. Given the historic significance of the building and the necessity to maintain full occupancy during the project, our team developed an innovative scaffold solution that ensured both safety and structural integrity while adhering to strict design constraints. Challenges & Solutions: • Anchoring Restrictions: The Architect of the Capitol mandated that the scaffold design could not include compression or positive anchoring into the masonry joints, as the granite panels were already compromised. However, a fully freestanding scaffold system would have required a footprint larger than the available space. Solution: ECRS proposed utilizing the existing granite panel and debris netting anchor system, which had been previously pull-tested and demonstrated more than double the required load capacity. This solution allowed us to safely anchor the scaffold without compromising the structure. • Complex Scaffold & Rigging Requirements: ECRS needed to construct scaffolding within setback window curtain areas while also designing a base for intricate swing stage rigging. Solution: Custom scaffold configurations were designed and installed to allow multiple trades to access critical work zones efficiently. • Occupied Building Constraints: The project had to be executed while the building remained fully operational, requiring careful planning to maintain safe egress for pedestrians and contractors while minimizing disruptions. Solution: Our design incorporated seamless pedestrian routing, ensuring both workers and the public could safely navigate the site without risk. • Freestanding Scaffold Design: Due to space limitations and a lack of existing anchors, Phase 3 of the project had to be fully freestanding Solution: ECRS engineered a self-supporting scaffold system that maintained stability while providing full access to restoration crews. Innovation & Technology • Kewazo Lift Bot: ECRS utilized the cutting-edge Kewazo Lift Bot, a robotic scaffold lifting system, to safely transport tens of thousands of pounds of materials that would have otherwise been manually hoisted by workers. This technology drastically reduced labor strain and increased efficiency, particularly for awkward and heavy 20' steel I-beams. • Beta Max Cable Hoists: Each phase of the project was equipped with Beta Max cable hoists, providing a safer and more controlled means of transporting materials vertically. • Adaptive Scaffold Design: ECRS integrated traditional scaffold methods with modern technology to meet strict preservation guidelines while ensuring safe and reliable access. Outcome ECRS successfully delivered a scaffolding solution that not only met the Architect of the Capitol’s stringent requirements but also provided a safe and efficient work environment for all contractors and inspectors involved. With its combination of structural engineering, cutting-edge robotics, and historic preservation, this project exemplifies ECRS’s ability to tackle complex, high-profile restoration efforts with precision and expertise.