www.mybaycity.com
June 25, 2006
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Photos by Andy Rogers - Rogers Projects Vertical Access Gets A Tall Order
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Under the direction of Ilene Tyler from
Quinn Evans Architects in Ann Arbor, the roof of Bay City's landmark City Hall is being inspected in a long running process of preservation and repair. Quinn Evans specializes in "the adaptive use of historic structures and the traditional design of new buildings" and the "preservation of cultural landscapes and important community icons".
Scaling tall buildings, whether in a "single bound" or by ropes, takes special training, equipment and skills. Quinn Evans brings in the professionals from Vertical Access in New York to handle this type of job. They specialized in "buildings and monuments with hard-to-reach areas such as steeples, domes, towers, chimneys, and high parapet or screen walls".
Evan Quinn and Vertical Access have partnered on a number of high profile jobs across the country, including the State Capitol Dome in Lansing as well as several other historic buildings in Bay City.
The inspection is a first step in preserving this historic Bay City building and replacing the roof, most of which is covered with the original clay tiles, now over one hundred years old. Beneath the tiles is an elaborate support system of wires and wood, designed to hold the tiles in place. Tyler has taken samples of the tiles which should allow accurate replacements to be found.
Evan Kopelson and Mike Gilbert from Vertical Access are doing the inspections out on the roof. Belayed with harnesses and ropes, the men inspect the roof tiles, copper, stone and architectural details. Digital photos, video and audio of the inspection are fed back to the "command center" inside the building where the data is used to annotate an AutoCAD drawing preloaded on a tablet computer. "Select a mark on the drawing and the photos and inspection report pops up on the screen" said Tyler
The actual inspection is choreographed like a dance. The team reviews the area to be inspected using the computer drawings. Lines are setup and the men head for the roof. Tyler stays in contact through the entire process monitoring by radio and on the TV monitor. This careful planning insures that no one gets hurt and no damage is done to the building.
Circular stair to the top of the bell tower. |
Evan Kopelson, Ilene Tyler, Mike Gilbert. |
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Ropes and lines anchored in the upstairs gallery of City Hall.
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Stephen Kent |
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