Thanks in part to Superior Scaffold and grand sales master Tony Pini, a special stage was extended all the way into the house with a floor that was built from the stage level to the  low rise of the theater, over the orchestra seats.  And for the first time, this allowed the guests to spread out and party all in one location.

Built using system scaffold, planking and plywood – it was constructed just like a work platform on many of Superior’s jobs – but this one was actually danced upon!

Superior Scaffold’s Tony Pini, working closely with Senior Project Designer, John Trosino, also constructed a special party area where revelers could mingle and

dance beneath the great chandelier that was lowered just for the special event.

Here are a few photos that show how the floor was constructed over the open areas of the theater.

“It’s long been a goal of mine to have an open house in the Academy and to be able to do it the way they did it in 1857,” Academy president Joanna McNeil Lewis said.

Party goers were treated to an incredible night of entertainment including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, jazz singer Diana Krall, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

In attendance were Gov. Corbett, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Lisa Nutter, and her husband, Mayor Nutter among others.

(photos courtesy of MICHAEL BRYANT / the Inquirer)

Superior scaffold incorporates elevated “dance floors” in many of their scaffolding jobs but this was probably the first time it was actually used as a real DANCE FLOOR!.

They are also known as work platforms in the industry.

Proceeds benefited the Academy of Music Restoration Fund and The Philadelphia Orchestra Association.  The 146-year-old Academy of Music is the oldest known continuously operating opera house in the United States. The building, constructed in 1857, was built using solid brick bearing walls and timber framed floors and roof. It has served for the last 147 years as Philadelphia’s premier opera house and served for over a century as home to The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Click the photo to watch the video or click the links below.

Students raise money for Our Lady of Lourdes Statue repair

Students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Regional School raise money for Our Lady of Lourdes Statue repair

The 15 ton statue is getting her much needed overhaul after the earthquake in August.  She’s almost restored and ready for installation.

This video shows how the efforts of students at one small school (Our Lady of Mount Carmel Regional School) help raised money for the repairs.

Students of the elementary school collected coins to help fund the cost of the repair which the hospital estimates at $100,000.

The students have already raised over $1,300 and will present the money to Our Lady of Lourdes on January 30th.

Superior Scaffold would like to give a quick kudos to the kids at Mount Carmel!

Here’s another story from the CBS affiliate in NJ:

Advertising?  Yep.  All over the place.  And it’s a brilliant way to cover up scaffolding that might be necessary for the “behind the curtain” workings of an event like this.

If you recall, Superior Scaffold wrapped the entire Independence Hall tower in a decorative scrim that would give visitors a rough idea of what the renovated building would look like.  And there is really no difference here.  BAAM Productions wanted to promote the NHL and sponsor Bridgestone and used the system scaffold carrying the water and chemicals necessary to create the ice down to the field as their billboard.  They knew that 46 thousand humans would be walking directly beneath this “Ice Bridge” going to the field, so they put it to good use.

Carefully hidden behind these graphics is the scaffolding that supports the real going’s on.  It’s just beautifully wrapped in color graphics.

So when you’ve got scaffold being used in public – why not USE IT – for your advertising or promotional needs.  It only makes sense.  And Superior Scaffold can help you figure out the best way to do that.

We can create banners, graphics and scrims to almost any configuration to put onto your scaffold project.   If the NHL and the NPS can do it – why can’t you?

This is what the stadium looked like in FULL – Action mode.

Superior Scaffold was brought in to build the “Ice Bridge” that spans the fan’s walkway (concourse) down to the rink itself.  The scaffolding allows the pipes that bring in the water and chemicals to make the ice to travel safely from the outside of the stadium all the way down to the rink on the inside.   It allows the concourse to remain open to fans while still providing the ability to keep the ice flowing.

The scaffold is all wrapped in a decorative scrim with graphics from both teams and sponsors.

You can watch a very cool timelapse of the rink being built here: 

NBC’s coverage of the Winter Classic will be hosted by Bob Costas, a 22-time Emmy Award-winner. He will be joined by NBC Sports Group studio analysts Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick for coverage on NBC and post-game coverage on NBC Sports Network.  NBC’s game coverage will be led by Emmy Award-winner Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play) Eddie Olczyk (analyst), and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter).

Last year’s Winter Classic was the most-watched NHL regular-season game in 36 years.  The game was watched by 4.5 million viewers.

Our Superior Scaffold Suspended expert tells us about the new copper swages.

Why they are stronger, safer, and better than traditional bolt on ferrules or fist grips for wire ropes and tie-downs.

Very simply put – time and safety.  Traditionally, you had to make sure each of your fist grips were tightened sufficiently before getting to work.  With these new copper swages you are safe and secure and working the minute you hit the job site.

Another helpful hint from Superior Scaffold.  Also see scaffolding

Here is a video tour of the scaffolding and the Mother Mary statue on top of Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, NJ. It clearly shows the damage that the earthquake did to her as well as the necessary guy-wires to hold her down in case of aftershocks. Superior Scaffold had to transport all of the scaffolding materials through a maze in the hospital and even assemble most of the sections on a lower roof and then hoist them up where they could be put into place. You can see the difficulties in just getting to the statue in another video I posted called access.

You can help restore the statue on to of Our Lady of Lourdes by clicking here:

See additional photos here.

If you would like to help with the preservation of this beloved landmark…

Click on the image above to read more about this worthwhile cause.

Or click on the following link:

Save Our Lady of Lourdes insert into Catholic Star Herald

This is the first in a series of videos that will give tips and advice for the suspended scaffold / scaffolding users.

It has been taken down in sections and sent off for repair.  As you know, it was damaged in the earthquake.

I’ve compiled a few of the news stories here  - including a CBS news clip in which you can see the damage directly after the earthquake and the day before Superior’s emergency response team raced in and secured her in place.

Virgin Mary Statue Atop Lourdes Hospital In Camden Coming Down For Repairs « CBS Philly.

Virgin Mary Statud atop Camden hospital removed for repairs (philly.com)

Original Video of the statue directly after the earthquake.

Blessed Mother statue in Camden braces for Irene (philly.com)

The statue of the Virgin Mary will be restored to her former glory and reinstalled in her proper place.

The top portion including the spire, bell housing, and lightening ball all look fantastic.  Even the clock faces are almost ready.

The unveil without the scaffolding is slated for December.

Thanks for the update on Independence Hall.