Access Scaffold System for the Evaluation and Restoration of the Washington Monument Facade

Restoration of the exterior stone at the Washington Monument required a unique structural system which allowed for access to the 8,300 square meters (90,000 square feet) of vertical surface area on this historical monument. An aluminum pipe scaffold system was designed and constructed which provided surveyors and restoration workers with unobstructed access to the entire stone facade while not disturbing the existing stone's integrity. Parameters constraining the design of this scaffold system included an aggressive construction schedule as well as aesthetic requirements established by the monument's administrators. The following paper discusses the unique solutions used to achieve a safe and economical structural design of the scaffolding system.