Custom Swingstages for Landmark Building in Downtown Seattle

Words: Dan Kamys

April 2014

>>> Case Study: Rehabs and Restorations

Custom Swingstages for Landmark Building in Downtown Seattle

Spider, a division of SafeWorks, is providing a custom suspended access solution to contractor Elite Construction for masonry restoration work on The Josephinum apartment building in Downtown Seattle. The 14-story residential landmark posed a unique access challenge. Its cornice was four feet wide and 12 feet below the top of the parapet, making it impossible to safely and stably get standard rental equipment close enough to access the building’s fa??ade.
alt alt
In one week’s time, Spider designed and produced a solution that consisted of two 30-foot offset platforms powered by SC1500 traction hoists and equipped with a modified counterweight beam to increase stability and a custom head on the walk-through stirrup. This allowed the entire platform to be on the inside of the suspension rope and provide complete access to the wall and underside of the cornice. Rigging was accomplished by gantry outriggers on the roof. “I’ve been a customer of Spider for thirty-three years,” says Don Watson, foreman with Elite Construction. “I was confident they could solve the unique access challenges the Josephium building presented, and they have once again exceeded my expectations. I’ve partnered with John Zemlin, Spider’s district sales representative in Seattle, for over 20 years. “He, along with their experienced team of engineers, delivered an ideal solution where competitors fell short,” Watson continues. “Spider has enabled our crew to work safely and comfortably.” For more information, visit www.spiderstaging.com. Return to Table of Contents
Designing for Performance: Key Considerations for Efficient, Durable Masonry Projects
August 2026

A successful masonry project starts well before the first stone is set. The craftsmanship on site matters, of course, but many of the decisions that shape the final result are made much earlier—during design, detailing, and material selection. Those choic

Jeff Tew
MAP Partner
Manufactured Stone MAP Partner Stone (Exterior) Stone (Interior)
Read More
Change Orders: Standard Operating Procedure
August 2026

In masonry construction, change orders are not occasional events; they are guaranteed. Drawings do not always match field conditions, specifications can conflict, and real-world construction has a way of exposing gaps in design. At DRP Masonry, we operat

Donnie Williams
Resources
Read More
RFIs: Clarity, Communication and... Hierarchy?
August 2026

In construction, any project starts with drawings. Plans. Schedules. Specifications. Whether we're talking about new construction, additions, or restoration, there is a plan, there is design intent, and a way every piece of a project needs to fit together

Kate Vienna
Technical Talks
Read More
Zero Laydown: Navigating the Logistics of Tight Urban Job Sites
August 2026

In modern commercial construction, spatial real estate has become just as valuable as the materials themselves. The industry shift toward high-density, urban projects means that the sprawling job sites of the past have been replaced by tight footprints wh

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More