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
URGENT: Only One Cornerstone Spot Remains in the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program
May 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is thrilled to announce that the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program (MAP) has reached a critical stage of exclusivity.

MAP Partner
Read More
The Compliance Shield: Navigating the New Standards of Field Oversight
May 2026

The modern job site is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation. While the physical act of laying a block remains the core of the trade, the environment surrounding that work is becoming increasingly data-driven. We are moving away from the era o

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More
When GEORGE Met BOB: Ironsite Is MCAA's First AI-Centered Cornerstone Partner
May 2026

Earlier this year at World of Concrete, I taught the AI Test Drive class and gave attendees an early look at GEORGE 3.0, which we're set to release later this year. As I was wrapping up the session and people were still asking questions, the team from Iro

Dan Kamys
MAP Partner
Read More
Ironsite Joins Masonry Alliance Program as Newest Cornerstone Partner
May 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is thrilled to announce that Ironsite will be joining the Masonry Alliance Program (MAP) at the Cornerstone level.

MAP Partner
Read More