Annual conference of the National Council of Structural Engineers Association (NCSEA) – September 30 to October 2 in Jersey City, NJ. The program included papers on a variety of topics, ranging from standards and codes to research and case studies. Vertical Access partner Kelly Streeter, PE attended.
Author: Vertical Access
Dream Jobs in the World Outside
It’s hard to beat playing Spider-Man in New York City, rappelling down the stainless-steel spire of the Chrysler Building, carrying a water hose to test for leaks, or tiptoeing around the towers of St. Patrick’s Cathedral to check their condition. To carry out surveys, Streeter and fellow technicians—among them a historic preservationist and a masonry expert—construct a fail-safe system of ropes that allow them to clip in, climb up, and get close to beautiful landmarks. Working hands-free, they investigate and meticulously map a building’s condition, entering data into a handheld computer while hovering hundreds of feet above the ground. “We get to see these amazing parts of buildings that no one else sees up close,” Streeter says.
Skyscraper Inspectors Make Like Rock Climbers
New York-based Vertical Access, a company of engineers doubling as rock climbers who scale skyscrapers and historic buildings to verify that they are sound. Read full article. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
NY Sun August 18, 2008
…athletic ability with no fear of heights is required.
Rather like getting a pilot’s license, being certified to do rope access by the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) requires both formal training and actual “flying” time on the rope. read full article published in Architecture Week, May 2010.
Guest Lecturer at BAC
VA partner and structural engineer, Kelly Streeter, was guest lecturer at Boston Architectural College in October ’10. The presentation was in conjunction with Sara Wermiel’s course, “Approaches to Historic Building Fabric Materials, Assemblies, and Design”. Kelly’s topic covered the inspection and documentation of terra cotta clad structures and included demonstrations of testing equipment used in the field.
Vertical Access Approved as AIA Continuing Education System Provider
Vertical Access has been approved as an AIA Continuing Education System provider. VA partners Kent Diebolt, Kelly Streeter and Evan Kopelson are available to present courses such as “Using Technology to Document Historic Buildings,” “Using Industrial Rope Access for Facade Ordinance Inspections.” and other topics designed to meet the needs and interests of course participants. AIA member participants will receive one CE learning unit for each course. See our list of courses
NEW VENTURE – TPAS LLC
Vertical Access has spun off a new venture called TPAS LLC. TPAS LLC was created to further the development of the Tablet PC Annotation System that VA has been using for over six years by working with development partners who are using TPAS in their own investigations of buildings and structures. Using feedback from current development partners, including Goody Clancy, Chambers, Murphy & Burge Restoration Architects, Harboe Architects and others, TPAS LLC will continue to make improvements to and upgrade the TPAS software for use by development partners under lease agreements. The next upgrade release is scheduled for October 1, 2010.
TPAS LLC also develops custom-designed software packages for architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers and others to facilitate the collection, management and organization of survey and field reporting data. TPAS products are customized to fit the needs of the project or client and can range from hyperlinking of survey data in AutoCAD drawings to integration of multiple database reports.
More information on TPAS products and the development partner program can be found on the TPAS LLC website.
Inspection done on Grace Church steeple in quest for preservation funding
Watch Video Grace Church in Utica, NY was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Vertical Access was called to survey the steeple to assess conditions and prioritize repairs and renovations. The 160-foot steeple was rebuilt in 1934. Read more at UticaOD.com