b'TERMINALSDEN45the firms calculated the beam size neededthe opening was a steel-reinforced glass for the new escalators, which each weighrailing for visibility and safety. The new about 20,000 pounds.escalator units, hoisted by a crane from Crews extracted the eight existingthe outside, were guided carefully through escalators and hoisted them with cranesthe window. It was a tight space, as the through the concourse windows. Inescalators were nearly the same width general, they worked between 9 p.m. andand height as the window opening. 5 a.m. because aircraft were operatingOnce inside, the new escalators just outside the windows during the day.were moved to the concourse level and Foot traffic was diverted to the oppositeguided into place with the hydraulic side of the terminal from where the workgantry system. Kone, PCL and ICM was being completed.worked together to coordinate the rigging During the planning phase, engineersprocess, which included restricting access discovered that the project plans requiredto the gate areas and concourse, and adjustments to beef up the supportclearing walkways before anything moved structure because the new escalatorsan inch. In tandem, PCL relocated the were so heavy.temporary construction walls to cordon off the next phase. The reason it took us almost an entire year is because we discovered someSometimes, the team had to delay structural challenges, which causedwork due to changing airline schedules some complications, Robb says. Webecause an aircraft would be near the had to bolster the superstructure towindow where crews needed access. accommodate the weight.Working in an Crews used a hydraulic gantry system tooperating facility help lower the new escalators into place.where there were still The bridge-like structure that supportedpedestrians coming the crane from overhead consisted ofin and out, we had pistons on a wheeled base that was fixedto make sure nothing to a track system and two engineeredwould compromise rigging beams spanning the open space.safety, stresses ICMPAT WILLIAMSThe pistons were all individually managedProject Manager Pat by remote-controlled pendants, and crewsWilliams. We did the majority of the work from ICM received specialized training toat night, including all of the rigging, while Were in the process of systematicallyensure the required control. we did some steel work during the day. replacing 358 conveyancesincludingCreating fluidity in the process was key, power walkways, escalators andDelicate Maneuvers he adds, because changing conditions elevators, Robb says. A lot of thoseLike the childrens game Operation, whichand schedules were never going to be were original to the airport, which meansrequires a steady hand to extract and re- 100% predictable.they are now approaching 30 years oldinsert plastic organ pieces into a cartoon and are more difficult to maintain.patient, DENs escalator project requiredSafety and Access Bracing for the trials ahead, DENprecision and near-perfect execution.With care for the airport and its workers worked closely with familiar partners toDemolition and steel installationand visitors in mind, ICM submitted a devise a plan to solve the logjam.commenced on the north side ofsafety plan for each phase of work. Various Concourse A in February 2022, and crewsportions included complex engineering, A Heavyweight Challenge began installing the new escalators thereextremely heavy escalators and working The airports general contractor, PCLin August 2022.Preparatory work forfrom significant heights. Williams notes Construction Services, brought inthe new south escalators commencedthat a safety plan for the hydraulic gantry Colorado-based Industrial Constructors/ January 2023 and was completed in system was particularly important because Managers (ICM) to help remove the existingJune 2023.it had to be aligned and weighted perfectly. eight escalators and replace them with 16We also had to be careful to not brand-new units manufactured by Kone.After the old escalators were removed, PCL cut a large hole into the terminaldamage the terrazzo, Robb adds. We ICM combined its expertise in riggingput down plywood over the flooring, and applications with structural engineeringand buttressed it with structural steel and concrete to underpin the floor. Framingthere was an overhead crane installed at support from Baur Engineering. Together,the side.AirportImprovement.comJanuary | February 2025'