74.2m High-Altitude Challenge: Innovative Cantilever Scaffolding Solution for 27-Story Roof Cornice

In modern high-rise construction, detailing the roof cornice often presents significant technical hurdles. This project, situated atop a 27-story residential building at a height of 74.2 meters, required a construction platform at the base of the eaves. The challenge was twofold: mitigating extreme high-altitude risks and ensuring the setup did not interfere with the operation of suspended platforms (gondolas) working on the facade, allowing for simultaneous cross-work.

Our Solution: To address this, our engineering team calculated and deployed a customized Cantilever Scaffolding system.

1. Cantilevered Bottom & Structural Support: Given the unique location of the cornice, we utilized a bottom-void design. High-strength steel pipes serve as the primary structural support in a “wrapping” configuration that hugs the building structure, providing stability without occupying ground space.

   Internal view under the scaffolding platform showing steel props and jacks supporting the concrete cornice and wooden walkways.

   Side profile of the cantilever scaffolding with wooden planks hanging over the 27-story facade, showing the vertical height.

2. Lightweight Platform Design: Considering the load-bearing limits of high-altitude cantilevers, we utilized high-quality wooden planks for the walkways. Compared to traditional steel decks, wooden planks significantly reduce the dead weight of the scaffolding system while providing excellent traction and support.

   Construction workers operating a material hoist on the scaffold platform with safety gear at a high-rise site

   Wide view of the rooftop showing multiple steel wire ropes tensioning the cantilever scaffolding for the cornice construction

3. Wire Rope Anchoring for Safety: Safety is paramount at 74 meters. We implemented a robust back-anchoring system using high-tensile steel wire ropes. These ropes are anchored to the main building structure, creating a stable triangular tension system that effectively resists wind loads and vertical stress.

4. Efficient Cross-Operation: The highlight of this design is its compatibility. The cantilever structure creates clearance for the suspended platforms (cradles), allowing facade finishing and cornice work to proceed simultaneously, significantly reducing the project timeline.

This case study demonstrates how scientific calculation and material selection can achieve both safety and efficiency in high-difficulty, high-altitude construction environments.