The Aerial Lift aka Man Lift, or Buck Lift — A View From Within the Car

On any given day, while I’m on site, I may ride the aerial lift two or three times. Sometimes Gordon. the operator of the car, and I are the only ones that take the ride. Other times the car is full of hot, sweaty, thirsty hardhat laborers: some with their lunch buckets, some with big water containers, and some with tools of their trade. There are time when I take the car there are no stops. Those times are getting rarer. Most of the time, the car stops at every floor (with the exception of floor number three. It’s nearing the time for a concrete pour on that particular floor.  The rides in the mornings are more lively while the rides in the afternoon are less animated especially around quiten’ time. Whether the car is empty or full, the ride is always exciting! Currently there is only one two car aerial lift, which is located on the northeast side of the structure. It is my understanding that another lift will be erected somewhere near the southwest side of the building. The lattice towers are raised as the floors increase in height. Hopefully this blog will give you an idea of what it is like to ride the car: first we’ll take a ride up to take a couple of photos on the sixth floor and then will ride the car back down. Enjoy!

When the aerial lift was first erected it would whisk the laborer, equipment, and material to the third floor. The lattice tower now has two cars with only one in operation at the moment. I expect the second car will be operational when the metal decking is installed on the seventh and eighth floors.

The lift cars stand at the ready to be installed on the lattice tower. Prior to the tower can be installed, the decking on the second floor must be completed so that the tower can be anchored (welded) to a second story girder.

The lift’s car stopped at the third floor decking, which is beginning to be scattered on the northeast section.

Gordon, the aerial lift operator.

A View From Within the Steel Cage — Going Up

A 24 second ride to the sixth floor.

Photos From the Sixth Floor

Looking toward the southwest and the steel columns for the Children’s Hospital. Center right is the elevator tower. Sorry Mabel, I couldn’t help getting the out door privy in this photo. They seem to be every where on the metal decking.

Looking West toward the Medical Center.

A panoramic view by combining the two sixth floor photos using photoshop. There is a slight discrepancy in the sky colors between the two photos, but more importantly the position of the columns and the floors are what matters in this combined image.

A View From Within the Steel Cage — Going Back Down

What goes up must go down—A round trip on the aerial lift.