While we can’t claim to have X-ray vision like Superman, we do have tools in our Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT&E) arsenal that give us the equivalent of superpowers. Infrared Thermography (IR) and Electrical Impedance (EI) scanning are powerful technologies that supplement visual observation.

One of the highlights of Charles Laughton’s moving performance in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) comes at the end of the film. Lovelorn for Esmerelda, Quasimodo asks one of Notre Dame’s famed gargoyles, “Why was I not made of stone like thee?” Broken hearts aside, we can relate: our restoration practice requires—and fosters—a similar architectural empathy.

At the end of the day, SUPERSTRUCTURES isn’t just an E/A firm; we’re also a technology firm. We do our part to shape the future of exterior restoration by maintaining our position at the forefront of technology, developing and implementing digital tools to better manage large, complex projects and offer greater value and efficiency to our clients.

Consider the crucial difference between “let’s eat, grandma,” and “let’s eat grandma"--a hyperbolic illustration of proper punctuation as well as a cautionary tale about attention to detail.

“Preparing for Terra Cotta Surprises,” Habitat’s recent interview on the restoration of two Upper West Side buildings suggests that clients might expect the final cost for a terra cotta restoration project to be triple the initial estimate. That certainly is a surprise –at least to us.

IKEA features flat-packed furniture that you assemble yourself, saving money and giving you a bit of handyman satisfaction (and a collection of Allen wrenches). But the process of assembling a series of IKEA products comes with its own learning curve, one that illustrates the acquisition of expertise.

SUPERSTRUCTURES is excited to launch the fifth season of the Frost Jacking Day Tracker. "Frost jacking" is what happens when freezing temperatures cause rain or snow to turn to ice and expand cracks in a facade. As cycles of freezing and thawing accumulate, the cracks continue to grow and exterior hazardous conditions or interior water damage or leaks can occur.

Habitat magazine continues to characterize parking garages as “the new facades” with regard to their required inspections. They’ve raised alarms that city-mandated garage condition assessments are synonymous with periodic facade (FISP/LL11) inspections, but this equation is misleading. The comparison is reasonable to the extent that both facades and parking structures are subject to deterioration over time and mandatory inspections, but they also differ in important ways.

There’s a subset of LinkedIn posts that emphasizes the daredevil side of facade inspections with dizzying pics of rope access team members hanging high above the city. We understand that rope access has its thrilling side, but should it be the go-to method for facade inspection?

Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. That’s the essence of Cornell Tech’s research report, “Rebooting NYC,” which asks the City to give drones a chance by conducting a thorough study to see how their potential plays out for FISP facade inspections.