Stryker & Company removed and replaced the Cliff Palace Observation Deck at Mesa Verde National Park, one of the nation’s most significant archaeological and historic sites, for the National Park Service. The scope included demolition and reconstruction of approximately 1,200 square feet of concrete observation deck, infilling the cavern beneath the structure with structural insulated foam, replacing enclosure siding along the overlook’s vertical edge, and rock stabilization work, all roughly 400 feet from the nearest vehicle access, on a site with a 300-foot cliff edge.
What Made This Project Different
- Three team members obtained SPRAT rope-access certification to safely replace siding along the edge of a 300-foot cliff, working above a debris net installed roughly 150 feet below to catch any dropped material
- Built a winch system on a mini skid-steer to move materials up and down the site’s stairway, roughly 400 feet from the parking area
- Poured and cured approximately 30 cubic yards of colored concrete in January, fully tented and heated to maintain proper curing temperature without the insulating blankets that would have marked the colored surface
- Delivered a complex, safety-intensive project that enhanced visitor access while protecting a contributing resource within the Chapin Mesa Loop Roads Historic District
