Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

Spider provides suspended access solutions to World Trade Center Towers

Words: Heidi AndersSpider, a division of SafeWorks, LLC, is providing suspended scaffolding and material hoisting solutions for the glass curtain wall and glazing installation on two towers of the World Trade Center: One World Trade Center and Tower Four.

Spider is supplying Portland-based glazing contractor Benson Industries with twelve complete swingstages to access the towers’ facades. Standard 20-foot and 30-foot modular platforms - powered by Spider’s market-leading SC1000 traction hoists - as well as Modulo® platforms are enabling access to hard-to-reach areas. A custom modular outrigger beam monorail system was specially engineered to support the platforms.

In addition, four Beta Max Leo XXL VFD material hoists are being used to lift over 3,000 massive glass panels into position. With hoists on each side of the building, installers carefully bring the large, delicate panels up at a rate of 40-80 feet per minute and precisely position for the install.

Spider’s New York Operation Center, led by Operations Manager Joe Simone and District Sales Representative Marc Frato, provided on-site, hands-on training to ensure safe operation of the equipment.

“From the minute the Spider team set foot on site to assess the project and explain our access and material hoisting options, we were confident they would provide the best solution. And they have exceeded our expectations,” states Frank Colletta, General Foreman One World Trade Center.

“The reliability and flexibility of Spider’s equipment are essential for us to complete the upper portion of the project,” adds Danny O’Brien, Field Superintendent with Benson Industries. “Their New York team provides great service, on-time deliveries, and helpful technical support to ensure that we are working safely at height, staying on schedule, and maximizing productivity. We couldn’t ask for more.”

“The equipment and service Spider provided was exceptional, enabling us to flawlessly complete our glass repairs and louver work,” says Eddie Nelson, Foreman Tower Four also with Benson Industries.

“Spider takes pride in being an integral part of these high- profile projects,” says John Sotiroff, Vice President Spider Sales and Distribution. “As the nation watches the progress of the iconic World Trade Center towers, Spider swells with patriotism and remains focused on keeping these and other quality contractors around the country safe at extreme heights.”

As Spider’s work on Tower Four nears completion, the equipment and focus has transferred to One World Trade Center which, at 1,776 feet, is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Spider anticipates its phase of the project to be completed in September 2013.

To view footage of Spider’s equipment in action on One World Trade Center, visit
www.spiderstaging.com/Standard/SpiderBetaMax.aspx.
 0
Argo Community High School Performing Arts Center
July 2026

Argo Community High School is located in Summit, Illinois, just southwest of Chicago’s Midway Airport. In 2016, the Argo Community High School Board of Education and the school’s administration undertook the construction of a new performing

John Cicciarelli
Case Study
Read More
Masonry as the Standard: Delivering Strength, Durability, and Permanence at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs
July 2026

The replacement of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs serves as a clear example of masonry’s ability to deliver long-term durability, structural integrity, and architectural permanence in worship facility construction. Following the tragic events

Anton Shadrock
Case Study
Read More
Designing Masonry Openings Without Compromising Aesthetics
July 2026

One of masonry's greatest strengths is its ability to create visually striking architecture. From arches and deep reveals to decorative brick detailing, masonry provides texture, depth, and character that continue to inspire architects today. As buildin

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More
Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Technical Talks
Read More