1800 Arch Street

The project at 1800 Arch Street (Comcast Technology Center) involved the design, fabrication, and installation of four traversing and luffing building maintenance units (BMUs), each equipped with an independent glass-handling hoist operating on twin I-beam tracks with an integrated soft rope system. The scope included three concealed twin-jib BMUs located at the architectural peaks of the tower and one large BMU at Level 60 with an extremely acute luffing angle. Architectural integration presented significant challenges, including the need for custom foldable jib arms to fully conceal the smaller BMUs and careful coordination of façade access anchors around unique diagrid fins. Additionally, the primary BMU incorporated an adjustable glass winch system to facilitate efficient and safe glazing operations across varying façade conditions.

Arien & Trevor from HighRise Access Consulting led the team, engaging from the earliest design stages to translate the façade access concept into a fully functional and buildable solution. The project required the development of a customized, adjustable soft rope system—an approach not previously implemented—to accommodate complex ISA anchor locations and changing façade geometries. Given the tower’s extreme height and the presence of sky gardens, recessed glazing zones, and architectural setbacks, a coordinated multi-zone façade access strategy was essential. HighRise Access Consulting provided detailed engineering review, installation methodology development, and close oversight to ensure successful execution. This project demonstrates how even a visually streamlined glass tower demands rigorous façade access planning and highlights the value of early, specialized façade access consulting to deliver safe, code-compliant, and long-term maintenance solutions for complex high-rise buildings.