Scaffolding

At the Mayo Clinic, one of the most respected healthcare institutions in the world, construction isn’t just about building—it’s about protecting what’s already there.

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This project involved:

• Working within an active hospital environment

• Creating a major building expansion penetration

• Removing sections of the existing building façade

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All while:

• Patients are inside

• Staff are working

• Operations never stop

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And in healthcare construction?

That changes everything.

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The Challenge

Let’s break down what the team was really up against.

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Active Hospital = Zero Tolerance for Disruption

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This isn’t a closed jobsite.

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This is:

• Live patients

• Critical care environments

• Continuous operations

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Which means:

• Dust can’t escape

• Weather can’t intrude

• Work can’t interfere

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Opening the Building Envelope

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Crews were:

• Removing the face of the building

• Creating a large expansion penetration

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Which immediately introduces:

• Exposure to wind and weather

• Risk of contamination

• Loss of environmental control

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And in a hospital?

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That’s a serious problem.

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Weather + Exposure = Immediate Risk

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Once the building is open:

• Wind moves through

• Moisture enters

• Temperature becomes unstable

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Which impacts:

• Interior conditions

• Safety

• Schedule

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The Solution

This project wasn’t about one solution.

It was about phased environmental control.

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Phase 1: Scaffold Wrap for Immediate Protection

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To start, scaffold wrap was installed around the work zone to create a sealed enclosure around the expansion penetration.

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This allowed crews to:

• Begin façade removal

• Work safely within a contained area

• Protect the hospital interior from exposure

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Scaffold wrap created:

• A physical barrier to wind and debris

• Containment for dust and materials

• Immediate environmental control during early-phase work

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Phase 2: Transition to RWES (Pre-Winter Strategy)

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As the project progresses toward winter conditions, the plan includes deploying RWES for full-scale environmental control.

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Why?

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Because scaffold wrap handles containment

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But RWES delivers full environmental control

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Including:

• Weather mitigation

• Temperature stabilization

• Long-term durability through winter conditions

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One Strategy, Two Systems

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This is what makes this project different.

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Instead of forcing one system to do everything, the team used:

• Scaffold wrap for early-stage containment

• RWES for long-term performance and winter protection

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That’s not just smart.

That’s strategic construction planning.

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The Game-Changing Benefits for the Client

This project wasn’t about one solution.

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Protection of an Active Healthcare Environment

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The biggest win?

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The hospital stayed protected.

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No exposure.
No disruption.
No compromise to patient care.

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Controlled Environment During Building Penetration

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By enclosing the expansion area:

• Wind was controlled

• Debris was contained

• Interior conditions were protected

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Even while the building was physically open

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Work Progress Without Interruption

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Crews were able to:

• Remove façade

• Perform structural work

• Continue progress

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Without:

• Waiting on weather

• Stopping due to exposure

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Phased Flexibility = Smarter Execution

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Using scaffold wrap first, then RWES later:

• Maximized efficiency

• Reduced unnecessary overbuild

• Matched the solution to the phase

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That’s how high-level projects are run.

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Future-Proofing for Winter Conditions

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With RWES scheduled before winter:

• The project is protected long-term

• Work can continue through cold conditions

• Schedule risk is minimized

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Why It Matters

Healthcare construction is one of the most demanding environments in the world.

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You’re not just building.

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You’re:

• Protecting patients

• Maintaining operations

• Managing risk at every level

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And when you open up a building?

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You either control the environment…
Or the environment controls you.

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The Real Takeaway

This project wasn’t about reacting to problems.

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It was about staying ahead of them.

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By combining:

• Scaffold wrap for immediate containment

• RWES for long-term environmental control

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The team created a complete protection strategy from day one through winter.​