High above the city: courage and camaraderie

I have always been fascinated by how ironworkers can walk across steel beams hundreds of feet above the ground without showing any fear. And as a photographer for The Inquirer, I have had the opportunity to see Philadelphia in many different ways and have learned that I enjoy viewing the city from high above. Thus, I decided to pursue the story of how ironworkers built the Comcast Center, which soon will be the tallest building in Philadelphia.

After a few visits to the construction site, I decided to focus on the raising gang, which hoists the structural-steel framework. The gang consists of five men - a signalman, a hook-on man, and two connectors and their foreman. The signalman directs the crane operator from the work floor, the hook-on man connects the steel beams to the crane's 1,400-pound iron ball and hook, and the connectors set the beams and put in the first bolts. The foreman is responsible for seeing that the job gets done by his crew.

With fascination came enlightenment. I had not anticipated the horrendous weather, with dangers so high in the sky. On the top floors of the building during winter, the wind gusts rivaled any you might encounter in arctic tundra. A few mornings, it was so strong on the northwest corner of the building that I had to put my full body weight into the wind to keep my balance while walking on the corrugated deck of the work floor.

Negotiating the ladders was particularly challenging on the windy days with 10-plus pounds of camera gear. My cameras bear a few scars from those climbs. No matter how many layers of winter clothing I wore, along with toe and hand warmers, I could not stay outside for more than an hour on the frigid days. I warmed up inside the ironworkers' shanty, where the men had a kerosene heater as well as X-rated pinups. It was a little intimidating, being the only female in this very macho environment, but once I got to know the men, I felt like a member of the gang.

Working with the raising gang over 10 months taught me about the inherent risks of a 57-story high-rise construction site, which meant being alert and aware of my surroundings every minute. I had to watch every step while navigating the work area. There were many areas with gaps to step over, some large enough that I could have fallen to the next floor or farther. Also, the ironworkers were hoisting, bolting and welding beams above and below the work floor.

I learned to respect the ironworkers because they face these dangers every day with professionalism, and maintain a sense of humor to get through grueling days. They made the job of hoisting 9,200 pieces of steel look easy with their years of experience and skill.

Along with the challenges came rewards. The day I will remember the most from this project was when I went to the 51st floor last March, to capture the ironworkers' coming up on the man basket at sunrise. It took my breath away when I stepped off the hoists and saw the view from high above. Looking east, the sun filled the sky over the Delaware River with a rich and vibrant magenta and the sprinkling of lights from inside the buildings illuminated the city like a Christmas display. It was a spectacular vista!

The men always were respectful toward me and made me feel as if I was part of their team. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with them and learn about their world. I will miss the thrill and adventure this project has given me, but most, I will miss the guys.