systematic removal of senn memorial building's ornamental terra cotta using mast climber platform

last weekend i made my way over to rush hospital to document what remained of the historically important buildings containing ornamental terra cotta, limestone, and other materials on their facades. once onsite it was clear the presbyterian hospital's daniel a. jones building (1888) was long gone, surviving from then on only in pictures and a pile of crated red slip glaze terra cotta ornament, which was headed to auction. as usual, the site was calm and quiet, with only the occasional passerby--who was no doubt oblivious to being near a site with piles of materials belonging to the buildings that stood there just months prior.

i was rather impressed that heneghan wrecking (or perhaps a subcontractor) chose to utilize advanced technology during demolition, in the form of an electric mast climber platform that ran the length of the facade. the purpose was to extract any and all neoclassical-style terra cotta ornament (possibly fabricated by midland or the northwestern terra cotta company) from the marshall and fox-designed building, from top to bottom. if a structure is to be demolished and ornament rescued, this is exactly the type of equipment and method i would embrace, since it's essentially a spacious "workplace in the sky" where you can systemically remove the ornament and easily document the entire process through camera or video.

whether or not they are documenting the removal of the ornament is unknown, so i made sure to photograph the cotta ornament myself, using multiple lenses to capture as much as possible from the ground. as i surveyed the site where the neighboring buildings terra cotta ornament myself, using multiple lenses to capture as much as possible from the ground. as i surveyed the site where the neighboring buildings once stood, i did come across a few pallets of terra cotta already removed from the building's facade. in spite of the fence in my way, i managed to photograph the salvaged pieces in detail, to later examine the manufacturer's markings, anchoring system, cavity configuration, and surface characteristics developed over time from prolonged exposure to the elements. i suspect that the terra cotta will be palletized and later reintegrated into the hospital's newer buildings, or otherwise will be sold off in an auction held by rush hospital.