Project Description
When you think of North Vancouver’s waterfront, the Q Tower’s bright red spiral staircase is probably one of the first things that comes to mind. This iconic landmark at Lonsdale Quay had been battling the elements for years, and it was starting to show. The constant sea air, humidity, and sun had taken their toll – rust was creeping in, the paint was fading, and this beloved structure was losing its signature vibrant look. The tower needed some serious TLC, but working on such a recognizable landmark in the middle of a busy public space? That was going to be quite the challenge.
Our team knew this wasn’t going to be your typical paint job. We couldn’t use scaffolding because of the deck below, which meant our painters had to work directly on the tower itself – think of it as extreme painting. Every surface had to be meticulously cleaned and treated for rust, all while people were walking around below and boats were passing by in the harbor. We masked off everything around the work area, applied specialized rust treatments, and carefully repainted the entire structure in that signature Cloverdale red that makes the tower so recognizable. Every step had to meet strict environmental standards because of the waterfront location.
After 97 hours of careful work and $1,260 worth of specialized materials, the Q Tower was back to its stunning self. The fresh red finish now catches the eye from across the harbor again, and more importantly, the structure is protected from rust and weather damage for years to come. Quay North Urban was thrilled with how we managed to complete such a complex project with minimal disruption to the busy market area. Seeing this landmark restored to its full glory – that’s exactly why we love what we do.
