High above the campus of Memorial University, Gene Lewis is perched on a steel beam.

It’s so narrow that his toes hang over one edge, and his heels over the other.

Forty metres below, traffic whirs up and down Prince Philip Parkway. A stunning, unobstructed view of St. John’s stretches out all around him.

But Lewis is focused only on what’s above: another steel beam, suspended in mid-air by a giant tower crane.

It’s his job to catch it.

Gene Lewis reaches out to grab a steel beam. (CBC) Post image on Pinterest: Gene Lewis reaches out to grab a steel beam. (CBC)

Gene Lewis reaches out to grab a steel beam. (CBC)

One piece of steel at a time, Memorial University’s new Core Science Facility has been taking shape since last summer.

Now the steelwork is virtually complete, and the building’s skeleton looms over the campus.

It’s a complex feat of engineering and technology, but the structural steel was assembled the old-fashioned way: by hand.

Memorial University and general contractor Marco agreed to give CBC News special access to the construction site.

But walking the high steel is far too dangerous for anyone but the steelworkers.

So, to show you how it’s done, steelworker Gene Lewis and tower crane operator Gary Lewis (no relation) wore GoPro cameras on their helmets during one of their final shifts.

If you’re afraid of heights, take a deep breath before watching these videos.

Being an ironworker takes skill, patience and expertise, but most of all, it takes nerves of steel.

As you’ll see in the video below, just getting to the top of the construction site would make many people weak in the knees.