Taking measures – surveying the case

Abchrim, a Dutchman of Moroccan descent, recalls the entire experience very well. It was his job to survey the staircase.

The main challenge involved conditions at the worksite. Strong winds frequently pummeled the exposed workspace and made the building itself sway. On the day Abchrim climbed up to the spire of the building to conduct his surveys on the spine, it proved impossible to measure accurately.

Fortunately, the winds had died down by the following day, but this was the Islamic day of rest, on which literally everything stops for afternoon prayer. Abchrim and his colleagues obtained a permit to allow them to work in the morning. But the tight, twisting space meant that they were not able to rely on usual surveying methods, and were reduced to doing it all by hand.

Further slowed down by working in such cramped conditions, they were unable to complete their work before midday, when their permit expired. After evening prayers had concluded though, the team was able to continue, and finished later that night. “That was an exciting moment for me,” remembers Abchrim.