Mosaic Transit had to install 30 pre-cast ceiling panels in an extremely confined space and one level below the ground, accessible only through a small skylight at the Finch West Station in Toronto, Ontario.

Mosiac asked Sarens, the specialist in heavy lifting solutions, to install the challenging ceiling panels. The panels had to be installed below the ground level. There were two major roads intersecting above the ground with moving traffic throughout the day, further adding to the challenge. Only two small fenced-off areas provided access to the underground area for the project execution. The team had to install 30 pre-cast ceiling panels weighing 3.25T each and measuring 4mx0.3mx1m.

Sarens rose up to the challenge and our engineering team designed and fabricated customised - gantry beams, platform between the gantry beams, and sliding supports for the project. The gantry system was selected with a low-profile gantry track and gantry legs with lower height to work in the limited space. The equipment was mobilised from Sarens depot in Cambridge, Ontario. 

The gantry track and gantry legs were moved through the east-end of the site and lowered to the underground level through west skylight. The gantry beams, platform beams, and skidding supports were later lowered through the east skylight. The main 10m long gantry beams had to be rigged on a steep angle to fit through the narrow skylight. Below the ground level, the beams were set across the concrete then re-rigged level to install on the gantry.

The panels were first lowered by a crane though the skylight opening and set on top of the gantry. The gantry then travelled west to east. The panels were slid along the beams from north to south and lifted to the required position and installed safely.

The client was very satisfied with our performance and special congratulations to our team of engineers and operators for successfully completing the project.