The revamped balustrade has met every safety standard in the industry.  Measure the lengths, check the angles: the structure holds strong against any torque.

But does it pass the toddler test?

Built in the 1920’s, the balustrade’s original design was breathtakingly beautiful, but a trifle unsafe by modern standards.  At issue was the distance between the columns: the gap was large enough to let slip a wayward child or pet.

So, our renovation process has had two goals: to restore the structure’s beauty and to make it safe.

To restore its beauty, the balustrade was completely disassembled, sandblasted and re-assembled.  The remedy for the safety hazard came in the simplest of forms: a gleaming steel bar fills each space between the columns.  The bars also create a harmony between the old limestone and its new ornamental metalwork.

After it passed all the safety tests, you just might have seen the design team out on the balustrade with a wily three-year old relative.  At zero elevation (where there was no risk of injury) the child tried mightily to wiggle through. 

And yes, the balustrade passed the toddler test.

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