The owners needed a solution to clean years of environmental buildup on the windows and the interior courtyard, while protecting the historic façade and avoiding the disruption caused by traditional cleaning methods.

 

AIRSCAPE was brought in to perform a full drone-powered exterior window cleaning and courtyard wash using our DI water system, allowing the building to be refreshed without lifts, chemicals, or risk to historic elements.

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The Challenge

 

The Cardello Building presented several unique constraints:

 

Historic façade & preservation rules

Abrasive chemicals and heavy-pressure cleaning were not allowed on or near the stonework.

 

Tight access + height limitations

Surrounding streets and parking made lift placement extremely difficult and costly.

 

Large window surface area

Pollution from nearby roads, river airflow, and years between cleanings resulted in significant buildup.

 

Courtyard access complexity

The interior courtyard is difficult to reach with traditional equipment, especially lifts and poles.

 

Need to minimize disruption to tenants

The owners wanted a cleaning method that allowed business to continue uninterrupted.

 

 Our Solution

 

AIRSCAPE deployed a tailored drone-cleaning system designed specifically for historic sites and hard-to-access courtyards.

 

1. Site Assessment & Safety Planning

 

Our team performed a full walkthrough with the ownership team to determine:

• Launch and landing zones

• Safe flight paths around the courtyard and façade

• Pedestrian and vehicle flow management

• Wind patterns created by the Ohio River corridor

 

*An FAA-certified pilot and visual observer were present every day.

 

2. DI Water System for Historic Preservation

 

To protect the structure:

• Zero chemicals were used

• 100% DI water ensured a streak-free finish on glass

• No risk to masonry, mortar, or historic details

• No equipment leaned or anchored against the building

 

 

3. Drone Cleaning + Courtyard Washing

 

Our drone allowed us to clean:

• Upper windows

• Hard-to-reach façade sections

• All interior courtyard glass surfaces

 

*Traditional methods would have required lifts, staging, rope access, or days of manual pole work inside the courtyard.

 

4. Fast, Low-Disruption Execution

 

AIRSCAPE completed the entire project in 3 days, including the courtyard.

 

 Results

 

AIRSCAPE delivered a full exterior refresh for one of Pittsburgh’s iconic historic buildings.

 

Quantitative Outcomes:

• 100% of exterior windows cleaned

• Courtyard windows + surfaces cleaned

• 3 total days on-site

• Traditional methods would have taken a minimum of 2 weeks

• $0 spent on lift rentals

• No façade contact, protecting the building’s historic integrity

 

 

Visual Improvements:

• Brighter interior spaces

• Clearer courtyard visibility

• Sharp improvement in curb appeal from all angles of the building

 

 

*Zero Operational Disruption*

 

*No sidewalk or lane closures*

 

*No lifts, scaffolding, rope systems, or noise*

 

*Businesses inside remained fully operational*