The 100-ft tall Centennial Pole at Hadden Park was commissioned by the Vancouver Committee to commemorate the Centenary of British Columbia in 1958.
M&L used a combination of photogrammetry and non-destructive testing to create a parametric model of the pole to illustrate concealed areas of decay. This information was then used this to support a structural analysis that proved the pole can be safely conserved in-situ.
The 100-ft tall Centennial Pole at Hadden Park was commissioned by the Vancouver Committee to commemorate the Centenary of British Columbia in 1958. It is a replica of a pole that was presented to HM Elizabeth II (this pole stands at Windsor Great Park, London). The carving was undertaken by Kwawaka’wakw Chief and master artist Mungo Martin with assistance from his son David Martin and Henry Hunt.
The M&L team collaborated with staff from the Museum of Anthropology and structural engineers at ISL to come up with an innovative solution for the Centennial Pole that allows the pole to be conserved in-situ. Temporary stabilization has been installed in a way that respects the carved figures and preserves the historic painted surfaces. M&L’s design relies on cedar wedges so that no fasteners are required.
