Pushing the Boundaries of Scaffold Design: #BeatMyScaffold2025 Recap

This year’s #BeatMyScaffold2025 contest brought forward an impressive display of creativity, technical skill, and innovative scaffold solutions. The contest invited scaffold designers from around the world to submit their most complex and inventive projects created using Avontus Designer®.

After a public voting round—in which contestants rallied support from their networks—the four most popular designs advanced to the final round along with one standout project selected by Avontus. These five entries were then reviewed by a panel of judges that included representatives from scaffolding associations across the globe and the previous #BeatMyScaffold winner. Final scores were based on project complexity (40%), effectiveness of presentation (40%), and total public votes (20%).

Spotlight on the Winner: Alexander Jackson of Tana NZ Ltd

This year’s winning entry came from Alexander (Alex) Jackson of Tana NZ Ltd, whose project, the Otaki Bridge Chain Suspended Cantilevered Walkway, stood out as a feat of both engineering and safety-first thinking. Faced with strict environmental protection regulations and the unpredictable conditions of rapid flash floods, Alex’s team devised a scaffold solution that never touched the ground. Instead, the entire structure was suspended via chains, forming a double cantilever walkway to provide safe access for pedestrians and cyclists across the bridge.

What made this project particularly remarkable was the level of detail and planning involved. As Alex explained, “This was version five of the design, which required multiple meetings and considerations to the millimeter to be signed off on and deemed safe and legal for national governmental rules. It had gone past three engineers for final sign off.”

Using Avontus Designer was essential in achieving that level of precision. “Using Designer hugely impacted the project,” Alex said. “IFC importation & cross-checking dimensions is vital… The 3D DWG file exportation allowed us to show the overall scale with the bridge.”

The project demanded not only technical expertise but also an ability to adapt to unique conditions, ensuring both functionality and safety without compromising the environment.

To explore Alex’s winning project in more detail, check out the project video and IFC model overview.

Alex’s experience reflects the values at the heart of the scaffolding industry—commitment to safety, teamwork, and vigilance. When asked about the most valuable lesson he’s learned from his time in scaffolding, he shared, “We work in one of the most dangerous industries in the world. Safety is key. Take five. Look after one another. Always check your work if you feel it’s not right because you never know what could impact others to get home safe.”

Final Thoughts

#BeatMyScaffold2025 demonstrated once again the ingenuity and dedication of the global scaffold community. We’re proud to celebrate not only the technical achievements of designers like Alex but also their focus on safety, sustainability, and creative problem-solving.