Christ the Redeemer Statue to Be Restored to Celebrate 90th Anniversary in 2021

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The almost centennial Christ the Redeemer, one of the most famous tourist spots on the planet and one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, will be restored to celebrate its 90th anniversary on October 12th, 2021.

Since 2016, the company Cono Sur has been conducting studies for the monument‘s preventive conservation works and damage control. The goal is to prevent the loss of materials and the original shape of the sculpture, in addition to preventing the risk of accidents.

The work began with surveys to gather the required information to prepare and preserve the monument, in addition to the installation of the multi-directional scaffolding with a modular staircase, which will allow access through the interior of the sculpture. Using the surveys and technical analysis, whatever could endanger the monument’s integrity will be identified. The aim is to provide complementary structural projects, such as the installation of lightning protection system and visual programming, with preventive care.

All will be conducted in partnership with teaching and research institutions, which are conducting studies similar to those at Christ the Redeemer, such as the federal universities of Juiz de Fora, Outro Preto, and Rio de Janeiro.

The project complies with the requirements of the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) and the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (NBR) and relies on a multidisciplinary team of some 40 professionals, including structural, electrical, and security engineers, geologists, architects, masters, 3D scanning technicians, climbers, bricklayers, and sculptors.

The technology of aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry will be used for cadastral surveying. As a result, thousands of photographs will be taken by drones equipped with high-resolution cameras. The images will be interpreted in a specific process to secure reliable information on the composition of the monument’s sides.