Restoration of Christ the Redeemer

Major restoration work was done in the winter of 2000 on the 38 meters tall statue of Christ the Redeemer that overlooks Rio de Janeiro. The statue has been deteriorating over the years because of climatic effects. The project is the initiative of the Municipality and the Archdiocese of Rio. The project was funded by the Brazilian Environmental Institute, the newspaper "O Globo," and Banco Real.

This statue, often called the greatest architectural monument of its time, was restored through a project that includes protection against corrosion, cleaning of the statue, new lighting and a mechanical access system. Since its completion in 1931, the monument has been exposed to strong winds, extreme humidity, and abrupt temperature changes causing severe structural wear.

An impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system was installed to control further corrosion of the steel reinforced concrete that forms the statue. This ICCP system forces a small direct current from the titanium anode mesh, with a design life of more than 75 years and embedded in the mortar, to the reinforcing steel in the mantel. This is not the first time the statue has undergone restoration. However, the most advanced techniques have been used in this project.