Case Study: Montreal Jewish General Hospital — From 2 Weeks to 3 Days

A Hospital's Window Cleaning Challenge

The Jewish General Hospital in Montreal is one of Quebec's leading healthcare institutions, serving hundreds of thousands of patients annually. Like many large medical facilities, maintaining a clean and professional appearance is essential—not just for aesthetics, but for patient confidence and staff morale.

However, for several years, the hospital's windows had gone without proper cleaning. The reason wasn't budget constraints or lack of interest—it was security.

The Security Concern

Traditional window cleaning methods require workers to access the building's exterior using rope systems, swing stages, or scaffolding. For a hospital, this presents unique challenges. Workers suspended outside patient rooms and sensitive areas raised significant security concerns for the facility's management.

The previous contractor's operations required personnel to have direct visual and physical access to areas throughout the building. In a healthcare environment where patient privacy, safety, and security are paramount, this created an unacceptable risk profile.

As a result, facade cleaning operations were suspended indefinitely. Over time, the accumulated dirt and grime became increasingly visible, affecting the hospital's appearance.

A New Approach

When WINDOSMART was approached about the project, we recognized that our drone-based cleaning system could address the hospital's core concern. Unlike traditional methods, drone cleaning keeps operators on the ground while the aircraft handles the facade work at a safe distance.

There's no need for workers to be positioned directly outside windows or to have access to the building's exterior structure. The drone maintains its distance from the glass while delivering high-pressure water and cleaning solution, then performs a pure water rinse for a streak-free finish.

The Results

Timeline: 3 Days Instead of 2 Weeks

The previous contractor had estimated a two-week timeline to clean the hospital's facade using traditional methods. Our drone system completed the entire project in just three days.

This dramatic reduction in time on-site meant less disruption to hospital operations, fewer logistics to coordinate, and a faster return to a clean, professional appearance.

Security Maintained

Throughout the operation, no personnel needed to access sensitive areas of the building exterior. The drone operator worked from ground level, controlling the aircraft and cleaning system remotely. Hospital security requirements were fully maintained.

Quality Results

Years of accumulated dirt, pollution residue, and mineral deposits were removed. The hospital's windows were restored to a clean, bright condition that reflected the quality of care provided inside.

Key Takeaways

This project demonstrated several important advantages of drone-based facade cleaning for sensitive facilities:

• Security compliance: No workers required at height or near sensitive areas

• Faster completion: 85% reduction in project timeline

• Minimal disruption: Ground-based operations with no scaffolding or equipment blocking entrances

• Consistent quality: Specialized algorithms ensure streak-free results across the entire facade

Looking Forward

The Jewish General Hospital project illustrates how drone cleaning technology can solve problems that traditional methods simply cannot address. For facilities with security requirements, access restrictions, or tight timelines, WINDOSMART offers a solution that delivers results without compromise.

If your building has been waiting for a cleaning solution that meets your specific requirements, we'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how our system can help.