The Week of September 10, 2018 — Farewell to the North Crawler Crane (AKA “Big Mac”)

After 285 days (November 29, 2017 to September 10,2018) on site, the day finally arrived when the Liebherr LR1750 crawler crane, affectionately known as “Mac,” having a maximum lifting capacity of over 800 tons, located on the north side of the building would be dismantled. I remember those days when the trucks arrived one by one hauling the various parts.When the crane arrived we all knew that the project had entered a new phase: the steel phase. The LR1750 was needed for the heavy lifting of the single and double node support beams, columns, beams, and corrugated metal decking. Once the steel frame for the podium, Children’s Hospital tower, and a few floors of the Adult Hospital tower, the need for the heavy lift capacity cranes would no longer be needed. A smaller crawler crane the Liebherr LR1300 with a taller boom and a faster lift speed would return to the site to hang the remaining steel and set the exterior curtain walls.  You may wonder why the existing crane is being torn down. It is my understanding that the south crane dubbed  “cheese” will be dismantled at the end of September giving way to another LR1300. As the Children’s Hospital tower has reached its apex, the height of the boom will not be shorter than its counterpart to the north. It is anticipated that the Children’s Hospital tower will be topped off  by September 14.  Before “cheese” begins hoisting large sections of the exterior curtain wall (aka skin, facade) onto the steel skeleton of the Children’s Hospital tower a galvanized frame must be installed to support a louvered wind screen, which will also be used to conceal mechanical equipment installed on the roof.

The reason for the LR 1750

The largest and last isolator

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