Calgary Cranes [Archive] - SkyscraperPage Forum

Blue_Cypress

Nov 19, 2007, 5:10 AM

if we are counting cranes that simply have a stationary base, there is an additional smaller crane at union square, working over the parkade in the park. It's not concreted into the ground, but while in place is weighted down at the base with {concrete? cast iron?} ballast and is unable to move, and has been stationary on site for some months.

ScottFromCalgary

Nov 19, 2007, 5:50 AM

I believe that we came to a consensus that these smaller cranes were not worth the time involved in tracking them

Jimby

Nov 19, 2007, 1:39 PM

Has the crane come off of Copperwood? I couldn't see it in Surreal's pic.

mersar

Nov 19, 2007, 2:46 PM

It's still up in the photo's that srperrycgy posted yesterday from his walkaround parts of the WLRT route.

Bigtime

Nov 19, 2007, 2:47 PM

I drove by The Bow crane yesterday and that thing was massive! :tup:

frinkprof

Nov 19, 2007, 7:13 PM

Having not seen this other crane at Union Square, I guess I'll put it to you guys. Can it be said to be a "tower crane," and should it be included in the count?

OptimA

Nov 19, 2007, 9:03 PM

http://www.thejasonwong.com/c/P1000591.jpg
http://www.thejasonwong.com/c/P1000595.jpg
http://www.thejasonwong.com/c/P1000602.jpg
http://www.thejasonwong.com/c/P1000606.jpg

Boris2k7

Nov 20, 2007, 3:58 AM

Great pics OptimA. I've reposted these in the Bow Thread, of course reuploaded to imageshack again instead of linking them. Credit also given. I trust you have no objections?

Surrealplaces

Nov 20, 2007, 6:15 AM

Having not seen this other crane at Union Square, I guess I'll put it to you guys. Can it be said to be a "tower crane," and should it be included in the count?

Is this the other crane at Union Square?
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/656/0000ml4.jpg

OptimA

Nov 20, 2007, 6:42 AM

Great pics OptimA. I've reposted these in the Bow Thread, of course reuploaded to imageshack again instead of linking them. Credit also given. I trust you have no objections?

Oh, not a problem! :)

frinkprof

Nov 20, 2007, 6:11 PM

If that is the other crane, if one could even call it a crane, at Union Square, I don't see why it should be in the count.

Blue_Cypress

Nov 21, 2007, 2:57 PM

It has a horizontal jib not visible in the picture. It is not what we normally refer to as a tower crane, though it is definitely a crane, and a stationary one at that. It sits on a concrete slab, and is held down by a stack of ballast blocks.

I think our definition for inclusion of cranes in the count should probably be based around the common method of achorage: Base tied to poured concrete. By that definition, the second crane at union square would not be included.

WhipperSnapper

Nov 21, 2007, 5:10 PM

not all tower cranes are anchor to concrete slabs ... some eventually get wedged in between the floor slabs of tall skyscrapers.

You Need A Thneed

Nov 21, 2007, 5:31 PM

Grendel

Nov 24, 2007, 11:41 PM

The crane at Homburg-Harris I came down this afternoon.

frinkprof

Nov 24, 2007, 11:47 PM

^I thought the one at Homburg-Harris I came down quite awhile ago.

mersar

Nov 24, 2007, 11:59 PM

^I thought the one at Homburg-Harris I came down quite awhile ago.

It did. If there was a portable crane there they may have started putting the crane for Homburg Harris II up, since the base was installed over a week ago now.

niko

Nov 26, 2007, 4:18 AM

there are two new tower cranes up at the new south hospital

frinkprof

Nov 26, 2007, 4:55 AM

^Just added, thanks.

Anyone know the crane status of Homburg Harris II?

wild wild west

Nov 26, 2007, 5:02 AM

Fifty-two cranes. I truly never thought I would see the day.

cranium

Nov 26, 2007, 5:14 AM

crane is up @ ho-ha II

frinkprof

Nov 26, 2007, 5:31 AM

Fifty-two cranes. I truly never thought I would see the day.
53 after the addition of Homburg Harris II.

Welcome cranium.

frinkprof

Nov 26, 2007, 5:31 AM

OptimA

Nov 27, 2007, 1:08 AM

http://www.thejasonwong.com/c/P1000701.jpg

AB Born

Nov 28, 2007, 7:18 AM

I put this in the Calgary section as well...
There is a crane base now installed at Riverside Quays.

Tobyoby

Nov 29, 2007, 2:12 AM

crane is up @ ho-ha II

Thanks for the info, and welcome to the group!

Calgarian

Nov 29, 2007, 3:08 AM

http://www.thejasonwong.com/c/P1000701.jpg

Were you laying on the ground for this pic?

mersar

Nov 29, 2007, 3:22 AM

I've taken shots similar, just put the camera on the tripod and hold the camera just off the ground upside down. You may get funny looks while doing it but the perspective is quite unique (though the funny looks can often happen when shooting freehand or using a tripod normally also... a lot of people can't grasp why you'd want to take photo's of a crane or of a construction site)

bornhere68

Nov 29, 2007, 4:23 AM

There are lots of temporary cranes like the one at Union Square around the city working on 3 and 4 story condo sites. I don't think they should be tallied in the crane count.

Bokimon

Nov 29, 2007, 6:05 AM

That Luffing crane at the Bow. Well we know that a total of 3 of these bastards will be put up at some point to erect the entire superstructure and shell.

Once PLT gets ready for foundation it too will have these Liebherr/Potain models as well. It will be 2 of them for the East Tower.
For our city to acquire such heavy crane machinery like these, we are certainly in the big leagues now for magnitude of building construction.
A possibility of 5 of these piercing our skyline next year.. droooool..

Jimby

Nov 29, 2007, 11:11 PM

It looks like they are adding a third tower crane to the south hospital. The tower part is up now.

OptimA

Nov 30, 2007, 12:59 AM

Were you laying on the ground for this pic?

Haha nope, I was just crouching, while holding and lowering the camera with both hands.

frinkprof

Nov 30, 2007, 1:11 AM

Are all of the cranes at the south hospital tower cranes, or are a couple temporary? I'll add that third one on the count for now, but it would be nice to have some additional information about the south hospital since it is rather remote to a lot of people.

Grendel

Nov 30, 2007, 2:07 AM

^Just rented a car to a crane dealer who tells me that they are installing 4 tower cranes at the south hospital site this weekend.

frinkprof

Nov 30, 2007, 2:14 AM

^4 more, or one more for a total of four?

Grendel

Nov 30, 2007, 2:36 AM

He said he was in town deliver 4 cranes. I asked him about 3 times to be sure.

Jimby

Nov 30, 2007, 3:12 AM

I posted a pic somewhere on SSP today of the 2 cranes at the south hospital with the third tower ready for the rest of the crane.
If there are 4 more going up, would that make a total of 6 or 7?

frinkprof

Nov 30, 2007, 3:29 AM

^Yeah, 6 or 7 sounds like a lot for that site. Whether it is a total of of 4 or 7 though, it is pretty significant news and I guess we will see by the end of the weekend. Thanks Grendel.

Canterra

Dec 1, 2007, 8:30 PM

^
Thats a ton of crane activity Grendel and Frinkprof.

On my way home from the pool I noticed they were starting to take down the crane at Encore.

Habanero

Dec 1, 2007, 10:09 PM

There should be a crane going up at Astoria soon. I noticed the pitt is quite deep now.

It would be cool if we could hit 60 cranes at once. We're close.

Western Spaghetti

Dec 2, 2007, 2:39 AM

Is the crane count still at 53?

btw, thanks for posting the count Frinkprof.

MrBigStuff

Dec 2, 2007, 3:45 AM

Anyone have any pics of the South Calgary Health Campus?
This will look quite interesting with all those cranes.

frinkprof

Dec 2, 2007, 5:00 AM

Is the crane count still at 53?

btw, thanks for posting the count Frinkprof.
It was briefly at 54 before the one at Encore came down today. That is providing no cranes are on or off the list erroneously.

niko

Dec 2, 2007, 8:18 PM

the crane is down at Costello.

ScottFromCalgary

Dec 2, 2007, 8:20 PM

frinkprof

Dec 2, 2007, 8:22 PM

Yeah, I thought there was more to do on that one as well. That project seemed to take forever.

Senz

Dec 2, 2007, 11:41 PM

Um... there's a full sized tower crane off of 52nd street about a km south of 17th ave SE. I doubt that it's for construction purposes though. It's behind Harris Rebar, which I'm sure is a very busy company these days.

Tobyoby

Dec 3, 2007, 12:12 AM

^Interesting. I thought that they still had a fair amount of work to do on that one. I'm looking forward to the protective plastic coming off the windows so that we can get a good look at the glazing.

I saw a piece of Castello near the bottom where the plastic has come off, and it looks pretty good. not much color to the glass, and a brush aluminum look to the trim. I'm really curious to see it with the balcony railings.

Senz

Dec 3, 2007, 11:21 PM

Here's a picture of the crane I was talking about. I pass by this area fairly regularly and I'd say this went up within a week or so ago. Unfortunately, I know nothing else of this...

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff56/Senz317/HarrisRebar-crane.jpg

SteveP

Dec 3, 2007, 11:28 PM

I saw that too. I wasn't close enough to see what it doing. Thanks for posting that.

frinkprof

Dec 4, 2007, 2:11 AM

Is the crane for construction purposes?

frinkprof

Dec 4, 2007, 5:35 AM

So, now that the weekend is over, did any more cranes get put up at the south health campus?

cranium

Dec 4, 2007, 6:26 AM

as of 4 p.m. today its still as livingforthecity reported on the 30th. 2 cranes and only the mast of a third.

Bokimon

Dec 4, 2007, 7:04 AM

Loads o'Cranes!!
This is nuts! I think there should be a comparison going on to see how many cranes there are for each of the Canadian Cities. I think Calgary must be no1 or no2.

Tobyoby

Dec 8, 2007, 1:30 AM

Thought it would be fitting to post this picture from Surreal.

Arriva, Vetro and co.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4796/0000ze1.jpg

frinkprof

Dec 8, 2007, 9:25 PM

I added that crane at 34th Ave. and 52nd Street SE to the count. If people could keep their ears open about what that project is, it would be appreciated.

Just to clarify, it is there for construction right?

Tangsan

Dec 8, 2007, 10:13 PM

to frinkprof
how did you get the tower crane information in calgary? You list almost all tower cranes in the jobsite right now in Calgary.
are you working for tower crane company ?
The tower crane is taken down today in Bow Valley College jobsite.

frinkprof

Dec 8, 2007, 11:23 PM

^I got the list almost all from information posted in this forum. The people here usually help me keep the list updated and if I post something wrong, they usually let me know fairly quickly.

I don't work for a tower crane company, but that would be interesting.

Thanks for the Bow Valley College update.

Senz

Dec 9, 2007, 12:34 AM

Loads o'Cranes!!
This is nuts! I think there should be a comparison going on to see how many cranes there are for each of the Canadian Cities. I think Calgary must be no1 or no2.

I'd like to see that comparison too. A crane count is one of those quantifiable elements that can tell you which city is REALLY smokin' ! I know T.O. has a few tall scrapers U/C and a whole whack proposed but do they really have the crane count to compare with Calgary? Accounting for population, as well?

However, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think frinkprof/Calgary is the only ones keeping an accurate running tab.

frinkprof

Dec 9, 2007, 12:39 AM

^Edmonton has a thread going now too.

WhipperSnapper

Dec 9, 2007, 6:30 PM

I couldn't tell you what Toronto's count currently is (fall/winter is usually on the low end of things) but it has ranged between 80 and 110 over the last couple of years ... add 15 to 25 more for the 905.

frinkprof

Dec 9, 2007, 7:08 PM

I'm not really interested in doing a comparison, as I don't really care all that much. However, if one were to be done, all counts would have to be on the same standards, i.e., all within city limits, all cranes counted are tower cranes used for construction, etc. Otherwise, there's no point in comparing, assuming one cares about the comparison in the first place. It would be like comparing downtown sizes or populations or densities. Well where exactly is "downtown" then?

If someone wants to use my count for comparative purposes, go ahead if you want.

Deepstar

Dec 9, 2007, 7:21 PM

I would say Calgary is third in the country in the crane department. Vancouver probably has more cranes (judging by my last trip there), but not allot more. Toronto of course is way out there.

I would also say that the metro areas would have to be included in crane counts.

frinkprof

Dec 9, 2007, 9:28 PM

Calgary's number of cranes has definitely been growing steadily. Just a few months ago, the total was in the low 40s.

Just analyzing the list quickly, I can see about 8 cranes which will probably come down within the 3 months - all the ones at the hospitals (6) plus Vetro and Five West.

However, just thinking about the ones that are to be added in that same timeframe leads me to believe that the count will grow. 2 more at Keynote, Le Germain, Astoria, up to 3 or 4 more at The Bow, 1 more at Centennial, Riverside Quays, maybe another at Gateway Midtown, I could see another added at London.

I'm probably overlooking some on either side, but I could see another 11 or 12 going up in the same timeframe that 7 or 8 come down.

Tobyoby

Dec 9, 2007, 9:42 PM

^
Centuria and the Lacaille proposal on 4th are not too far off after that.

I'd say we could be looking at eclipsing the 'alleged' record of 64 cranes.

frinkprof

Dec 9, 2007, 9:46 PM

I figure it will hover around 60 or slightly below for awhile unless some major projects get going. Projects like 8th Ave. Place, City Centre, Railtown, etc.

Western Spaghetti

Dec 9, 2007, 9:55 PM

I think this was discussed before, but has anyone actually verified that we had 60 some cranes in the sky, circa 1908?

frinkprof

Dec 9, 2007, 10:02 PM

^Definitely not in 1908, ha.

The only person on this forum to say there was 64 at one time was Daver. He said that this was the record and it occurred in 1981. No one has verified it on here.

Western Spaghetti

Dec 10, 2007, 12:24 AM

lol! I suppose 1980 would be more like it.

I still find it hard to believe there were 64 cranes at once, but then again, we are almost at 60 now.

Tangsan

Dec 10, 2007, 5:45 PM

Can you guys list the companies which own tower cranes in Canada if you get chance?

Big construction contractors have their own tower cranes, small construction contractors just rent tower crane from tower crane companies. There should be a group of professinal crew(electrician, rigger, crane operator, engineer, mechanic, crane erector ect.) to put up ,take down and manage tower cranes in the tower crane companies.

I can list several tower crane companies.

1, Morrow equipment ltd. 2, Rapicon crane ltd, 3, PCL, 4, ELLISDON, 5, MORWEST CRANE SERVICES LTD, 6, Gramham 7,Reliance. 8, HARRIS REBAR
9. Eagle west

Welcome other guys list more tower crane companies in Canada

Tangsan

Dec 10, 2007, 5:47 PM

I just heard from tower crane guys there were about 70 tower cranes in Calgary in 1980's

240glt

Dec 10, 2007, 5:52 PM

PCL, Ellis Don and Graham are general contractors, not crane companies. Although I wouldn't be suprised in they owned their own equipment.

mersar

Dec 10, 2007, 6:15 PM

PCL, Ellis Don and Graham are general contractors, not crane companies. Although I wouldn't be suprised in they owned their own equipment.

They do own some, though I've seen them using rented as well. Ledcor does the same.

Bokimon

Dec 10, 2007, 7:32 PM

mersar

Dec 10, 2007, 7:42 PM

You can add Encana to that list as well. :D
Don't they now own their very own tower crane?

I suspect that either Ledcor or one of the other contractors actually bought the crane, not Encana.

Tangsan

Dec 10, 2007, 8:15 PM

You can add Encana to that list as well. :D
Don't they now own their very own tower crane?

I know Stampede Cranes and Mammoet are companies who will erect and assemble cranes.

Other than that I know the crane types themselves. Most of the common tower cranes are Liebherr and Potain crane models.

The one luffing tower crane in the Encana -the bow building jobsite) is POTAIN tower cane which is owned by RAPICON crane ltd. This crane is made in China. All new potain crane are made in China in Calgary right now.

Stampede Cranes, Sterling and Mammoet just use their all terrian mobile crane to put up or take down tower crane in Calgary.They don't have any type of the tower crane , they just have all type of mobile cranes.

Most of the tower cranes are WOLLFKRAN in Calgary right now , not the Liebherr -, Linden , pecco peiner , Potain crane .

Bad Grizzly

Dec 10, 2007, 8:18 PM

I just heard from tower crane guys there were about 70 tower cranes in Calgary in 1980's

Which tower crane guys? We're trying to find someone that can verify how many cranes were at their peak in 1980/81.

Tangsan

Dec 10, 2007, 8:47 PM

Which tower crane guys? We're trying to find someone that can verify how many cranes were at their peak in 1980/81.

The guy who is journeyman tower crane operator and right now is the owner of one tower crane company told me. He doesn't know exact number of the tower cranes in 1980's in Calgary, but he said the number is between 70 to 75 tower cranes in Calgary in 1980's

Jimby

Dec 11, 2007, 12:27 AM

I was on Seton Blvd SE today by the south hospital, and there is no change in the number of cranes - it is still 2 tower cranes and 1 tower without a crane.

Nudrock

Dec 12, 2007, 2:24 AM

Finkprof,

Riverside Quays crane was erected today.

Surrealplaces

Dec 12, 2007, 4:29 AM

Finkprof,

Riverside Quays crane was erected today.

Nice. Add another one to the count. I still have to go by there som etime to get a dictionary.

frinkprof

Dec 12, 2007, 5:34 AM

I've accounted for all the updates, thanks guys.

I have that mast at the South Health Campus in as a crane.

Feel free to check the list and correct me if I've overlooked something.

Surrealplaces

Dec 12, 2007, 7:10 AM

I've accounted for all the updates, thanks guys.

I have that mast at the South Health Campus in as a crane.

Feel free to check the list and correct me if I've overlooked something.

Wow, that's quite the list. Thanks for keeping it updated.

Tangsan

Dec 12, 2007, 4:55 PM

Can you guys tell me which company does the engineering for the tower crane in Calgary? I am sure there some companies do the engineering stuff for the tower crane in Calgary, but I don't know which company does this.
For Example: the foundation of the tower crane, jacking up or jacking down tower crane , put up or take down procedures, tie back to the building , certify the tower crane, modification of the tower crane etc. Those things should be done by engineers who specialize in tower crane.

Grendel

Dec 16, 2007, 12:01 AM

The crane at 5 West II came down today.

mersar

Dec 16, 2007, 2:33 AM

Riverside Quays Crane
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/riversidequays-dec15-1.jpg

Senz

Dec 16, 2007, 4:38 AM

I had a better look at the Harris Rebar crane and I must say it does NOT look like a construction site. There's zero excavation and no prep work of any kind. There is a whole crap load of rebar, though! I guess that stuff can get pretty heavy.

frinkprof

Dec 16, 2007, 10:45 AM

^Yeah, my guess would be that it is there simply to load rebar onto trucks.

Alright, I'll put it to you guys again, even though this technically is a tower crane, should it go on the count?

Note that it seems to meet all the criteria, it's just that it's not used for constructing a tower, or anything else for that matter.

Reesonov

Dec 16, 2007, 4:16 PM

^ It seems to me that the purpose of the crane count is to reflect the amount of construction in Calgary at any one time. Therefore, I don't think the Harris rebar crane should be included.

frinkprof

Dec 17, 2007, 4:42 PM

^Yeah I tend to agree. Maybe I'll keep it on the list for the sake of interest but put a note that it is not for construction and thus is not included in the count.

Nudrock

Dec 17, 2007, 9:03 PM

^Yeah I tend to agree. Maybe I'll keep it on the list for the sake of interest but put a note that it is not for construction and thus is not included in the count.

It's your list, but my opion would be to leave it off.
That crane has nothing to do with new construction. It just another tool that the company uses in their yard. There is one like that in the Leduc/Nisku area that has been up for probably 10+ years. I just think it just pollutes your list with non-essential information.

mersar

Dec 20, 2007, 2:18 AM

One more for the count, the crane is now up at Cambrian Executive Place (off of bowness/parkdale/memorial, beside medical examiners office)
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/cambrian-dec19-1.jpg

SteveP

Dec 20, 2007, 6:04 AM

I can't believe how many cranes are up in this city. It blows me away.

frinkprof

Dec 27, 2007, 5:32 AM

Does Centron Business Park off Blackfoot Trail have a crane?

Jimby

Dec 27, 2007, 6:08 AM

Does Centron Business Park off Blackfoot Trail have a crane?

No crane. The first building (3 floors?) is up without using a tower crane, and the rest of the site is massive earth moving to even out the slope.

Blue_Cypress

Dec 27, 2007, 10:29 AM

While looking for something else tonight, I found an old PDF (http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/WHS-PUB_FR-1998-11-14.pdf) on the crane accident at Bankers Hall west tower in 1998. It might prove interesting to you guys not only because it discusses the failure of the crane, but also because it contains a lot of information on how these types of cranes climb within a building. There are even some detailed drawings.