Working alongside I&E Construction, Inc., our team mobilized one of the tallest crawler crane configurations ever assembled in the city of Portland to complete a series of critical rooftop HVAC lifts in the Pearl District of downtown Portland.
With 194 feet of main boom and 322 feet of luffing jib, the 330-ton Liebherr LR1300SX stood more than 500 feet tall and could be seen from miles away across the city skyline.
Executing a crawler crane project in downtown Portland came with significant logistical and operational challenges:
In addition to the complexity of the lifts themselves, the crane had to be assembled directly within the city streets at the intersection of NW 11th Avenue and NW Overton Street. The project required extensive coordination and planning with the City of Portland to safely shut down and manage traffic throughout the operation.
The assembly of the LR1300SX took approximately 2½ days and required:
The sheer scale of the build made this one of the most visible crane projects in Portland at the time.
The Lift
Once fully assembled, the crane performed rooftop air handling unit lifts weighing up to 8,000 pounds at heights exceeding 500 feet above the city streets below.
The combination of height, reach, and precision showcased the capabilities of both the LR1300SX and the experienced NessCampbell operators, riggers, and project management team behind the operation.
Despite the narrow project timeline, the lifts were completed safely and efficiently within the scheduled window.
Rapid Teardown
Following completion of the rooftop lifts, time remained critical. The NessCampbell crew immediately transitioned into teardown operations, dismantling the entire crawler crane in just 1½ days to reopen downtown streets and minimize disruption to the surrounding area.
This project demonstrated exactly what NessCampbell Crane + Rigging does best: solving complex lifting challenges in demanding environments with expert planning, precision execution, and an experienced crew capable of handling some of the Pacific Northwest’s most challenging crane projects.
Project Highlights
