Floating tower crane at 2 Finsbury Avenue

Latest News Thu, Aug 29, 2024 5:40 AM

At 2 Finsbury Avenue on the Broadgate Campus, an innovative tower crane solution was engineered to meet the construction needs of the site.

Rather than being anchored to the ground, the tower crane located at the North East corner of the development cantilevers out off the East Tower core, supported by an impressive steel grillage.

This ‘floating crane’ is an ingenious solution to a complex construction challenge.

McAlpine's team needed a tower crane in this corner of the site to give them the hook coverage they required to service this flagship twin tower project for British Land.

With insufficient space between the site and the neighbouring building to the East to fit a tower crane whilst still maintaining emergency services access, the team looked at positioning a standard tower crane where the raked crane was eventually to be located.

But with the ground congested with buried services, they were presented with the tricky conundrum of erecting a tower crane in a seemingly impossible location.

Step forward McAlpine Lifting Solutions, who, after careful consideration, came up with the solution of keeping the crane where the team need it but moving the base out of the ground. For this they envisaged a supporting steel grillage cantilevered off the core of the East tower and cranked to suit the profile of the new building’s structure and façade.

Having developed the original concept, the McAlpine Lifting Solutions team passed the baton to McAlpine Design Group (MDG), who carried out the detailed design including design optimisation and completed all the necessary structural analysis and calculations to ensure the solution performed as required.

The supporting steel grillage and tower crane were erected over nine days in August using a 350t mobile crane.

The tower crane currently stands some 40m tall but will eventually climb to 170m to match the height of the 37-storey East tower and the team is installing a lift to take them up at least part of the way. The lift will start around 10m above the crane feet and eventually travel up 80m of mast.

Featured News

Specification news
Local heritage sites to benefit from £15m boost to...

Unseen Arts in Grimsby, MusicAbility Centre in Penzance and St Michael’s Mount...

Read More >>

Specification news
BESA smashes awards entry record

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has announced its 2025 Industry...

Read More >>

BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES

Rearo Tradeline Brochure

Rearo Tradeline
By Rearo

Download Now >>

Rearo Sustainability Plan Brochure

Rearo Sustainability...
By Rearo

Download Now >>

Rearo Stericlad Brochure

Rearo Stericlad
By Rearo

Download Now >>

A&S Landscape - Bumper Newsletter Brochure

A&S Landscape - Bump...
By A&S Landscape

Download Now >>

A&S Landscape - Contractors Brochure

A&S Landscape - Cont...
By A&S Landscape

Download Now >>

BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS

NURTURE EARLY YEARS CUBICLES
NURTURE EARLY YEARS CUBICLES

The Nurture Range provides child-friendly, durable 12mm SGL washroom solutions for nurseries and...

Read More >>

Triumph Custom-fit Cubicles For The Most Sophisticated Spaces
Triumph Custom-fit Cubicles For The Most Sophisticated Spaces

Triumph Privacy offers enhanced privacy while maintaining the sleek aesthetic of the Triumph range....

Read More >>

ELEVATE CUSTOM-FIT CUBICLES WITH A PRIVACY OPTION
ELEVATE CUSTOM-FIT CUBICLES WITH A PRIVACY OPTION

Elevate cubicles offer enhanced height and privacy for superior comfort and security. Durable nickel...

Read More >>

CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS - LATEST VIDEOS

Mira Vista Heatloop
Mira Vista Heatloop

Mira Showers is delighted to introduce the new Mira Vista HeatloopTM – an innovative and stylish...

Watch Now >>

Why our Canopies Last Longer
Why our Canopies Last Longer

https://www.aandslandscape.co.uk/ Find out why A&S Landscape Canopies last longer than alternatives....

Watch Now >>

Enclosed Dining Canopy - Hampton Gardens School
Enclosed Dining Canopy - Hampton Gardens School

A&S Landscape designed and installed a large enclosed, curved roof canopy for Hampton Gardens School...

Watch Now >>