Two Potain self-erecting tower cranes have played a key role in building a new six-storey, 267-unit apartment block in Pittsburgh, USA’s busy Lawrenceville neighbourhood. The project is part of a wider push to turn old industrial land into housing and street-level activity.
With the building located on a small site along Butler Street, space for staging and equipment was extremely limited. The team used a Potain Igo T 130 and an Igo T 99 to lift materials without having to reposition cranes mid-project, helping the job stay on schedule.
The Installed Sales Division of 84 Lumber handled the lifting work, with materials coming from an 84 Lumber retail outlet. Framing contractor R.R. Miller Construction rented the cranes from Stephenson Equipment, which also organised a third-party operator.
“Our part included the wood framing on the top four levels, with the lower levels being concrete and steel,” said Steven Rider, a commercial install manager at 84 Lumber. “The T 130 was brought in first, followed by the addition of a Potain Igo T 99 to support the later phases of construction. This dual-crane setup allowed both machines to operate simultaneously with the necessary clearance and coverage across the site.”
The T 130 was set up with two extra mast sections for a hook height of 113 ft and a 164 ft jib. The T 99 had three extra mast sections for a hook height of 126 ft and a 157 ft jib. The first crane was placed along Butler Street with little clearance from traffic.
“The original plan was to move it to the inside corner of the building, but since we were only 20 ft off the property line, the adjoining property owner wouldn’t allow us to set outriggers on his side. So, we moved the crane to a secondary location that wasn’t as well-suited for covering the site,” Rider explained. “That’s why we brought in the T 99. Between the two cranes, we were able to cover everything and erect the entire wing of the building without moving the T 130 again.”
The cranes lifted pre-assembled wall panels, trusses, loose timber and sheeting. They also moved materials for other contractors working on site. Loads ranged from a few hundred pounds to 2.4 USt, with lift heights between 80 ft and 90 ft. The T 130 has a maximum capacity of 8.8 USt, while the T 99 can lift up to 6 USt.
Both cranes were operated entirely by remote control, giving the operator the best view of each lift. Two-way radios were used to place loads precisely on the upper levels. Framing began in November 2024 and ran until mid-June 2025.
Throughout the project, Manitowoc provided parts, service, and training support to Stephenson Equipment and R.R. Miller Construction. This kept the cranes running smoothly and the project on track.
“Without Stephenson Equipment’s help in selecting the right crane sizes and identifying suitable erection sites, the project could have turned into a disaster,” Rider said. “On jobs like this, the timeline is everything, and the team at Stephenson Equipment was always quick to respond whenever issues or questions came up.”