Liebherr cranes supporting Miami construction boom

Liebherr tower cranes working on Cipriani Residences in Miami, Florida (Photo: Liebherr)

According to various real estate companies active in Miami, the Florida city is undergoing one the largest booms of residential construction in the United States.

Projects underway include the Waldorf Astoria Residences Miami, a 100-storey supertall which will have a final height of 1,049 ft (318.7 metres).

Liebherr tower cranes currently feature at seven similar projects, with site locations ranging from the Brickell to Edgewater districts.

Delivered by Morrow Equipment, exclusive distributor for Liebherr tower cranes in North America, the cranes include a mix of EC-B flat top, EC-H high top and HC-L luffing jib cranes.

The selection of Liebherr cranes is said to reflect the demands of high-rise construction on the Florida coast, with tight inner-city sites. This requires hook heights of up to 230 metres, while the machines must also content with high humidity – there’s even the risk of hurricanes.

Liebherr EC-B flat-top cranes have established themselves as a workhorse on Miami high-rise sites. These feature compact tower heads that allow several cranes to work in close proximity.

The EC-H high-top series provides additional load-bearing capacity for taller, heavier structures, while the HC-L luffing jib cranes complete the portfolio where space at altitude is limited and minimal out-of-service positions are essential.

Projects now using Liebherr cranes include Villa Miami, a 56-storey residential tower. There’s also the E11even Club Hotel & Residences, a dual-tower development which will reach 65 stories. Other locations include Cipriani Residences and 600 Miami World.

Morrow Equipment Company has been Liebherr’s exclusive distributor for tower cranes in North America for more than four decades. In 2022, Morrow ordered 27 additional Liebherr cranes, including multiple 340 EC-B and 470 EC-B flat-tops and 357 HC-L luffing jib cranes.