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Crane count in U.S. cities largely held steady this year

2024-10-15T06:00:00-04:00

Rider Levett Bucknall’s (RLB) latest crane count index report for North America has shown a slight decrease from its previous edition. The latest data, covering Q3 2024, reports a slight decrease of 5% from Q1 2024.

Fourteen cities were surveyed for the study, with four experiencing a decrease of greater than 20%, seven increasing their count, and three holding steady.

The cities to see an increase in crane counts were Calgary, Chicago, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Toronto, and Washington D.C. while Denver, Los Angeles, and New York City’s crane count held steady. Boston, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle say a decrease in crane count.

“The mixed-use sector continues to dominate crane activity, reflecting strong demand for diverse developments,” RLB said about the latest study. “Major projects in sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure are driving significant investment and construction efforts. Despite challenges of high office vacancy rates in certain areas, ...

North American crane count drops 18% year-over-year

2024-04-14T08:00:00-04:00

Rider Levett Bucknall’s (RLB) latest crane count index report, a key indicator of economic activity in major sectors, has shown a marked decrease in the overall count from its previous edition. Calgary, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles have seen an increase in crane counts, with the majority (73%) active at either residential or mixed-use projects. However, on a year-to-year basis, the count is down 18% (a difference of 94 cranes) and another 9% when compared to its previous Q3 edition.

Conversely, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, Portland, San Francisco, and Washington, DC have seen decreases in excess of 20%, while totals for Honolulu, Phoenix, Seattle, and Toronto have remained steady.

RLB states: "Despite the continued downturn in cranes, we remain cautiously optimistic. Ongoing investment in manufacturing and infrastructure will help offset any decline in privately funded projects in 2024. Overall, construction spending will be driven by public funding for manufacturing and in...

North American crane count experiences 10% decrease from Q1 to Q3 2023

2023-10-27T18:51:00-04:00

According to Rider Levett Bucknall’s (RLB) latest crane index report, the total number of cranes on commercial projects in North American cities has decreased by 10%, or by 51 cranes, from the first quarter to the third quarter of 2023.

Out of the fourteen cities surveyed, six experienced a decrease in the number of cranes by greater than 20%, two saw an increase, and six remained the same. RLB attributes the decline to the amount of projects approaching completion during this period. Additionally, as interest rates continue to rise, private-sector construction is showing signs of slowing down.

Toronto continues to feature the most cranes, with 240 cranes, over nearly 200 more than any U.S. city measured. Boston experienced a 122% increase in cranes, joining Toronto as the only cities that saw an increase in crane counts. Seattle led cities in the U.S. with 45 cranes, followed by Los Angeles with 30.

As noted by RLB, despite the dip in crane numbers, the residential sector contin...

North American crane count yields recovery, increasing 4.74% from Q3 2021 to Q1 2022

2022-04-12T15:00:00-04:00

The number of cranes in North America's major cities increased 4.74% from Q3 2021 to Q1 2022, recovering from the identical decrease from the previous Rider Levett Bucknall crane index report.

Rider Levett Bucknall’s (RLB) index measured five cities with an increase in the number of cranes, six that yielded little change, and three that saw significant decreases, dropping by more than 20%. In total, North American cities added 22 cranes in the first quarter of 2022, in which more than half were in the commercial sector. Toronto continues to host more cranes than any other city measured, with 252 in total. Other findings include hospitality construction seeing a 24% increase in cranes, and residential cranes making up 50% of cranes counted.

Previously on Archinect: North American crane count decreased by 4.5% from Q1 to Q3 2021

While the crane increase is a positive sign, RLB doesn’t expect this trend to continue. With supply chain issues and rising construction costs, namely the high price of steel, the index expects the crane count to plateau and remain steady.

North American crane count decreased by 4.5% from Q1 to Q3 2021

2021-10-12T12:46:00-04:00

Rider Levett Bucknall's Crane Count decreased by 4.5% from Q1 to Q3 2021. The index measures the number of fixed cranes across cities in the U.S. and Canada, as a representation of the active construction workload in those cities

Of the 14 cities measured, only Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Toronto, saw an increase in the number of cranes during this period. Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Phoenix, and Portland were reported as having significant decreases in the number of cranes, dropping between 32% and 78%. Boston, Las Vegas, New York, Seattle, and Calgary are holding steady.

The most popular sectors for crane usage were mixed-use and residential, and the education sector saw a crane increase of 40%. In addition, commercial cranes are down 36% collectively. Other notable findings include Los Angeles’ 19%-increase in cranes, the greatest increase since the previous count. Toronto continues to lead North American cities, with an 81% increase in cranes from this time last year.

The 4.5%-reduction follows an increase in the number of cranes in Q1 of 2021. As noted in the index, each of the surveyed cities is connected by uncertainty, which “remains a significant factor to the construction market.”

Previously o...

North American crane count up again after 2020 slump

2021-04-20T13:20:00-04:00

After a decrease in the number of construction cranes in use across major cities in the U.S. and Canada, Rider Levett Bucknall’s Crane Index has found an increase in cranes to start 2021.

Construction Drive reports that Toronto still leads the North American crane count with 208 (compared to 124 in 2020), while Washington D.C. boasted 45, followed by Seattle and Los Angeles with 43 cranes each. New York City was indexed with 10 cranes in Q1 2021.

More details can be accessed in the latest RLB Crane Index.

North American crane counts drop for the first time in years due to COVID-19

2020-10-07T10:55:00-04:00

For the first time since July 2017, the number of cranes in North American cities has decreased, according to Rider Levett Bucknall’s newest crane count. The biannual count dropped by 40 cranes, 455 to 415, from Q1 to Q3 2020.

According to Construction Dive, Toronto still holds the most cranes in a North American city, with 124. And of the 14 measured cities, only Phoenix, Seattle, Toronto and Washington, D.C., saw an increase in the number of cranes. Moreover, five of the 14 cities — Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, New York and San Francisco — dropped in count between 27% and 76%, Construction Dive reports.

Toronto leads North American crane count, with Seattle and Los Angeles tied for second

2019-07-30T14:52:00-04:00

The quarterly Rider Levett Bucknall Crane Index shows strong growth in the number of cranes in operation across North American cities, as new projects get underway and a number of large projects continue to march their way toward completion.

The July 2019 survey summary explains: "Of the thirteen cities surveyed, five experienced an increase in their respective crane counts. Five had a decrease in counts while the remaining three held steady."

Toronto leads the index with a whopping 120 cranes in operation, while Seattle and Los Angeles are tied for second place with 49 cranes each. Calgary is next with 37 cranes, while Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York City follow with nearly 30 cranes apiece.

Strong population growth in Toronto is feeding that city's building boom, according to the report, whereas residential and office projects are fueling growth in Los Angeles and Seattle, respectively.