TORONTO — Italian firm Raimondi Group has announced that two Raimondi luffing cranes have been deployed at the United Building project on University Avenue in Toronto, said to be North America’s largest heritage retrofit.
The 55-storey condominium project is preserving elements from a 1928 building and a 1961 expansion, explained a release. Installed between December 2023 and January 2024, the two 18-tonne luffers are currently onsite at a height of 60 and 54 metres with jib lengths of 45 and 50 metres respectively, and a tip load of 4.50 tonnes.
EllisDon is the contractor on the project and rented the cranes, and Avenue Building Corporation is deploying the cranes. Avenue president Jim Patullo said the small out-of-service radius, 16 metres and 17 metres, and the ease of installation of the LR273 due to the model’s weight optimization were key features considered during the site planning phase.
The LR273 allows for greater site coverage and features elevated lifting capacity, Patullo added.
“With the project preserving the 10-storey existing facade, along with its structural steel retention systems, 75 per cent of the jobsite space was already occupied. We carefully evaluated both of the crane positionings to ensure maximum site safety and efficiency,” Patullo explained.
The cranes are scheduled to be onsite for several years with varying timelines, and they will be internally climbed to reach final heights of 65 metres and 195 metres respectively.
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