RLB CRANE INDEX

®

North America - Q3 2020

OVERALL STATUS

Calgary
Seattle
Toronto

Portland

Boston

LEGEND

Chicago

San Francisco
Las Vegas

Increase in number of cranes

Los Angeles

New York
Washington, DC

Denver
Phoenix

Decrease in number of cranes
Crane numbers steady

Healthcare projects experienced
an overall increase of
38% in active cranes.

Honolulu

Cranes dedicated to cultural
projects drop 38% from
the previous count.

Residential projects account
for 40% of all cranes counted;
followed by 25% installed at
mixed-use developments.

WHAT IS THE RLB CRANE INDEX®?

Q3 2020 SUMMARY:

Rider Levett Bucknall’s Crane Index® for North
America is published biannually. It tracks
the number of operating tower cranes in 14
major cities across the U.S. and Canada.

This survey was the first decrease since our July 2017
edition of the RLB Crane Index®, with the count dropping
by 40 cranes. Of the fourteen cities surveyed: four
experienced an increase; four are holding steady; and five
saw a significant decrease ranging from -27% to -76%.

Our index was the first of its kind, and unlike other
industry barometers that track cost and other
financial data, the Crane Index® tracks the number
of fixed cranes on construction sites and gives
a simplified measure of the current state of the
construction industry’s workload in each location.

In an early response to coronavirus, some cities imposed
a pause on non-essential construction. While these bans
have been lifted and projects have resumed, the pandemicinduced recession is expected to have far-reaching effects.
Lenders are less likely to support large, new developments
in sectors that have been significantly impacted, like sports
and hospitality. We are already seeing more competitive
bidding for the fewer projects that are coming online.

 80%

Cranes dedicated to
transportation projects
have increased by 80%

The sports sector experienced
a significant drop in cranes;
surveying seven cranes
the previous count and
zero cranes this count.

-40%
Cranes installed on civil projects
have dropped by 40%.

KEY SECTORS
CIVIL
COMMERCIAL
CULTURAL
EDUCATION
FEDERAL GOVT.
HEALTHCARE
HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRIAL
MIXED USE
PUBLIC/CIVIC
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
RESIDENTIAL
SPORT
TRANSPORTATION

OTHER

BOSTON
Although several projects have
wrapped up since Q1, the Boston
skyline is punctuated by a few
new starts, keeping the crane
count constant. These project
starts include the 5,000-seat
MGM Music Hall at Fenway and
several mixed-use developments
throughout Boston proper. In
the Financial District, a handful
of projects are tucked away
behind its high rises, including
Shawmut’s renovation of the
historic Langham Hotel.

DENVER
There was a decrease in the
quantity of cranes in Denver,
due to several projects being
completed or approaching
completion. According to
the Denver Metro Association
of Realtors, there is still an
increase in demand and
shortage in supply of housing.
This could mean that the
crane count in the future could
remain fairly constant if there
is continued growth in the
residential construction sector.

CALGARY
Calgary’s crane count is
holding steady, as residential
and commercial projects
are being completed. Three
cranes have been erected
to build a new large bridge
across the Bow River.

HONOLULU
Crane counts are steady in
Honolulu. Residential and
mixed-use projects continue to
dominate the scene, including
the Central Ala Moana, Azure
Ala Moana, Lilia Waikiki, Sky Ala
Moana, Koula, and the affordable
residential development 803
Waimanu, all located in the
Ala Moana commercial district
of urban Oahu. In Honolulu,
affordable and rental housing
developments continue to
be an important driver of
construction, particularly in the
Kakaako-Ala Moana district and
along the Kapiolani corridor.

CHICAGO
Due to the pandemic, Chicago’s
crane tally of 14 is about half of
the previous count. Many of the
projects have been completed
and are currently leasing;
however, new construction has
slowed considerably. There
are only three new cranes
since the last count—two at
residential sites and one new
office building—yet these are
all of modest size, 12 to 24
stories. An 87-floor residential
tower that began foundation
work in February, has now
been put on hold indefinitely.
Plans for several prominent
high-rise projects have been
approved, but a rebound will
depend upon easing of the
pandemic and a return to an
investor-friendly climate. On
a positive note, public sector
projects are carrying on at
a relatively steady pace.

The impact of Covid-19 is seen
in the slowing of residential
development in Waikiki and the
delay of two P3 contracts for
the Honolulu rail transit system
and the redevelopment of the
new 98-acre Aloha Stadium
Entertainment District on Oahu.
LAS VEGAS
The Las Vegas crane count
has fallen over the last six
months with the completion
of several projects, including
the Allegian (Raiders) Stadium.
Coronavirus has significantly
impacted the market, which
relies heavily on tourism,
gaming, food & beverage,

 conventions/meetings, and
entertainment. There are still at
least 11 major hotels closed with
no re-opening date scheduled.
Properties that are open have
limited room occupancy. The
prospect of new projects in
the city still looks promising,
but will be slow starting up
until restrictions are lifted and
conventions begin rebooking.
LOS ANGELES
Despite a decrease in the
number of cranes in Los
Angeles, parts of the city
such as Downtown, Korea
Town, Century City and Culver
City are all seeing larger infill
tower developments. For the
most part, projects continue
to address the demand for
housing, with some mixed-use
development occurring in higher
density areas. Some cultural and
entertainment projects have
been substantially completed
(SoFi Stadium), while others
continue, including the new
Star Wars Museum adjacent
to USC; the sector also has
several projects in the pipeline.
NEW YORK CITY
From 2019, New York City has
seen a 55% decrease in tower
cranes located in midtown
Manhattan. The construction
pauses triggered by Covid-19 may
play a role in that trend. Most
of the projects currently under
construction are commercial
office properties. However, with
more people working from home
in response to the pandemic,
developers are hesitant to
invest in building new office
and retail space in the city.

PHOENIX
The crane count in Phoenix
is rising. Activity is centered
in Downtown, and to a lesser
extent in Midtown. Projects

are predominately mixedused (residential/commercial),
along with three educational
developments (Creighton
University, Arizona State
University, Thunderbird School
of Global Management), that
will combine housing, retail,
and classrooms. Luxury highrises comprise the majority
of the residential sector,
such as Duo on Fillmore, X
Phoenix, and the Derby.
PORTLAND
Despite the effects of
coronavirus on the construction
industry, the crane count in
Portland has only decreased by
one. The majority of projects
are multifamily apartments with
mixed-use spaces at ground
level. Downtown remains a
hotspot for new construction,
including the Ritz-Carlton
Tower and Hyatt Centric Hotel.
The large Nike Headquarters
project just outside of Portland
has been recently completed.
SEATTLE
Seattle added seven cranes to
its skyline since the last count,
despite the Covid-19 “shelter in
place” policy that extended from
February through April, which
limited construction to essential
projects. Work has resumed on
a large number of residential
projects placed on hold during
that period. Looking ahead,
a slowdown for the Seattle
construction market is forecast.
SAN FRANCISCO
A decrease in the San Francisco
crane count reflects the nearcompletion of numerous
apartment and condominium
projects throughout the city,
including the Four Seasons
Residences project in SOMA. The
Market Street corridor, which
delineates the Downtown and
SOMA neighborhoods, is home

to the majority of the cranes in
the city, with all of the projects
being residential or residential/
hotel mixed-use projects.
Recent trends in hospitality
construction are indicative of
San Francisco’s role as a prime
destination. However, given
challenges to the hospitality
sector due to the pandemic,
the continued emergence
of this trend over the nearterm (12-18 months) is likely
to be adversely impacted.
TORONTO
The Toronto crane count has
increased marginally since the
last survey. Residential projects
continue to dominate the market.
While Covid-19 does not seem
to have affected the number of
cranes in use, that could change
next year, as high-rise residential
sales have dropped 30% in 2020.
The work-from-home trend may
also impact future commercial
office tower construction.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Developments at The Wharf
and City Ridge account for an
increase in the Washington, D.C.
crane count, as several residential
projects around the South
Capitol Street Corridor and
Washington Navy Yard have
reached completion since the last
count. Residential and mixed-use
developments around the NoMa
and Union Market neighborhoods
are booming. Signal House, a tenstory office tower in the Union
Market District, is set to open in
2021. Cultural and infrastructure
projects like the National Air and
Space Museum and the Frederick
Douglass Bridge are still ongoing.

 LOCATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
Boston
Calgary
Chicago
Denver
Hilo
Honolulu
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Maui
New York
Phoenix
Portland
San Francisco
San Jose
Seattle
Toronto
Tucson
Waikoloa
Washington, DC
CARIBBEAN
St. Lucia

CONTACT
PAUL BRUSSOW
+1 808 521 2641
paul.brussow@us.rlb.com
CATHY SEWELL
+1 602 443 4848
cathy.sewell@us.rlb.com

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