Welcome to the winter edition of our Tower Crane Census! As with recent trends, the census follows DenverInfill’s residential and non-residential semi-annual updates as well as the latest 3D Future Skyline. Before we begin, there are a couple of items to address. First, even though we made it through the first week of 2019, the majority of the tower cranes were polled over the holidays in 2018 with the rest photographed this weekend; hence why the post is “Winter 2018”. Next, here is what we classify as a tower crane, and our geographical boundaries:
This census is for tower cranes only. Self-erecting cranes (cranes without a ladder mast or cab) on smaller builds, as well as crawler cranes are not counted. We are covering the number of tower cranes in Central Denver only: between Sheridan and Colorado Boulevard to the east-west, Yale to I-70 to the north-south. Tower cranes out by Denver International Airport and the Denver Tech Center will not be counted in this census.
To further expand on the statement above, the photos below are not what we classify as tower cranes as they move easily and typically aren’t used on a project as long as a tower crane.
In addition to the examples above, cranes bases are also not counted in the census because we are unsure of when the actual tower crane will be erected. With that being said, let’s start with the exciting Colorado Rockies Mixed-Use development. As of now, this project features crane number One in our census. There are, however, two more bases for future tower cranes.
The two tower cranes in the background of the above photos belong to The Pullman and X Denver. The Pullman crane is the last standing crane in Union Station and should be coming down soon. This brings our count up to Three.
Lit up cranes are such a treasure so let’s explore a few more of these special cranes. Four and Five, with great lit up ladder masts, belong to Block 162 with number Six in the background belonging to 15th and Stout. Platte Fifteen’s crane ups the count to Seven and has some of the best lighting in the city.
The crane helping build Jefferson View has a brilliant lattice of lights and brings our count to Eight. 355 Logan also has a lit up tower crane with a neighboring crane belonging to Modera West Wash Park. As a bonus, a brilliant meteor was captured under the 355 Logan crane. Our running total is now up to Ten.
The Welton corridor is still occupied by two tower cranes; one for Alexan Arapahoe Square, the other for Alexan 20th Street Station. These two cranes bring our count to Twelve.
Two luffing jib cranes, numbers Thirteen and Fourteen, belong to INDE Uptown, a large development spanning an entire half-block. Fifteen belongs to the Freyer – Newman Center construction at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Sixteen and Seventeen straddle Speer Boulevard in both Lincoln Park and the Golden Triangle. The crane to the right is helping build Parq on Speer, while the other crane is busy at Denver Health for their new outpatient center.
Hopping around a little bit, let’s check out the cranes at Market Station and the Delaware Lofts. Our count is now up to Nineteen.
West Denver, mostly along West Colfax, hosts four tower cranes for a new total of Twenty-Three. The first photo is the tower crane for Luxe at Mile High, a 382-unit apartment project. The next photo features Julian Heights, an eight-story, 56-unit condo project. In the third photo, Lakehouse’s crane is front and center with Vida at Sloans Lake in the background.
After a significant development boom, Cherry Creek is down to only two tower cranes; one for 260 North, and the other for UC Health Cherry Creek. Twenty-Five tower cranes down with a few more to go.
Let’s wrap up the census with three more cranes for a grand total of Twenty-Eight. One crane is up at Zia with two others at the massive 9th and Colorado development.
With Twenty-Eight total cranes, how does this one stack up to our previous censuses? Here is a little chart showing all of the censuses we have done from 2013, when the boom started rolling, to present day. July 2018 held the record for the most tower cranes however, Twenty-Eight cranes is still impressive. With more projects starting and many finishing, it is hard to predict if this number will go up or down come summer.
Thanks for stopping by, we hope you enjoyed our tower crane filled post!
Thanks for including the Botanic Gardens’ project! I’ve been wondering if it was on DenverInfill’s radar. And I’m particularly excited about it because it’s happening outside my window.
End of an era in Union Station with the last tower crane likely coming down in the next couple months. Only one site left at 19th & Chestnut.
A couple others that will be going up downtown in the spring:
– 18th & Market (Greystar)
– 10th & Acoma (Lennar)
Funny. The rate of construction has felt like it’s been slowing down—and clearly it isn’t. I imagine it’s because most of the taller projects have wrapped up. The seven-story cranes aren’t nearly as prominent on the skyline. Cheers to more infill. Here’s to a taller, denser 2019.
Any word on the vacant site at the north-northwest corner of 19th and Chestnut? Seems like a prime spot and it is fairly large so would likely house a big project if the intention is to develop it. As mentioned above, this is the last buildable lot in the Union Station ‘hood which is hard to believe. Hopefully it’ll be a project to be proud of. And one that rises several stories.
There have been a couple 12-14ish story apartment projects that have been submitted over the years but never really came to fruition. There’s currently a very early concept for another apartment project with the city right now but it’s up in the air if that will happen.
After all the infill development around Union Station.
I hope the next big around of development goes to Golden Triangle area. I see so much potential in that area.
Maybe this year Tabor Tower 2 will get started.
New Modern Office Towers on 19th and Broadway 47-60 stories would be AWESOME
Less Parking Surfaces
in Downtown Denver
More office towers
Can I just say, whoever took the cover photo for this update (I’m guessing Ryan since you wrote the article) deserves an award of some kind. The view over the rooftops, power lines and construction at dusk with tall buildings bordering both sides makes for such a beautiful photo that takes advantage of the urban environment in such a cool way. Thanks for all your hard work!
I took that photo! I really appreciate the kind words! 🙂
Great post. These pictures are truly stunning, especially the photo of Jefferson View. That is one goofy x axis on the graph though. I realize the data isn’t perfect but I’d be interested in seeing it displayed on a line graph with an even timeline.
Thank you for the kind words! I had such a great time photographing all the cranes this round.