Quote:
Originally Posted by Tornado
I think the reason this one is so tall is because the operator needs to be able to swing the crane around without running into anything. If you look at the Thompson, that tower crane is only a few floors above. It won't rise again until they get to the 10th floor.
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That's a possible explanation for this one, but it's still at least 100 feet taller than would be necessary to avoid the nearby buildings. And any good crane operator gets paid well to not bang into buildings anyway. Look at NYC or Chicago (or Philadelphia, Seattle, Boston, etc.) for examples.
I see it all the time in Texas. Initial crane set-ups are often 200+ feet even when they're working on the foundation. It seems like it could be dangerous if the right weather conditions were to come along and the crane doesn't have any lateral support (such as being fastened to the side of the rising building).
Does anybody know definitively why they do this?
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