Solving the Equation

In Pittsburgh’s bustling Lawrenceville neighborhood, space is at a premium. Once a hub of industry along the Allegheny River, the district is now home to residential development projects, where every square foot counts.

So, when construction on a new six-story, 267-unit apartment building on a main traffic artery with limited staging area took place from November 2024 through mid-June 2025, the team behind the project had to find a way to lift heavy prefabricated materials efficiently without disrupting the surrounding neighborhood.

For 84 Lumber, which oversaw the lifting operations through its Installed Sales Division, the answer came in the form of two Potain self-erecting tower cranes — the Igo T 130 and Igo T 99. Together, these cranes made it possible to overcome tight-site logistics and keep the project moving without having to reposition a crane mid-construction.

“The T 130 was brought in first, followed by the addition of a Potain Igo T 99 to support the later phases of construction,” explained Steven Rider, commercial install manager at 84 Lumber. “This dual-crane setup allowed both machines to operate simultaneously with the necessary clearance and coverage across the site.”

The Lawrenceville build was no small task. With concrete and steel on the lower levels and four stories of wood framing above, space constraints made traditional lifting equipment impractical. According to Rider, 84 Lumber’s portion of the project involved the wood framing on the top four levels where the cranes were essential for handling pre-assembled wall panels, floor and roof trusses, loose lumber and sheeting.

Game Changer

The cranes’ remote-controlled operation proved to be a game-changer. Operating without cabs and guided via wireless controls, operators could position themselves wherever they had the best view of the rigging and lifting processes, enhancing both safety and efficiency.

“Two-way radios were used to coordinate the precise placement of loads on the upper levels,” Rider said. “This setup helped maintain smooth and efficient operations despite the site’s extremely tight working conditions.”

The Potain Igo T 130 and Igo T 99 offered not only reach but also flexibility. The T 130 — the largest crane in Potain’s self-erecting range — was erected with two additional mast sections to achieve a hook height of 113 feet and a full 164-foot jib. Its 8.8-ton maximum capacity provided ample lifting strength for heavy prefabricated elements.

Meanwhile, the Igo T 99 was configured with three extra mast sections to reach a 126-foot hook height and a 157-foot jib, delivering a 6.6-ton lifting capacity. Together, the cranes could handle 200-pound components at heights ranging from 80 to 90 feet. 

“Between the two cranes, we were able to cover everything and erect the entire wing of the building without moving the T 130,” Rider said.

Initially, the construction team planned to position the T 130 inside the corner of the building footprint. But limited clearance and property-line restrictions required a different approach.

“The original plan was to move it to the inside corner of the building, but since we were only 20 feet off the property line, the adjoining property owner wouldn’t allow us to set outriggers on their side,” Rider explained. “So, we moved the crane to a secondary location that wasn’t as well-suited for covering the site. That’s why we brought in the T 99.”

By combining both cranes’ ranges and capacities, 84 Lumber and its framing partner, R.R. Miller Construction, maintained steady progress through the project’s most challenging phases. The addition of the T 99 meant no need to reposition the larger T 130, saving valuable time and avoiding potential traffic or site delays in the dense urban corridor.

Network of Partners

The project’s success was the result of close collaboration between several key players. Stephenson Equipment, a long-standing Manitowoc and Potain dealer based in Pennsylvania and New York, supplied the cranes and coordinated third-party operators. Stephenson’s expertise was also critical in determining the proper crane configurations, erection points and operational logistics.

“Without Stephenson Equipment’s help in selecting the right crane sizes and identifying suitable erection sites, the project would have taken much longer,” Rider said. “On jobs like this, the timeline is everything, and the team at Stephenson Equipment was always quick to respond whenever issues or questions came up.”

Throughout the project, Manitowoc’s support infrastructure, including parts, service and training, played an essential behind-the-scenes role. From planning through execution, both Stephenson and R.R. Miller Construction relied on Manitowoc’s technical expertise to keep operations on track, the cranes running smoothly and the timeline on schedule.

The Pittsburgh project perfectly illustrates why Potain’s self-erecting cranes have become indispensable tools on compact sites. Their single-trailer transport and folding jib make them easy to mobilize in tight urban environments, while variable mast heights and multiple operational jib configurations allow flexible setups around existing structures or obstacles.

The Igo T 130 also offers optional Ultra View or Cab 800 cabs, an offsettable jib for obstacle avoidance and wireless remote-control features for precision non-destructive safety. The smaller Igo T 99 offers a horizontal jib reach up to 157 feet and a hook height of 126 feet for construction sites requiring both reach and capacity.

Together, these machines enabled 84 Lumber’s installation division to lift large, prefabricated assemblies accurately into place, critical in an environment where even a few inches of error could stall progress. 

“On projects like this, the right equipment and teamwork make all the difference,” Rider reflected. “With Potain cranes and Stephenson Equipment’s support, we were able to stay on schedule and deliver exactly what the client expected.”