flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Construction crane count reaches all-time high in Q1 2023

Market Data

Construction crane count reaches all-time high in Q1 2023

More than 500 construction cranes were in action throughout the 14 U.S./Canadian cities surveyed by Rider Levett Bucknall, an all-time high. 


By BD+C and RLB | April 11, 2023
Construction crane count reaches all-time high in Q1 2023
Source: Rider Levett Bucknall

Toronto, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver top the list of U.S/Canadian cities with the greatest number of fixed construction cranes on construction sites, according to Rider Levett Bucknall's RLB Crane Index for North America for Q1 2023.

Toronto had a whopping 238 cranes in place in the first quarter. Seattle had 51 cranes to lead all U.S. cities, followed by Los Angeles (47), Denver (36), and Washington, D.C. (26). 

The RLB survey reports a nominal increase of 7.04% (34 cranes) from the Q3 2022 edition of the RLB Crane Index. Of the 14 cities surveyed, eight experienced
an increase in cranes, two decreased, and four held steady. 

The three top sectors across all cities are residential (51%), mixed use (22%), and commercial (12%). 

"Despite continued workforce challenges and economic uncertainties are still concerns for the coming year, we are continuing to see new projects break ground within our 14-key markets. This indicates that investments are continuing to be made into our cities," said the report's authors.

"Notwithstanding concerns for the housing market, residential and mixed-use projects make up 73% of the overall count. We anticipate the number of cranes to remain high into 2023. Despite uncertain market conditions, construction projects will continue to break ground, albeit at a cost," the added. 

About the RLB Crane Index
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. The 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. 

Related Stories

Market Data | Jan 27, 2022

Record high counts for franchise companies in the early planning stage at the end of Q4'21

Through year-end 2021, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG branded hotels represented 585 new hotel openings with 73,415 rooms.

Market Data | Jan 27, 2022

Dallas leads as the top market by project count in the U.S. hotel construction pipeline at year-end 2021

The market with the greatest number of projects already in the ground, at the end of the fourth quarter, is New York with 90 projects/14,513 rooms.

Market Data | Jan 26, 2022

2022 construction forecast: Healthcare, retail, industrial sectors to lead ‘healthy rebound’ for nonresidential construction

A panel of construction industry economists forecasts 5.4 percent growth for the nonresidential building sector in 2022, and a 6.1 percent bump in 2023.

Market Data | Jan 24, 2022

U.S. hotel construction pipeline stands at 4,814 projects/581,953 rooms at year-end 2021

Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months stand at 1,821 projects/210,890 rooms at the end of the fourth quarter.

Market Data | Jan 19, 2022

Architecture firms end 2021 on a strong note

December’s Architectural Billings Index (ABI) score of 52.0 was an increase from 51.0 in November.

Market Data | Jan 13, 2022

Materials prices soar 20% in 2021 despite moderating in December

Most contractors in association survey list costs as top concern in 2022.

Market Data | Jan 12, 2022

Construction firms forsee growing demand for most types of projects

Seventy-four percent of firms plan to hire in 2022 despite supply-chain and labor challenges.

Market Data | Jan 7, 2022

Construction adds 22,000 jobs in December

Jobless rate falls to 5% as ongoing nonresidential recovery offsets rare dip in residential total.

Market Data | Jan 6, 2022

Inflation tempers optimism about construction in North America

Rider Levett Bucknall’s latest report cites labor shortages and supply chain snags among causes for cost increases.  

Market Data | Jan 6, 2022

A new survey offers a snapshot of New York’s construction market

Anchin’s poll of 20 AEC clients finds a “growing optimism,” but also multiple pressure points.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category

Construction Costs

New download: BD+C's May 2024 Market Intelligence Report

Building Design+Construction's monthly Market Intelligence Report offers a snapshot of the health of the U.S. building construction industry, including the commercial, multifamily, institutional, and industrial building sectors. This report tracks the latest metrics related to construction spending, demand for design services, contractor backlogs, and material price trends.




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021