Pritzker Military Archives Center
Brent Genseke, Area Erectors Inc.
3D Lift Plan was a part of this project from bid/scope review until our last pieces were set
on the job. Using 3D Lift plan we were able to create the job site in a quick visual manner to aid
in a presentation on how we wanted to erect the job. We proposed building out the "core" of the
building to create a central structure. Once we erected and detailed the core, the second phase
of the job proposed some unique challenges. These challenges were the (2) 40' x 250' long
trusses that made up the walls and (2) 40' x 80' cantilever trusses that made up the entrance.
3D Lift Plan gave us the tool needed to help convey our process for building the wall trusses on
the ground. When the trusses were assembled, we would hoist the two walls as individual units
using three cranes on each wall via hinge points and tie them into the core with an additional
rough terrain crane hoisting the tie in members. Doing this eliminated the need to stick build the
wall trusses in the air with shoring and falsework.
The six cranes chosen for the truss hoisting work were two Liebherr LTM 1130 5.1,
Liebherr LTM 1230 5.1, Link-Belt ATC-3210, and two Link-Belt HTC 8675 III. The tie in crane
was a Grove RT770E.
The six cranes hoisted the two trusses up to a 14 degree angle and held them in place
while the seventh went around and erected the tie in members. With a total of seven cranes
working at the same time, 3D Lift Plan gave us the ability to show a myriad of information
depending on what we wanted. We could easily show crane positions, available space on the
ground for movement of the seventh crane between the truss cranes, swing radii, etc. Without a
visual representation of these steps, it would have been near impossible to explain how these
large machines were going to work together and get the job done.
When the wall trusses were tied into the "core" of the structure and detailed, we could
then erect the cantilever trusses to create the entrance. This also presented a tight and unique
challenge in crane placement, erectability, all while working with the space available. The two
cantilever trusses presented an additional challenge in having to be pitched in two different
directions while being tied into the existing structure and wall trusses. Once again we enlisted
three cranes for each truss and an additional crane to tie them together. Our crane partner for
the job mobilized the six cranes for the truss hoisting while Area Erectors, Inc. provided the
Rough Terrain crane for the tie in scope of work.
The six cranes chosen for the cantilever truss hoisting work were two Liebherr LTM 1130
5.1, Link-Belt HTC 8690, Link-Belt HTC 86100, and two Link-Belt HTC 8675 III. The tie in crane
was a Grove RT770E.
As stated earlier, we were also able to use 3D Lift Plan to complete some smaller
scopes of work on the project showing crane placement and reach while erecting the trellis.
Even though the trellis pieces were light, they still provided a challenge as access around the
jobsite had now become a commodity as other trades were arriving and mobilizing their
equipment for their scopes of work. Lastly we used 3D Lift Plan to help reduce time and
eliminate the need for crane roads as the seasons were changing. We were tasked with setting
two site bridges on the project that were a significant distance away from the compacted and
prepared gravel areas on the project. Through the use of 3D Lift Plan we were able to create a
plan to mobilize a 550t Liebherr LTM1450, configure it in main boom to set the south bridge. We
then moved it to the north, installed the luffing jib, set the north bridge, and demobilized all in a
shorter time and more cost effective than site work, building crane roads, tearing them out, and
reworking the site to final desired needs.
When you look at this project and the unique challenges it provided, 3D Lift Plan was a
perfect tool for the job. The software made it possible to put multiple cranes into a 3D model and
quickly change between machines to review charts and capacities. Then as the plan went from
"design" to finalization, 3D Lift Plan made Area Erectors stand out with superior images which
showed real world machines on the project, before it was going to happen. The ability to show a
3D model with cranes, the customers building, and your plan all in one place makes this a very
valuable tool for Area Erectors, Inc.