Structural Unlimited‘s LR 1300.1 SX crawler crane provided high lifting capabilities for construction of the new CHKD Mental Healthcare facility parking garage

CHKD officials along with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, state and local officials and W.M. Jordan Company broke ground on the brand new mental healthcare facility in Norfolk, Virginia in September 2019. The impressive new $224 million facility will be a 14-story, 60 bed facility that will offer the highest level of care, standing out among some of the nation’s top pediatric mental health hospitals, with innovative patient- and family-centered design, research-based treatments, academic training programs for the next generation of child psychiatrists, and unparalleled support and community involvement, according to a CHKD press release.

The facility will provide in-patient and outpatient services and will feature an indoor and outdoor recreation area and expressive creativity center for individual and group therapy. The new hospital also includes a rooftop recreation center and healing garden, providing a safe and secure area for patients to connect with nature and enjoy fresh air. The new hospital will be an addition to the current CHKD and Sentara Norfolk General complex and is scheduled to open in 2022.

Structural Unlimited LLC was tasked with constructing the parking garage structure for the new CHKD Mental Healthcare facility located on Gresham Drive. The first floor of the parking garage is 19 ft. 10.5 inches high to accommodate ambulance needs going to the facility.

Structural Unlimited, LLC used one of their 330 ton Liebherr LR 1300.1 SX crawler cranes fitted with carbon fiber pendants to lift and set concrete wall panels in place for each level of the parking garage. The construction of the nine story parking garage began in January 2021 and was completed April 2021. The LR 1300 operated up to 12 hours a day handling the precast wall panels that weighed between 50,000 to 90,000 lbs. Each panel was lifted and placed side by side and then welded together.

The LR 1300.1 SX crawler crane has a lifting capacity of 330 ton with a possible hoist height of up to 664 ft. For special lifts, where a higher load chart is required, a super lift attachment can be attached. The crawler cranes high horsepower engine provides plenty power for simultaneous movements of swing, main boom and luffing jib without slowing down, which makes jobsite operations like steel hanging very fast. Furthermore the machine is designed to quickly assemble and disassemble. “We quite often disassemble, move and assemble a LR 1300.1 SX within the same day,” mentioned Andy Merrell, owner of Structural Unlimited LLC.

The LR 1300.1 SX is used in various applications such as steel erection, pre-cast and infrastructure work. The LR 1300.1 SX was the best solution for the CHKD parking garage project because of the cranes ability to make a pick-up of 90,000 lbs. at 110 feet outreach. The LR 1300.1 SX’s outstanding load chart proved to be an advantage.

Additionally, there are many innovative optional equipment features available for the LR 1300.1 SX. One of those features is the new Boom-up and down assistance system which increases operational safety during assembly and disassembly. This assistance system indicates the approach to the tipping point and automatically stops operation before the operator unintentionally enters an unsafe zone. It also takes the machine’s configuration as well as wind into consideration.

At this specific job site, Structural Unlimited was faced with the challenge of making sure the luffing jib tip remained underneath the Liebherr tower crane working on the same jobsite. The LR 1300.1 SX was equipped with 95 ft. of main boom and 125ft of luffing jib. The LR 1300.1 SX luffing jib can also be outfitted with a 3-part/99,210 lbs. aux. jib/rooster which on this particular jobsite Structural Unlimited did not require.

Andy Merrell, owner of Structural Unlimited LLC said, “Liebherr’s reputation for developing reliable, high performing products were part of my decision to purchase Liebherr LR 1300’s.” Structural Unlimited LLC currently owns four Liebherr LR 1300.1 SX, all equipped with carbon fiber pendants for increased capacity and operates them in the southeast United States. Structural Unlimited LLC was founded in 2009 and is based out of Huntersville, North Carolina.