42 Story High-Stakes Weekend Crane Lift [Downtown Chicago]

Описание: Shot March 8, 2026

Caught the crew from La Grange Crane Service over the weekend at 73 E. Lake Street. They were hoisting new HVAC units to the 42nd-floor mechanical penthouse. Being less than a block away from the State/Lake pillar project, it’s interesting to see how much heavy machinery is packed into this one square mile right now.


LaGrange Crane Service, Inc.

LaGrange Crane Service is a premier crane rental and heavy-lifting provider based in the Chicagoland area. Founded in 1964 by John Mooncotch Sr., the company has evolved from its roots as a steel erection firm into one of the nation’s most recognized women-owned (WBE) crane service operations.

Key Company Details
• Headquarters: Hodgkins, Illinois (servicing Chicagoland and nationwide). 
• Founded: 1964. 
• Certifications: WBE (Women's Business Enterprise), DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise), and FBE (Female Business Enterprise). 
• Operating Hours: 24/7 emergency services available.

Fleet & Equipment
LaGrange maintains a diverse, high-performance fleet designed for everything from tight urban spaces to massive infrastructure projects.
• Mobile & All-Terrain Cranes: Capacities ranging from 28-ton boom trucks to massive 550-ton all-terrain cranes (e.g., Liebherr and Grove models). 
• Telecrawlers: Specialized telescopic crawler cranes that offer quick setup without the need for outriggers. 
• Rough Terrain (RT) Cranes: Ideal for off-road or uneven job sites. 
• Support Gear: Telehandlers, carry decks, forklifts, and heavy-haul trailers.

Services & Specializations
Beyond simple equipment rental, the company is known for its technical planning and industry-specific expertise: 
• Project Planning: They utilize 3D lift planning software to map out complex lifts, winning multiple awards for their detailed logistics.
• Steel Erection: Drawing on their founding history, they remain experts in structural steel placement. 
• Cellular & Infrastructure: A major player in cell tower installations and large-scale public works (e.g., the CTA Red/Brown Line modernization). 
• Precast Concrete: In-house experts assist with the seamless coordination and installation of precast structures.

Notable Projects
• Chicago Christmas Tree: Historically responsible for lifting and placing the city’s official holiday tree in Daley Plaza. 
• Navy Pier: Deployed heavy-lift cranes (175 and 550-ton) for renovations on the historic pier. 
• CTA RPM Project: Provided a mixed fleet for the multi-phase modernization of the Chicago Transit Authority’s rail lines.