While RPI Rentals primarily serves construction projects in the Birmingham, Austin, and Houston areas, we have worked on projects all across the country. We are especially proud to have had a part in transforming Nashville’s skyline with two complex and unique projects: Broadwest and The Moore office building. Both projects pushed the limits of engineering, planning, and equipment performance—and they showcased exactly why choosing the right equipment rental partner makes all the difference on large-scale construction sites.
From record-breaking tower crane heights to precision dismantling in tight urban spaces, these projects highlight the expertise, problem-solving, and specialized equipment that set RPI Rentals apart.
Broadwest: Four Tower Cranes, 600-Foot Climbs, and a 24/7 Construction Hoist
The Broadwest development in Nashville was one of the most unique and rewarding projects we’ve ever taken on. The project included two mixed-use high-rise towers on a 4-acre site in downtown Nashville. The first tower – a 21-story office building with nearly 510,000 square feet of office space – was completed by Turner Construction. The second tower included the construction of a 33-story cast-in-place concrete structure that sits on top of a below-grade, 7-level parking structure. The first 13 stories is a hotel with 241 rooms; the upper 19 stories is a 199-unit condominium. Both towers sit on 8 levels of underground parking and have a shared courtyard space in between them.
This long-duration build required a level of coordination and equipment performance that few projects demand. At its peak, the site operated with four tower cranes, including two RPI-owned cranes that became the backbone of the vertical construction effort.
Tower Cranes That Reached Nearly 600 Feet
Each of the RPI cranes climbed to a final hook height of nearly 600 feet, making them some of the tallest tower cranes operating in the region at the time. To safely reach that height, both cranes required four tie-ins to the structure. These tie-ins are essential for stability, especially when cranes exceed typical freestanding limits.
This wasn’t just a matter of stacking steel. Each climb required:
- Careful engineering
- Precise timing
- Coordination with multiple trades
- Continuous monitoring for wind and weather
It was a true demonstration of how critical expert crane planning and reliable tower crane rental services are for high-rise construction.
A 650 Scando Dual-Car Construction Hoist That Never Slept
Alongside the cranes, we supplied a 650 Scando dual-car construction elevator—often referred to as a man/material hoist or buckhoist. On the Broadwest, this hoist became the lifeline of the project.
It ran nearly 24/7, moving crews and materials to high-access areas with speed and efficiency. For a project of this scale, downtime wasn’t an option. The reliability of the hoist kept the schedule on track and ensured that every trade had the access they needed, exactly when they needed it.
The Moore: A 300-Foot Freestanding Tower Crane and a Precision Dismantle
The Moore is a Class A office tower that sits on a .67 acre site in midtown Nashville. There are 2.5 levels of underground parking and seven levels above ground parking, totaling 1,200 parking spaces. The 8th floor is the amenity level with 4,000 square feet of outdoor space that includes an eating area, high top bars, lounge area, and a fire pit. There is 9,000 square feet of street level retail and restaurant space.
While Broadwest challenged us with height and duration, the Moore challenged us with engineering creativity and precision.
A Tower Crane That Defied Typical Freestanding Limits
For this project, we deployed one of our tower cranes in a freestanding configuration. A typical tower crane can safely free stand up to around 200 feet before requiring tie-ins to the structure—but the Moore needed something far more ambitious.
Our team engineered a solution that allowed the crane to free stand at 300 feet, and the crane was installed through the building itself. This required:
- Custom engineering
- Detailed load analysis
- Specialized base design
- Close coordination with the building’s structural team
The Dismantle: 96 Feet of Space and Just Over an Inch of Clearance
Once the building was complete, we faced the next challenge: How do you remove a 300-foot crane that’s built through the structure?
The answer involved:
- Extensive measuring
- Careful planning
- Finding a crane capable of reaching over the top of the building
- Working within a tight 96-foot space
- Clearing surrounding structures by just over an inch
Every piece of the tower crane had to be disassembled into small components and lifted out with absolute precision. It was a tense process—right up until the final piece was safely removed.
This dismantle demonstrated the importance of working with an equipment rental partner that understands not just how to install cranes but also how to remove them safely in tight urban environments.
Why These Projects Matter
Both Broadwest and The Moore highlight a growing trend in the construction industry: buildings are getting taller, tighter, and more complex. As a result, contractors need equipment partners who can provide:
- Specialized tower crane rentals
- High-capacity construction hoist rentals
- Custom engineering solutions
- On-site expertise
- Reliable long-duration equipment performance
Whether it’s a 600-foot crane climb or a precision crane extraction with inches to spare, working with RPI Rentals ensures safety, efficiency, and project success.