A gantry crane at the main station – the new landmark on Zurich's skyline

Zurich’s sky above the main station is interrupted by a heavy beam: the arm of a gantry crane cuts the horizon in two. The crane towers over the entire construction site of the south wing and is now a striking feature of the site. «The crane allows us to transport material underneath the temporary roof,» explains Flurin Gut, site manager in construction management at Fanzun.

The gantry crane is a shared project, meaning all the contractors involved in the construction can access and operate it. «This means that, despite the limited space, we’re able to easily cover all areas of the site with a single crane,» Gut continues. In the first phase, demolition material is being transported. Later, it will be possible to transport all material directly into the building through vertical «insertion openings».

Only possible through good cooperation Setting up the crane, however, presented the parties involved with major challenges. «Because of the confined space, erecting the rail track proved to be the critical point. But thanks to the good cooperation between the planners, contractors, site management, authorities and the client, the setup was completed without incident,» says the site manager, satisfied with the result.

The crane’s long arm will now remain in Zurich’s sky for some time. «It will be needed until the roof is finished,» says Flurin Gut. How long that will take is difficult to estimate. Until then, though, the people of Zurich will be living with a split horizon, with the crane adding an interesting new element to the small but distinctive skyline around Zurich’s main station.

Photos: WAM Planer und Ingenieure AG