Vienna’s bustling Mariahilfer Straße, known as “Mahü” to locals, is set to introduce a new shopping destination. The Lamarr department store, named after Austrian film icon Hedy Lamarr, will be constructed on the site of the former Leiner furniture store. The modern yet traditional-style department store will include a hotel, restaurants, and a publicly accessible green roof garden. To build the structure, Austrian contractor Habau Hoch- und Tiefbaugesellschaft purchased a WOLFF 8033.16 Cross crane, which will work alongside two other WOLFF cranes. The construction of the building shell is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Due to the location’s high foot traffic in downtown Vienna, a unique crane solution was necessary. Wolffkran devised a crane concept where the WOLFF 8033.16 was first erected using a mobile crane. This crane was then employed to install the WOLFF 7532.16 Cross, which, in turn, erected the flattop WOLFF 6023.8 Clear crane. This strategic approach minimized the use of a mobile crane on the busy shopping street. Overcoming challenges, such as limited space and neighboring buildings, required careful planning and coordination with Wolffkran.
The cranes were installed at the beginning of 2022 and have been crucial in transporting concrete, formwork, and reinforcement for the construction of the in-situ concrete shell. However, the most challenging phase awaits when the final crane needs to be dismantled. Due to the tight construction space, the WOLFF 7532.16 and the WOLFF 6023.8 cannot be dismantled using a mobile crane. The WOLFF 7532.16 will first dismantle the WOLFF 6023.8, and then the 8033.16 will dismantle the 7532.16. This process involves splitting the 13-tonne counter jib into two parts, requiring careful handling and support structures.
Habau and Wolffkran have a long-standing collaboration and have worked on various projects together. The Lamarr project is expected to be completed by 2024, joining their portfolio of successful endeavors, such as the Harbor Portal in Linz and the Vienna Twenty Two residential quarter.
