Look up almost anywhere around downtown Halifax and you will probably see one of the many tower cranes that have become part of the skyline.

With residential construction growing at one of the fastest rates in the country, the cranes have been popping up at building projects all around the region.

Some rise beyond 60 metres and are able to lift thousands of kilograms of building materials and equipment.

The number of cranes fluctuates as projects begin and end, but between 25 and 37 cranes operate in the region, according to the Halifax Regional Municipality. 

“This is definitely unprecedented as far as I know for the Halifax region,” said Miguel Salgueiro, the president of Omega Formwork, which has six cranes erected at projects in Halifax. “We are very busy.”

Salgueiro is one of the founders of the company. He can’t recall a time of so much development.

“The only comparison I could use and I’m not sure it’s a comparison anymore was in the ’80s,” he said. “There were a significant number of tower cranes but that would have topped out at 15 or 20 and we’re double that probably currently.” 

The number of cranes around the city are central to larger scale developments happening in the region.

“Obviously, it’s quite encouraging from an economic standpoint,” said real estate developer Alex Halef. 

Halef, the president and CEO of the Banc group of companies, has three cranes contracted to work on developments, including a 19-storey property called The Elevation on Robie Street.

The project, scheduled for completion late next year, will create 124 rental units as well as businesses on the ground floor. 

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