Crane & Rigging for Rooftop Installation at Baruch College CUNY

Client: SRR Holding Inc. (on behalf of Baruch College, City University of New York)
Location: 55 Lexington Avenue, New York City, NY 10010
Project Type: Roofing Replacement & Skylight Installation
Duration: 10 Weeks (Completed Ahead of Schedule)
Elevation: 175 Feet
Services: Mobile Crane, Rigging, Master Rigger Supervision, Permitting

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Project Overview

Baruch College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, is one of the most prestigious public business schools in the United States. Home to the renowned Zicklin School of Business, the college operates from its iconic William and Anita Newman Vertical Campus at 55 Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan: a 14-story mixed-use tower with a tiered glass-enclosed atrium, recognized by the AIA National Chapter Honor Award for Architecture.

In the summer leading into the fall semester, Baruch College required a complete roofing replacement and skylight installation, a mission-critical project that had to be executed swiftly, safely, and with zero disruption to ongoing academic operations. Positive Lifting was brought in by SRR Holding Inc. to provide expert crane and rigging services for the full scope of the lift operations.

The Challenge

Roofing and skylight work at 175 feet in a dense urban environment like Midtown Manhattan is never a straightforward undertaking.
This project presented a multi-layered set of logistical and technical challenges:

Urban Site Constraints

55 Lexington Avenue sits at the heart of one of the busiest commercial districts in New York City. The surrounding streetscape is congested with pedestrian traffic, vehicle lanes, and adjacent buildings, leaving an extremely limited footprint for crane placement and load swing paths.

Operational Height

At 175 feet of elevation, this was a high-rise lift requiring a crane with a substantial boom radius, precise load control, and the full supervision of a Licensed NYC Master Rigger, a legal requirement for Existing Construction lifts at this height under New York City Department of Buildings (NYC DOB) regulations.

Academic Calendar Pressure

The project was timed to be completed before the fall semester. Any delay would have directly impacted students and faculty returning to campus. The window for completion was tight, the margin for error was zero.

Material Variety and Volume

The scope included hoisting all new roofing materials, skylight panels, roofing equipment, debris bags, mechanical units, and mechanical replacements, a high volume of diverse loads, each requiring a custom rigging approach.

Regulatory Compliance

Operating a crane in New York City requires navigating a complex web of permits, NYC DOB crane notifications, OSHA safety standards, Crane & Derricks (C&D) guidelines, and university security protocols, all of which had to be coordinated simultaneously.

The Lifting Solution

After evaluating the site conditions, load weights, swing radius requirements, and access restrictions, Positive Lifting’s team developed a detailed lift plan tailored to this specific project.

Equipment Selected: Mobile Crane

A mobile crane was chosen for its ability to operate within the tight footprint available on Lexington Avenue, while providing the reach and capacity required to lift heavy roofing materials and mechanical units to a 175-foot elevation. The crane’s flexibility allowed for repositioning as the project progressed across different roof zones.

Engineering Drawings & Lift Plans

Before a single pick was made, our team prepared complete engineering drawings and lift plans, the foundation of any safe and compliant crane operation in NYC. These documents defined load capacities, boom angles, outrigger positions, and exclusion zones, and were used to secure all necessary city approvals.

Rigging Configuration

Each load, from roofing membrane rolls and insulation panels to skylight glass units and HVAC mechanical equipment, required a dedicated rigging setup. Our certified riggers configured the appropriate slings, shackles, and spreader bars to ensure load stability throughout every lift cycle.

Master Rigger Supervision

As required by NYC DOB regulations for Existing Construction at this elevation, every lift was performed under the direct supervision and sign off of a Licensed Master Rigger. This oversight ensured full compliance and provided an additional layer of quality control at every stage.

Execution & Safety

Safety was the non-negotiable foundation of this project. Positive Lifting’s approach combined meticulous pre-planning with real-time coordination among all stakeholders.

Pre Lift Safety Planning

Before operations began each day, our team conducted thorough toolbox talks and reviewed the lift plan for the scheduled picks. All personnel were assigned defined roles: crane operator, signal person, riggers, and flaggers.

Traffic and Pedestrian Management

With crane operations taking place on a busy Midtown Manhattan street, our team coordinated closely with the City of New York for lane closures and pedestrian safety measures. Flaggers maintained clear exclusion zones throughout all lifts.

University Coordination

Working within an active educational institution required careful communication with Baruch College’s facilities management team. Lifts were scheduled to minimize noise and disruption, and access routes through the campus were agreed upon in advance.

Compliance at Every Step

All operations were executed in full compliance with:

• NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Crane & Derricks regulations.
• OSHA 1926 Subpart CC (Cranes and Derricks in Construction).
• NYC Master Rigger requirements for Existing Construction.
• University security and access protocols.
• All city-issued permits for street use and crane operation.

Weather Monitoring

Given the height of the lifts and the weight of the loads, wind conditions were monitored in real time throughout each shift. Operations were paused whenever conditions exceeded safe thresholds, ensuring the integrity of every pick.

Result

Positive Lifting successfully completed the full scope of crane and rigging work for Baruch College’s roofing and skylight installation ahead of the agreed schedule, in just 10 weeks.

The result:

1. All roofing materials, skylights, mechanical units, and debris were hoisted and placed with precision
2. Zero safety incidents throughout the project
3. Full compliance with all NYC DOB, OSHA, and university requirements
4. Baruch College reopened seamlessly for the fall semester, with no disruption to students or faculty
5. SRR Holding Inc. and Baruch College’s facilities team expressed full satisfaction with the execution

This project stands as a strong example of what’s possible when an experienced crane and rigging contractor combines technical expertise, disciplined planning, and a genuine commitment to safety, even under significant time pressure and site complexity.

Why Contractors Choose Positive Lifting for HighRise Urban Projects

The Baruch College project highlights the core capabilities that make Positive Lifting the preferred crane vendor for complex urban and institutional projects across New York City and New Jersey:

Licensed Master Rigger on staff: required for Existing Construction lifts and critical picks
Full permit and compliance management: we handle NYC DOB notifications, street permits, and C&D filings
Engineering drawings and lift plans: prepared in house for every project
Experience with educational and institutional facilities: understanding the unique scheduling sensitivities of schools, hospitals, and public buildings
Versatile crane fleet: mobile cranes and knuckle boom trucks for urban environments with limited access
On time delivery: we build realistic schedules and meet them

Positive Lifting is a licensed and insured crane and rigging contractor operating in New York City and New Jersey. We hold all required NYC DOB .certifications, carry full commercial insurance, and maintain an active roster of Licensed Master Riggers for high-complexity urban projects.