By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The North America Q1 2026 RLB Crane Index shows Phoenix crane activity as “steady,” one of six cities noted as such in the 18-city review.
Rider Levett Bucknall shows a generally steady trend across the country. The report’s Phoenix summary shows activity in the downtown area is centered around the Bioscience Core, “with two cranes at the University of Arizona’s CAMI project and another at the EV Hotel near Van Buren and Grand Ave.”
The DATABEX project database and inquiries from the BEX research staff show this quote’s information to be incorrect. The EV AI Hotel is not yet under construction and has not pulled permits, according to their research. The Henri Apartments project from Toll Brothers Apartment Living & Campus Living, however, is under construction across the street and may be the source of the crane reported in the area.
The report says the area’s lower crane count likely shows projects advancing to later stages of construction, since many of the area’s active hotel and multifamily developments have moved beyond the need for crane activity.
RLB reports the national level is also fairly steady, with “moderate movement” across the 18 markets. Eight of the cities were steady, six declined and four increased.
All six declining cities were coastal, with four on the eastern seaboard and two in the Pacific Northwest. The cities with gains (Miami, San Francisco, Chicago and Calgary) showed an expansive geographical diversity. Calgary, in particular, is racing to accommodate a record-level population influx.
The steady metros were primarily concentrated in the western U.S. (Austin, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix). Only two (Nashville and Toronto) were east of the Mississippi.