The main crane is the Liebherr 710 HC-L model and will be working on the Tower of Jesus Christ, which will stand at 172 metres in height.

Spanish cranes sales and rental firm Grúas Cerezo, along with the construction department of the Sagrada Família, are utilising two Liebherr luffing jib tower cranes to help finish construction of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona – currently the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world.

The two cranes being used are a 710 HC-L 32-64 Litronic and a 125 HC-L. The 710 HC-L 32-64 Litronic is primarily being used to finish building the Tower of Jesus Christ. The tower currently stands at 135 metres high and is set to reach 172 metres.

Official delivery of the Liebherr 710 HC-L luffing jib crane. From left to right: Fernando Villa, Sagrada Familia; Antonio Cerezo, Grúas Cerezo; Tobias Böhler, Liebherr Ibérica; Daniel Morales, Sagrada Familia; Miguel Cerezo, Grúas Cerezo and Roberto Insausti, Liebherr Ibérica.

The Liebherr 125 HC-L crane, meanwhile, is working on the Chapel of the Assumption and the adjacent cloisters.

The cranes’ folding design and adaptability to site requirements were decisive factors in the Sagrada Família’s decision to select this equipment.

“The construction department of the Sagrada Família chose these cranes for two main reasons,” says Fernando Villa, director of construction and technology at the Sagrada Família. “Their folding design minimises the impact on surrounding buildings and they can adapt to the area’s specific requirements.”

Liebherr 710 HC-L and 125 HC-L luffing jib cranes in action in the final phase of the Sagrada Família construction project

Major project challenges included the assembly of the Liebherr 710 HC-L and 125 HC-L luffing jib cranes at such a space-restricted location in central Barcelona where there are also lots of visitors and tourists. To ensure the greatest possible safety the erection of the cranes was conducted under specific wind speeds. At the same time it also had to be done as quickly as possible to minimise disruption. As such, this required extensive planning which was aided by Liebherr Ibérica and Liebherr’s specialist engineering division: Tower Crane Solutions (TCS).

A key challenge was to develop a solution so that the Liebherr 710 HC-L 32-64 Litronic luffing jib crane could be erected at a height of approximately 54 metres and comply with the highest safety requirements.

TCS also developed a special bracing structure, measuring 20 metres long, 10 metres wide and weighing 27 tonnes, to anchor the 710 HC-L to the Tower of Jesus Christ at a height of approximately 130 metres.

Official delivery of the Liebherr 710 HC-L luffing jib crane. From left to right: Fernando Villa, Sagrada Familia; Antonio Cerezo, Grúas Cerezo; Tobias Böhler, Liebherr Ibérica; Daniel Morales, Sagrada Familia; Miguel Cerezo, Grúas Cerezo and Roberto Insausti, Liebherr Ibérica.

“We specialise in planning large and demanding projects worldwide,” concludes Jochen Wille, project manager at Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions (TCS). “We’re the go-to experts for complex solutions and challenging applications, just like in this case.”