Apex was asked to be a partner on a major renovation to the Space Needle that was originally built in 1962. The $100 million dollar renovation project covered many different aspects of the building from the ground up.

A unique development of a 725,000 sq ft office tower, with dual core towers, the highest being 38 stories, lifted 85 feet in the air on 20 composite and steel columns to provide an experience like none other in Seattle.

Apex Tower Crane tackled a very challenging scope at the 4th tallest building in the city of Seattle, now known as The Mark.

Apex erected 500 tons of steel to complete a 550’ private bridge for the prominent Yellowstone Club in Big Sky MT.

·       At an elevation of 8,000’ with challenging site logistics and delivery routes

·       Apex engineered an erection plan for a very complex structure

·       Engineering, shoring, hoisting,  decking and steel erection were all provided by Apex as a turnkey erection package. 

·       Prefabricated roadway sections in 60’ sections to eliminate risk at heights

·       During erection special care was taken to not disturb the natural environment.  Bear, moose, elk and deer visited the site often. 

·       Due to the snow season starting in October, Apex worked an expedited schedule finishing the bridge in less than 6 weeks.  

Aviation Project of the Year from Chief Buildings.

Apex Tower Crane and Apex Steel joined forces to erect two 21 story towers in the North Lot of Century Link field. The one tower is the Embassy Suites Hotel, the closest hotel to Century Link. The other an office tower closest to the transportation hub in Seattle.

In 2010, a flood washed out 2 main support towers on the 100 year old Louistown, MT Railroad Bridge leaving 300′ of the 1200′ trestle severely damaged. Apex’s scope of work included dismantle of the 300′ damaged section, erect two new towers, refurbish and replace the existing girders and erect new precast deck. However after further analysis, Apex came up with the plan to use an engineered tipping system to tip the existing 125′ towers and dismantle them on the ground in lieu of dismantling them in the air. This process saved two weeks of schedule and avoided high risk work. When the damaged section his the ground, it registered a 2.0 earthquake by the University of Montana. Apex retrofitted the girders on site, re-erected the girders and installed new precast.

Connecting the existing Harborview building to the new building across 9th Avenue in Downtown Seattle called for 10 stories of skybridges to be erected from the bottom up. Logistics for crane and street closure called for a different approach and Apex helped re-engineer the process to allow for top down construction of the structure. After building a temporary work deck, spanning 9th Avenue for pedestrian safety and 24/7 emergency vehicle access to the hospital, which also doubled as a work floor, entire floors were pre-fabricated and picked with 6 air hoists and 4 guide cables. Apex re-engineered the column splices on the bottom of the floors instead of the top.

Two bridges were to be built for the US 2 Highway expansion connecting North Spokane to the 1-90 corridor. The highest point was 120′ above the roadway. Special “Angel Wings” were designed and built to use where aerial lifts could not be used. Apex erected bridge sections over piers that created a balance cantilever. Once two cantilever sections were erected, the drop in sections would be erected to complete the span. Extreme heat meant Apex had to drop in the sections at the right time of day so that the steel would fit with the expansion sections. A complete span was erected in 1 day in 14 a hour shift.

Apex was asked to build the addition of the Toyota Fan Deck in Century Link Field. This project had a logistical problem since the deck was to be erected after the building was complete and the only way to access the deck was inside the stadium. Apex devised a plan through innovation, preplanning and special trucks. Apex started by delivering a folded 550 ton crane through the player’s tunnel. With the center pin of the crane parked on the south goal line, Apex build the crane and then used it to hang the steel from inside the stadium. All of the steel was delivered through the tunnel using special trucks designed to make tight turns. This project had to be completed in a short period of time, after the end of the Seahawks season and before the Sounders FC season began. By using careful preplanning, Apex solved the logistical problem of building the Toyota Fan Deck from the inside of the stadium in just 3 weeks.

Building a new Snohomish River Bridge posed multiple challenges including the 300′ clear span and the inability to close Highway 2 during construction. Due to the challenges facing the reconstruction of a new bridge, this project had been in the works for 20 years. With planning and ingenuity, Apex devised a plan to overcome both obstacles. Apex built the new bridge in 150′ lengths and developed a launching system to attach each section of bridge, With a 100ft launching nose tapering from 10′ to 2′ and a pulley system with long tethers to guide the bridge pieces in , Apex launched 150ft sections from the west bank and attached the pieces as they were launched.

The EMP design was one that had never been done before. Apex figured out the best way to build what looks like a smashed guitar and created a mock up to prove it could be done with special equipment before starting the project on site. With over one million welds in the building, Apex helped create something truly one of a kind.

This 12 story structure was built with scheduling so perfectly timed that after 24 days, Apex turned over an erected and decked project ready for contractors to complete. By using two tower cranes on the job site, Apex built this structure like two separate projects. Apex prefabricated and panelized all the exterior gates on the ground so as each story was erected, the previous floor was ready to go. Every delivery and piece of steel was timed down to the minute, creating a schedule so exact that the erection of the building was smooth and efficient.

This 300,000-sf office space for the Corporate Headquarters of Nintendo in Redmond, WA took 2310 pieces of steel and was erected in 10 days.

The schedule was the driving force behind this project as Nintendo wanted the building to open 6 months earlier than the original schedule would allow. Apex worked with the General Contractor to make this happen by planning logistics to use two tower cranes on the project that would support the accelerated schedule. Zoning and a comprehensive erection plan allowed Apex to seamlessly use two tower cranes simultaneously with no jib or load line interference. Apex performed multiple scopes on this site including rebar, miscellaneous and tower crane erection.

Apex built a 360′ long pedestrian bridge that connects the Museum of Flight Buildings and spans East Marginal Way in Seattle. It is an eye catching icon in the industrial area where the museum is located. The bridge was erected in two sections with minimum clearance between buildings and beneath live high voltage power lines. Erection and AESS compliant welds were complete in one 20 hour shift in order to accommodate the City of Seattle’s road closure and lighting constraints. This project was awarded an AISC IDEAS award, recognizing projects for Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel.

River Run Ranch is a custom 140’ x 240’ horse arena located
in central Montana.
Apex Montana provided design assistance and supplied this
amazing arena for River Run Ranch, LLC., a privately owned
arena. This custom horse arena is 140’ clear span x 240’
long with several build out options. Apex Montana provided
custom wall and roof panel profiles, customer color selections
and custom texturing on the wall cladding. Apex also installed
structural steel for attached hay storage buildings.

Apex Tower Crane erected and dismantled 2 tower cranes on this project.  A  Liebherr 316 ECH-12: HUH: 347’ Jib: 148’ and a Liebherr 172 EC-B: HUH: 165’ Jib: 148’.

Apex also supplied, erected, jumped and dismantled an Avro 6000 Dual Car Man Lift. Finished Height of 330′ with 13 Tie-Ins and 13 Jumps.

Apex Tower Crane performed the erect and dismantle of one tower crane and the supply, erect and dismantle of one man lift on this project in downtown Seattle for Skanska.

Apex Tower Crane erected a Liebherr 540 HCL 12. Initial HUH was 175 feet, Jib 180 feet. Final HUH was 480 feet including 4 climbs and 4 tie ins.

Apex Tower Crane was contracted to supply, erect and dismantle the man lift at the Nexus Project in Seattle for Skanska.

Apex Hoist supplied an Alimak 7100 Dual Car Man Lift. The finished height was 480 feet with 16 tie ins and 15 jumps.

Bozeman High School is a 330,000 sf building with 840 tons
of structural/ miscellaneous steel. Apex Montana was the
onsite representation for the supply and install team with True
North Steel. Apex also erected 60 pre cast panels weighing
47,000 lbs each to encompass the walls of the gymnasium.
The new high school will be servicing the continued growth
of the Bozeman/Belgrade area, expected to be the largest
city in Montana.

Apex Montana constructed a 297’ pedestrian and utility bridge
over Montana Highway 212 and the BNSF Railway while within
close proximity to high voltage power lines.
Apex assembled all sections of the bridge and stair towers off
site and trucked them to the site at night to erect in place to
not disrupt traffic. Assembled pieces ranged in weight from
101,000 to 183,000 lbs. The longest section was 148’. Insert
splice connections were made in the air using adjustable
rigging and jacking to ensure exact line up prior to insertion.
Apex maintained a safe working environment with zero
incidents while adhering to an hour by hour schedule.

In 2015, Apex Steel was brought in as a trade partner and tasked with the challenge of how to get 2,000 lbs. glass panels to the observation deck and restaurant level at the Century Project as part of the scope for the $100 Million dollar renovation to the iconic landmark in Seattle, that was built in 1962. Options considered were; tower crane, conventional hoist, helicopter, and ultimately, Apex proposed a custom built gantry crane designed, engineered, fabricated and erected by Apex Steel.

First consideration when designing the unit was that it has to be used for construction but also be erectable in the future if glass needed to be replaced. Second consideration was that no hoisting was available on the roof, so the unit had to be able to be built with pieces that could go up the elevator and assembled in place by hand. Third consideration was weather, so the unit was constructed out of galvanized steel.

Ultimately the custom hoist used a winch that was modified with all safety measures of a hoist so that Apex could get speed and stopping safety features. The hoist was designed with a 3,000 lb. load capacity so that it had a safety factor over the required limit.

No expense was spared in parts, including the wire rope that has a special anti-twist feature.

The entire crane was bought into our yard for a complete mock up to ensure all parts and pieces fit and to determine if any modifications  needed to be made to ensure ease of assembly and dismantle in the field. Ultimately a few modifications were made to ease assembly in the field.

The crane was certified and load tested prior to use and no breakdowns, mechanical failures or time loss incidents took place during the entire job. We employ a Washington State licensed elevator mechanic that wired the unit and serviced it weekly. We also mocked up and tested a wind sock for use as needed.

The crane was designed with temporary platforms to receive the glass. The crane was placed on top of the observation deck and Apex designed a custom landing platform on the restaurant level for a secondary stop that hung off the bottom of the hoist.

The crane used a pennant controller to control the hoist and we went with 50 feet of wire versus a remote to eliminate communication failure.

The crane had an additional safety feature of an anti-two block to act as an emergency shut off if the ball got too close to the sheave.

The hoist has 3 gears so it could be run in high gear mid travel, mid gear within 10 feet and low gear for the last 2 feet.

Expedia’s new 40 acre headquarters on the Seattle waterfront. The project involved major renovations of existing buildings, multiple sky bridges linking the buildings, exterior pedestrian bridge, interior bridges and catwalks, feature stairs utilizing AESS quality finishes, 150k lbs roof girders in the main hub of the complex.

Apex erected this 300,000 sq ft, 8 story World Class Children’s Hospital for Sellen Construction using the proprietary Side Plate System. Apex Tower Crane erected one of the first 750 Comansa Tower Cranes in the US and supplied and installed one of our Alimak Dual hoists.

Apex constructed a 475’ by 90’ Nucor pre-engineered metal
building for a UPS distribution center located in Post Falls, ID.
We erected the tapered columns and rafters in 2 ½ days as
pre-built sections. Apex coordinated with the owner and GC
to supply and install the simple saver insulation system which
complied with local building codes and the design intent. Apex
Steel also erected the 1600 sf structural steel mezzanine with
steel stairs and metal decking.
Overall Apex Steel helped drive the project knowing the
importance of the schedule by offering solutions such as
erecting steel prior to concrete slab, and alternate methods to
help save time and money.

Apex erected 840 tons of structural steel in a multi-level
building to complete the new Glover Middle School, which will
replace the original building that was built in 1959. Another 240
tons of bar joists and metal deck were installed to complete the
135,000 sf building.

Apex erected the new administration and practice facilities for the new NHL hockey team, The Kraken. Erection was completed in 30 days including 36 long span trusses, ranging from 104′-125′ and 8′-10′ deep, using 27 different crane locations and a detailed narrative for each location. Value engineering exercises resulted in early start of erection and a reduced overall schedule.

46000 sf footprint

220’ clear span

72” deep rafter sections

Roof installed in two days

Efficiency meets production

Safely erecting 120000 lbs per paired lifts

Single Mid air splice and ground install all purlins and bracing

This project sums up all of Apex’s experience into one project, 50 stories of structural steel erection, tower crane erection, jumps and dismantle, hoists lease, erection, jumps and dismantle, precast panel erection, and miscellaneous steel supply and install. Apex used a 220 ton crawler to erect the garage from inside the building footprint to allow Turner to utilize the tower crane for building the concrete core and get the north end of the garage complete for a delivery zone.

The 8 is a unique 27 story high rise office building in Bellevue, Washington, built by Skanska Development.

This unique building is oval in shape with BRB’s that run in one direction up the tower like a barber pole. All columns and BRB’s were three stories high, adding to the complexity of the structure.

Apex erected two tower cranes, four construction hoists, 7,500 tons of steel and deposited  28,000lbs of welding wire.

220′ arch bridge in Glacier National Park.

The bridge has a 5 ft taper and created challenges with the massive unsupported length. Three girders were spliced together on a temporary work bridge to create the full span weighing 156,000 lbs . This was repeated a total of four times with tandem crane picks.

This bridge is located in Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resaort accessing new areas on the mountain thus creating logistical challenges for cranes and equipment.

Two 12 story midrise office towers in Bellevue Washington. Approximately 5,000 tons each.