Downtown Phoenix sees fewer cranes, but development remains steady

Article originally posted on Phoenix Business Journal on April 2, 2026

There are fewer cranes in the Phoenix skyline these days as projects move into different phases.

Rider Levett Bucknall released its latest North American crane count report, and the downtown Phoenix and surrounding area had only three cranes in the 2026 first quarter findings. Cranes included in the report are within a 6-mile radius from the intersection of Washington Street and Central Avenue.

Last year, five cranes were reported in the same period, according to the construction consulting firm. Although Phoenix’s crane number decreased this year, the report indicated Phoenix development is remaining steady.

Phoenix is among eight cities in the United States and Canada deemed to have steady construction activity in their downtowns, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, Honolulu, Austin, Nashville and Toronto.

“The recent reduction in visible tower cranes may reflect projects transitioning between phases or temporarily paused development rather than an overall slowdown,” RLB Associate Principal Taryn Harbert told the Business Journal by email. “Many hospitality and multifamily developments remain active but have advanced beyond the stage that requires large cranes.”

The 30-acre Phoenix Bioscience Core medical research campus is continuing to see activity as two cranes overlook the University of Arizona’s CAMI project, a $300 million development that will include a 200,000 square-foot Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies. It broke ground on the research campus in November 2024, then construction halted in March 2025 due to uncertainty in federal funding, then picked up again last fall.

That’s not the only project in the works within the research campus. Phoenix City Council recently approved a $50 million investment for an Arizona State University project that will include a new medical school.

The third crane is anchored at the Atlanta-based EV Hotel Group redevelopment on the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and Van Buren Street. The company has plans to preserve the historic 1959 City Center Motel, and incorporate it into its plans for a new automated, technology-focused hotel, the Business Journal reported in 2023.

The RLB report surveyed 18 major cities across the U.S. and Canada, tracking the number of fixed cranes on construction sites to measure the “current state of the construction industry’s workload in each location.” Overall, it found activity to be balanced despite broader economic uncertainties.

Four cities experienced an increase in crane activity, and six cities saw a decrease. The mix in activity “reflects a market still weighing long‑term investment decisions while selectively advancing projects in key sectors,” according to the report.

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