Three Liebherr flat-top tower cranes are supporting the redevelopment of the historic Bovisa gasometers in Milan, where two former gas storage structures are being converted into new facilities for Politecnico di Milano. The project forms part of the university’s Bovisa-Goccia-Gasometri campus development and is scheduled for completion in early 2027.
Built in the early twentieth century, the two gasometers are being transformed into buildings of eight and six storeys. The facilities will accommodate offices, laboratories, a gym and other university services. While one gasometer is being partially dismantled, restored off site and reassembled, the other is being restored in its original location. Construction began in October 2023.
The project is being carried out by CMSA Società Cooperativa, part of the ATI Conscoop, Consorzio Integra consortium, in collaboration with Pentagas and Gianni Benvenuto Spa. CMSA worked with Liebherr dealer Niederstätter to identify the appropriate cranes and organise site logistics. The main requirement was to provide complete coverage of the construction site and handle loads of up to three tonnes. Planning included crane positioning, allocation of working space and coordination of material movements across the restricted urban site.
Three Liebherr EC-B flat-top cranes were selected. The 205 EC-B has a hook height of 50 metres and a 60-metre jib, while the 240 EC-B has a hook height of 65 metres and a 68-metre jib. The largest, the 250 EC-B, has a hook height of 80 metres and a 70-metre jib. Crane erection began on March 17, 2025.
The cranes support steel construction, façade installation, concreting and the movement of building materials across both structures. Their flat-top design, which eliminates cross-bracing above the jib, allows the cranes to operate in overlapping working areas with fewer restrictions on their movements.
Niederstätter’s contribution also includes a two-storey modular site building measuring 36.5 metres by 7.35 metres. The structure provides offices, changing rooms, storage space and meeting rooms. Design work took two months, with assembly completed in one week. Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions provided additional support on tower system configurations and foundation loads.
The gasometer redevelopment is part of a wider masterplan intended to connect the university campus with a new public park and establish the area as an innovation district. The restoration will retain the historic steel structures while adapting them for academic and research activities. The three cranes will remain in operation throughout the construction period, supporting work until the project’s planned completion in early 2027.
The Liebherr Group manufactures construction machinery and equipment for several industries, including earthmoving, material handling, mining, mobile and crawler cranes, tower cranes and concrete technology. Its tower cranes are used in projects requiring lifting capacity, site coverage and coordination in complex construction environments.
