WeAreLiving Preston Now Open
Kapitol completes WeAreLiving Preston — 292 new build-to-rent homes in Melbourne’s north, a milestone for high rise developers and the rental housing sector.
At NEXTDC’s M2 Melbourne data centre, we have installed the Favelle Favco M2480: the world’s largest luffing-jib tower crane. It is a significant piece of equipment for a project of significant scale, and its selection reflects the kind of considered planning that defines how we approach complex data centre construction.
The Favelle Favco M2480 has a maximum lifting capacity of 330 tonnes, making it the most capable luffing-jib tower crane in the world. For NEXTDC M2 Melbourne, we have configured it with a 55 m jib in a 2-fall hoist arrangement, enabling lifts of up to 110 tonnes. At full 55 m radius, the crane can handle loads of approximately 72 tonnes.
This configuration allows our team to execute some of the heaviest and most complex lifts on site from a single, controlled position.
The M2480 will be utilised to install rooftop plant across the facility as part of the ongoing stages of development. This scope includes:
Completing this installation will mark a critical milestone in the delivery of NEXTDC M2 Melbourne.
One of the most significant challenges on a project of this nature is managing site logistics, particularly during rooftop plant installation. The conventional approach relies on large mobile cranes, which create substantial disruption: blocked perimeter access routes, constrained movement around the site, and interference with surrounding operations.
The M2480 directly addresses this constraint. Operating from a compact 8 m x 6 m piled concrete raft, it requires a fraction of the footprint typically needed for an equivalent mobile crane operation. This allows our team to maintain clear perimeter access, reduce congestion, and minimise disruption to the broader site, all while executing heavy lifts with precision and control.
The decision to use the M2480 was not simply about lifting capacity. It was driven by a focus on delivering the best possible outcome for our client. By selecting a larger tower crane, we reduced the number of mobile crane mobilisations required on site. Fewer mobilisations mean fewer interruptions, lower associated costs, and a more predictable programme.
Alongside those efficiencies, the approach improves safety by reducing the complexity and frequency of ground-level crane operations in an active, congested construction environment. Better safety outcomes and greater programme certainty are direct results of this planning methodology.
This is consistent with how we approach all complex data centre construction projects: understanding the full operational picture early, and making decisions that deliver real value across time, cost, and safety.
