In the heart of downtown Chicago, construction often requires more than technical skill. It requires creativity, coordination, patience, and an understanding of how to work safely in spaces that never truly slow down.
Berglund Construction recently had the opportunity to lead one of those projects with subcontractor Twin Oaks Landscaping. It reminds us just how unique this industry can be: planting mature trees in a well-known downtown plaza, using cranes to carefully hand deliver each tree into place.
Set against the backdrop of Chicago’s busy streets, active sidewalks, surrounding high-rises, and daily pedestrian traffic, this was not a typical landscape installation. It was a highly coordinated effort that required our crews to think through every detail, from access and staging to rigging, communication, safety, and final placement.
The footage captures the kind of work that often happens quietly behind the scenes but deserves to be celebrated. A mature tree, root ball wrapped and secured, is lifted from the street by crane and guided through a tight urban environment. Below, Berglund tradespeople work with focus and precision, helping maneuver the tree safely into its new home within the plaza. Every movement matters. Every hand signal, every lift, every adjustment is part of a larger plan.
Working in a dense downtown environment presents its own set of challenges. Space is limited. Public safety is our top priority. Equipment access must be carefully managed. Deliveries need to be timed, staged, and executed without disrupting the surrounding area more than necessary. Unlike an open jobsite, downtown plaza work requires construction teams to operate within a living, moving city.
That is where our tradespeople and trade partners excel.