How To Manage A Construction Project During The Superstructure

How to Manage a Construction Project During the Superstructure Phase

Managing the superstructure phase of a construction project requires sharp focus, careful planning, and an experienced team. In this blog, I’m going to walk you through six key considerations that should be top of mind as your project begins to go vertical—whether you’re working with steel or concrete.

This phase is about more than just building upward—it’s about doing it efficiently, safely, and in a way that sets the rest of the project up for success. Let’s break it down:

1. Hoisting:
   You can’t go vertical without a solid plan for hoisting. This includes your crane, buck hoist, material and labor hoists, and even the setup for your concrete pump—whether that’s direct access or a slick line system. If you can’t get your people and materials up the building efficiently, your productivity is at risk. Start with early design planning. You can never be too early in designing the foundation for the crane and hoist. Ensure you’ve mapped out the crane reach, foundation capacities, and pump locations.
2. Fall Protection:
   Fall protection is non-negotiable. Your hoists, cranes, and pump access routes must be safely guarded. Every floor needs complete fall protection systems, and exterior work zones must include perimeter netting. Safety for both workers and the public is critical.
3. Plumb, Level & Elevation Control:
   It’s shockingly easy for a building to grow narrower or wider as it rises floor by floor. To avoid misalignment, you must always reference level one when checking plumb and elevation. Don’t just go level-to-level with a laser; that’ll create cumulative errors. Use an automatic level, check every corner, and transfer elevations properly—ideally chained to a fixed point like a column or tower crane.
4. Logistics: People & Materials:
   Getting workers and materials to the right location—at the right time—is essential. In high-rises, transporting workers can take time. Consider holding multiple huddles on different levels and provide upper-floor restrooms and break areas. Coordinate crane and hoist schedules daily to avoid delays and ensure smooth material delivery.
5. Embeds & Anchor Bolts:
   You can’t afford to mess up here. Whether it’s a steel or concrete structure, embeds and anchor bolts must be in the correct locations. If they aren’t, you’ll delay curtain walls, canopies, rooftop structures, and more—and rack up costs. Maintain tight quality control and check every embed and bolt as you go.
6. Tracking Releases & Finishing as You Go:
   Track when areas are ready for interiors or façade work. You typically need to release reshores before starting work on lower levels. But that doesn’t help if your site is still a mess. That’s why “finish as you go” is crucial. Clean floors. Patch columns. Scrape ceilings. Remove leftover materials. Don’t let your concrete or steel contractors leave a trail of chaos. A clean, finished structure enables seamless transitions into the next phases.

Final Thoughts:
Superstructure is the phase of hoisting. It’s also the phase where precision, logistics, and finishing habits make or break the project. If you manage these six areas well, you’ll not only stay on track—you’ll excel.