Bespoke Birdcage Lift

A division of Nationwide Lifts, Artisan Elevators delivers artful residential vertical-transportation solution in New York.  

photos courtesy of Nationwide Lifts

For 20 years, Nationwide Lifts has supplied elevator and lift products across the U.S. and Canada. Founded by brothers Andy and Tom Darnley and headquartered in Queensbury, NY, the company has sustained growth through franchise offices across the U.S. and an affiliate program, which creates a partnership between seasoned elevator companies and Nationwide Lifts to provide a common product line. In 2017, the company began manufacturing operations, making the Freedom Series elevators, as well as the Artisan Elevator line. 

To bring to life its most daring and demanding custom elevator requests, Nationwide Lifts opened a design and manufacturing facility in Syracuse, NY. Employing an in-house team of electrical and mechanical engineers and skilled craftsmen, the Artisan Elevators division produces distinctive, ultra-luxury elevators as dreamed up by customers. With a focus on fusing Old World-style artisanry with high-tech equipment, the company has launched several patents since the facility’s opening in 2018.

Recently, Artisan Elevators was approached by a client who wanted a three-stop residential elevator that would become the centerpiece of her home in Chester, NY (approximately 60 mi north of NYC). This lift would need to be a work of art that blended seamlessly into the home’s interior while ascending from a basement bar and movie theater to a grand entry and, finally, reaching the upper balcony. In collaboration with the client, Artisan Elevators designed a custom birdcage pattern featuring repeating the fleur-de-lis in a variety of sizes.

On a functional level, the lift was designed with a sling similar to a commercial elevator (with rails straddling the cab rather than a cantilever system), ensuring a smooth and balanced ride. The hoistway was framed by steel and aluminum extrusions and steel decorative panels backed by laminated safety glass. These artistic panels discreetly housed the motor gearbox, drums and overspeed governor. Two-speed sliding doors complete with matching pattern and finish were designed for the cab and landings. Following the bespoke engineering and fabrication process, the client received an Artisan Birdcage winding drum cable elevator that doubles as a functional piece of art.