A special event is held; updates on Hudson Yards and introductions to other major projects.

New Faces, Old Friends at NEII® Field Safety Committee Meeting

A rare New York City (NYC) meeting of The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) Field Safety Committee was held recently, drawing a larger-than-usual crowd and bringing together new members and old friends. Bobby Rodriguez of Otis brought along Kevin Dix as a new member. Dix is senior manager of Otis’ Environmental, Health & Safety division out of Chicago.

John Connolly from Massachusetts represented thyssenkrupp in place of Larry Leadingham, and John Faure of Mitsubishi Electric attended for Ivan Andrews. Andrew Ramautar, representing Draka Elevator Products/Prysmian Group, was also a new face. Regulars in attendance were Chairman Corey Ward, KONE; Fred Wilk, Schindler; Travis Groh, MEI Total Elevator Solutions; Ray Downs, TEI Group; NEII Secretary Kevin Brinkman; and ELEVATOR WORLD Publisher and Editor Ricia Sturgeon-Hendrick.

The group meets quarterly to review serious and fatal accidents in the industry and discuss ways such accidents could be prevented. They also edit the Elevator Industry Field Employees’ Safety Handbook, which is distributed at a rate of 15,000-20,000 a year. At this meeting, it was noted that every company has safety cards listing their top eight-10 safety rules. Attendees agreed to combine the rules so all companies have the most important “top 10.” The next meeting is scheduled for November 15 in Chicago.

Infusion of Cash Fuels 35 Hudson Yards

A US$1.2-billion loan from London’s Children’s Investment Fund (CIF) to Related Cos. and Oxford Properties Group is fueling construction of the fifth building in the Hudson Yards development on the far West Side, 35 Hudson Yards (EW, April and October 2014), Crain’s New York Business reported. Designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the building is scheduled to open in 2019. It will stand 1,000 ft. tall, span 1.1 million sq. ft. and house approximately 140 condominiums, a high-end fitness center (Equinox, which Related owns) and a 200-room hotel. CIF also provided financing for 15 Hudson Yards, which, along with 35 Hudson Yards, are two of several residential towers Related and Oxford plan to build.

Financial District Supertall Plan Includes Subway Elevators

Plans for a mixed-use, 64-story supertall building at 45 Broad Street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan include a pair of subway elevators, New York YIMBY reported. Designed by CetraRuddy, the tower rises more than 1,100 ft. and is being developed by Madison Equities, Pizzarotti-IBC and AMS Acquisitions. It will include approximately 150 residences and is slated for completion in 2018. The elevators will not be connected to the building, but are being done in tandem, with oversight by Urbahn Architects. They will be located on the southwest and northeast corners of Broad Street and Exchange Place and enhance subway accessibility in a location where the closest such elevators are six blocks away.

Jersey City Plan Grows, Gets Height Bump

Kushner Cos.’ One Journal Square in Jersey City, New Jersey (NJ), was originally intended to be a pair of 50-story buildings but has morphed into 56- and 79-story towers, the shorter of which is under construction, New York YIMBY reported. Together, One Journal Square will house more than 1,700 residential units in the structures designed by Woods Bagot. There will also be retail, office and parking space. With the 56-story building projected to be complete in 2018, the project promises to be among the tallest on the growing Journal Square skyline. No timeframe was given for the taller building.

Jersey City Residential Skyscraper Moving Forward

With more than US$155.83 million in financing in hand, Ironstate Development and Panepinto Properties have begun construction of a 50-story, 539-unit residential tower at 90 Christopher Columbus Drive in Jersey City, NJ, New York YIMBY reported. It is the final phase of a development that includes another 50-story residential tower and a 12-story Marriott hotel. The apartments will be rentals, and the development includes amenities such as a pool, library and children’s play area. Gwathmey, Siegel, Kaufman and Associates is the architect. The building is slated for completion in 2018.

Schindler Contract Builds upon MARTA Partnership

Schindler has been awarded a multimillion-U.S.-dollar contract by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), building upon a relationship that began more than three decades ago. To take place over the next 10 years, the contract entails modernization and maintenance of 109 elevators and 116 escalators in 38 stations in the system, the eighth-largest in the U.S. Schindler observes its past work for MARTA has resulted in elevator and escalator availability of more than 98%. The latest work involves 74 escalators being outfitted with the InTruss modernization package designed to enhance reliability, efficiency and sustainability with minimal downtime. All equipment will be remotely monitored 24/7.

Marriott Rises in NYC’s Financial District

A 39-story, 396-ft.-tall Courtyard & Residence Inn by Marriott had reached three stories in the Financial District of NYC by late July, with completion expected in summer 2017, New York YIMBY reported. Located at 215 Pearl Street, the hotel is expected to have more than 300 rooms on floors five through 37 and 165,655 sq. ft. in all. Retail will be on the ground floor, and guest amenities include a rooftop garden. The project is being developed by Lam Group, and Nobutaka Ashihara Architect is the architect of record.

LIC Project Blends Hotel, Apartments in Style

Long Island City (LIC) is now home to a 31-story structure that blends a hotel and apartments in the form of 29-11 Queens Plaza North, New York YIMBY reported. Designed by Handel Architects, the development consists of an east-facing tower and a slightly shorter west-facing tower fitting snugly next to one another. The 160-room Marriott Courtyard LIC occupies lower floors with the approximately 135 residences making up Aurora LIC starting on the 15th floor. Together, the Marriott and Aurora occupy 240,000 sq. ft. The bulk of the building is encased in a sheer, setback-free slab with blue, reflective glass. The developer was Harry Gross’ G-Holdings.

30-Story Residential Building to Replace Pre-War NYC Apartments

Icon Realty has demolished six pre-war NYC apartment buildings on Second Avenue between East 80th and 81st Streets, where it plans to build a 30-story tower housing approximately 60 residences, New York YIMBY reported. There will be one to four residences on each floor that average 3,168 sq. ft. Due to the units’ large size, condominiums are anticipated. Retail is planned for 8,945 sq. ft. on the ground floor of what is now known as 301 East 80th Street. The building is also set to contain significant amenities.