“Axess” for a “Landmark”

Family-owned company creates bespoke lift serving office and event space in a historic former school.

Bespoke glass lifts are a specialty of Axess 2 Ltd., a family-owned business based in Clitheroe, Lancashire. So, the company embraced the challenges involved in designing, manufacturing and installing a panoramic glass lift for an iconic building in Burnley, Lancashire — a building dating to the 1870s for a school dating to 1558. Formerly Burnley Grammar School, The Landmark on School Lane was transformed into a flexible, contemporary space for small businesses and entrepreneurs by Burnley businessman Mark Crabtree, founder of the Oscar-winning audio giant AMS Neve and recipient of the Order of the British Empire honour.

The Landmark offers high-quality, affordable office space, flexible coworking memberships and pay-as-you- go hotdesking options as part of its Business Club. Members also have access to meeting rooms, conference facilities and a fully-licensed café/bar.

Specialists Axess 2 were brought in to carry out the lift work at The Landmark, performing design, installation and handover to the client in September 2020. “We used our own design lift structure manufactured by Axess 2, and sourced and installed the glass ourselves,” Darren Cardwell, sales and marketing representative, said. “We did use a specialized glass crane, and a supervisor from a glass-installation company gave us advice on the installation.” Additional features include:

• Doppler S.A. system with Sicor gearless motor and Gefran drive
• 13-person, 1000-kg capacity
• 1 m/s speed
• Disability Discrimination Act-compliant cabin and buttons According to The Landmark General

Manager Liz Wilkinson, phase one opened in February 2018 with the launch of the Business Club, which provides flexible coworking space, private office space, meeting areas and conference rooms. Phase two, she said, will create a multipurpose venue to host events such as weddings and conferences. To take shape in the oldest part of the building, dating to 1870, it is due to open later this year.

“ The external glass lift ticked those boxes by blending seamlessly into the gothic architecture of the building.” the landmark general manager Liz Wilkinson

Though largely unused due to pandemic-related lockdowns, The Landmark remained open for business for tenants and members whose staffs could not work from home.

Axess 2’s client, The Landmark, had to submit plans for the lift shaft prior to installation, Cardwell said. Wilkinson added that since the structure is Grade II-listed, any work performed must complement — not mar — the original building. “The external glass lift ticked those boxes by blending seamlessly into the Gothic architecture of the building,” she said.

The uninterrupted glass panels on the exterior sides of the passenger lift provide an unobstructed view of the town centre landscape, with bespoke LED lighting inside adding an extra

“wow” factor, Axess 2 Marketing Manager Nathan Massey observed. He said The Landmark was an exciting project for all involved, and that the company enjoyed bringing its design solutions to the scheme to ensure the lift was consistent with its surroundings. Massey said:

“It was important that the addition of the lift was in keeping with the building, and the glass exterior and minimal steel certainly achieve that. Inside, the lift is spacious and airy, while the glass panels make the most of the views from The Landmark. We work closely with all our clients to ensure that they receive a bespoke service which suits their requirements. In this case, we were able to deliver a contemporary, practical solution to provide access from ground level to the first floor of this iconic building.”

When the building fully reopens, Axess 2 plans to install an air-purifier in the lift system.