BCI Construction To Build Glass Elevator At Walkway

BCI Construction Inc. in Albany, New York, plans to build a 20-story glass elevator at the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge in Poughkeepsie, New York. The elevator will carry passengers from the bridge’s base to its deck. According to The Business Review, the 8-ft.-by-10-ft. elevator cab will be framed with glass and supported by a 220-ft.-tall steel tower. The project is expected to be completed in the fall.

Briand, Anderson Join Alps Wire Rope

Alps Wire Rope Corp. has announced the addition of two employees. Mike Briand will serve as district sales manager for the Mid Atlantic and Northeast. Briand has 32 years of wire-rope experience and previously worked at Wire Rope Industries and Yoke as vice president of sales in North America.

   Natosha Anderson has also joined the company and will serve as a customer service representative. Prior to being hired by Alps, Anderson worked in a similar position for a hearing-aid manufacturer. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Benedictine University in Lilse, Illinois.

Thyssenkrupp Elevator Acquires Amco

ThyssenKrupp Elevator has acquired all assets of AMCO Elevator Co., headquartered in Indianapolis. AMCO has provided elevator maintenance, repair, installations and modernization since 1965, and has offices in Richmond, Columbus, Bloomington, Terre Haute, Lafayette, Marion, Kokomo and Muncie, all in Indiana.

Phoenix Modular Equips Medical Center

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracted Phoenix Modular Elevator (PME) to supply a modular elevator for its two-story outpatient medical clinic in Fayetteville, North Carolina. According to PME, the building modules were set first, with an opening left for the elevator. The elevator meets all VA-required specifications, including stainless-steel radiused entrances and an auxiliary car-operating panel. In addition, PME installed flooring in the elevator car that matches that of the lobby area. The elevator’s exterior was finished to match the building’s brick exterior and included a roof to tie the structures together.

Snapcab Hires Former Cemcolift Employees

Elevator manufacturer CemcoLift was sold to Minnesota Elevator Inc. in September 2012. Approximately 96 workers were left unemployed from the CemcoLift headquarters, outside Philadelphia, following the transaction. Elevator-interior-system manufacturer SnapCab, located in nearby Warrington, Pennsylvania, recruited three former CemcoLift employees: Brian Godshall (business development manager), Jake Brensinger (project manager) and Greg Tressler (project manager).

Godshall started in the elevator industry in 1998 as a draftsman/project manager with CemcoLift. He designed and quoted elevators throughout his 14-year career with the company. Godshall supervised the commercial engineering group, and, most recently, managed the commercial sales and jacks department. Brensinger was a commercial sales estimator for modernization at CemcoLift. During his five years at the company, he was responsible for reviewing new projects with engineers, architects, elevator installers and building owners. Tressler was part of the special engineering group at CemcoLift. He was responsible for project management and design for large and custom projects during his nearly eight years with the company. Tressler also designed and drafted shop drawings, as well as approved drawings for nonstandard products.

Dallas’ The Berkshire Under Renovation

In January, building leaser Transwestern announced The Berkshire at Preston Center is undergoing a US$2.8-million renovation. Built in 1984, The Berkshire is a 185,000-sq.-ft., Class-A office building at the corner of Berkshire Lane and the Dallas North Tollway. A US$1.3-million elevator touchscreen control-panel system for each of its eight elevators is included. Fujitec America is installing the Janus Elevator Products T2 control panels, which not only operate the elevators, but also provide access to news, weather, stock reports and live television (ELEVATOR WORLD, May 2012). A ribbon-cutting ceremony and champagne toast celebrated the opening of the first of the eight elevator cabs. The remaining cabs are expected to be completed by this summer.

The remaining US$1.5 million of the renovation is for the main lobby, exterior and garage. The design concept was made by Staffelbach, and SCOTT + REID General Contractors is performing the improvements, scheduled to be completed later this year. The Berkshire is ENERGY STAR rated and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified.

UPTOWN CHARLOTTE BUILDING BOOM

In January, Childress Klein Properties announced plans to begin construction on its 22-story luxury apartment tower in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. The 352-unit complex, which has not yet been named, will be located in the Third Ward and marks uptown’s first high rise to be built as apartments. The units will sit atop six levels of structured parking, and an amenity center will be located on the seventh floor.

Childress Klein has developed numerous properties throughout the Charlotte area since 1979. Atlanta-based Novare and Charlotte-based Grubb Properties also announced plans to build a 23-story high-rise in Fourth Ward. However, construction dates have not been set. Other developers have also announced ideas for new residential buildings in the Charlotte area. According to the Charlotte Center City Partners, uptown is expected to have 16,000 residents by 2015, up from the current 14,495.

EECO Opens Northeast Office

In January, Elevator Equipment Corp. (EECO) announced it opened an office in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, to enhance sales and customer support in the Northeast. The office will be staffed by Operations Manager Bill Payton, along with Chris Herrmann and Joe Alosi, all formerly with CemcoLift.

Payton has nearly 40 years of elevator experience, from field operations to engineering to management. He has spent the last 20 years working with CemcoLift as manager of Field Services, concentrating in Elevator Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering and R&D.

Herrmann has more than 37 years of experience in field support, manufacturing and engineering with structural designs, mechanical assemblies, hydraulic systems and components. He is expected to utilize his 25 years at CemcoLift to support more efficient production methods.

Alosi brings 38 years of experience in custom elevator manufacturing, including fabrication, project coordination, engineering and design to EECO. At CemcoLift, he designed substantial projects for ease of installation with both standard and custom elevator systems.

Jovicic Joins Peelle

Vesna Jovicic has joined the Peelle Co. and will serve as a Lean manager. Peelle has used Lean tools for nearly 10 years to improve its products and internal processes. Jovicic holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and MSc in Industrial Engineering. Jovicic began her career as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Belgrade in Serbia. Later, she worked in the automotive industry. Jovicic has held various positions throughout her career, including Quality and Manufacturing, as well as managerial positions.

Schindler Receives Annual Aia Award

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) New Jersey Annual Design Awards Program has given Schindler a 2012 Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture for the renovation of its North American headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey. Schindler was one of 11 companies recognized, and its renovation was the only interior project selected for an award in 2012. The design program aims to bring public and professional recognition to architectural projects exhibiting design excellence.

Schindler purchased the building, which had not been updated in more than 12 years, in 2009. The renovation was designed by Joseph Tattoni of ikon.5 architects with energy efficiency and productivity in mind. This is Schindler’s third honor for its renovation. The company also received a 2012 Alternate Energy First Place Award for its solar installation project from Building Owners & Managers Association New Jersey and the America’s Best Building of the Year Award from Buildings.

A17 Standards Committee Members Recognized

During the A17 Standards Committee meeting held on January 9 in Las Vegas, five outgoing working-committee chairmen were recognized for their exemplary service. The following members were awarded: Julian Shull, A17.5/B44.1 Elevator and Escalator Electrical Equipment Committee; George Gibson, Mechanical Design Committee; Andy Juhasz, Electrical Committee; Marcus Tevyaw, Inspections Committee; and Zack McCain, Maintenance and Repair Replacement Committee.

MEI Opens Factory In Philadelphia

  Minnesota Elevator, Inc. (MEI) opened a new facility in Philadelphia in January to better serve the elevator industry in the Northeast U.S. and Canada. The facility will manufacture both dry and submersible power units, stock elevator parts and serve as a distribution center for specific elevator packages. Paul Smyth has accepted the position as the Northeast Regional manager. Smyth’s previous positions at MEI include director of Supply Chain and Traction Product Line manager.    