Elevator U Conference

Elevator U has announced its annual conference will be held at the Scheman Building at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, on June 17-20. A factory tour of Schumacher Elevator Co. in Denver, Iowa, will take place on June 18, and industry presentations will be made throughout June 18-20. A pre-conference golf outing on June 17 will also be held. For more information or to register, visit website: www.elevatoru.org.

Kings Iii Announces New Appointment, Employee Recognition

Kings III Emergency Communications recently announced the appointment of Howard Sanders as vice president of Operations. Sanders will oversee the Service and Installation and Central Station and Information Technology departments. Prior to joining Kings III, Sanders was vice president of Operations at MCS Fire and Security. During his time at MCS, Sanders oversaw all company operations, including engineering and design for fire and life-safety systems and the delivery of installation and

maintenance and repair services for new and existing clients. Sanders attended Louisiana State University.

In February, Kings III announced it honored Senior Technician Robby Hawthorne for his 20 years of service with the company. Hawthorne is based in Atlanta.

POPP Named to CCHRB

Lerch Bates Inc. has announced that Jay Popp, its executive vice president, international (ELEVATOR WORLD, April 2013), has been selected as a committee member of the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings (CCHRB). CCHRB is a not-for-profit organization that investigates problems or enhancements; supports research; and disseminates information for economic design, construction, operation and rehabilitation of high-rise buildings. Founded in 1970, it consists of about 80 architects, engineers, specialty consultants, building owners, building managers, general contractors, specialty contractors, representatives of professional organizations and members of the legal profession.

Popp has worked for Lerch Bates since 1977. His experience in elevator consulting has included roles in engineering, architectural coordination and consulting on projects around the world. He is currently involved with supertall projects throughout China, Asia, Russia, Turkey and the Middle East. Popp is an active member of the ASME A17.1 International Standards Code Committee and National Elevator Industry, Inc. and is the sitting president of the International Association of Elevator Consultants.

Popp remarked:

“I am so pleased to have been chosen as a committee member of the CCHRB. As buildings around the globe grow taller and taller, it is imperative that research, as well as our knowledge of all aspects of safety and design, are disseminated internationally to those involved in the building industry.”

Automatisation JRT Opens U.S. Office

Automatisation JRT Inc., an elevator-control manufacturer headquartered in Québec, Canada, has expanded its elevator division into the U.S. and partnered with Citadel Equipment Corp., its authorized American agent. Carl Faruolo, president of Citadel, will serve as an agent for JRT and is based in Cortlandt Manor, New York. Faruolo brings several years of elevator-industry experience with various drive, elevator and escalator manufacturers, as well as field experience. He holds a degree in Actuarial Science from Mercy College and obtained a QEI license in New Jersey.

Snapcab Announces New West Coast Office, Manager

   SnapCab has opened a new West Coast sales office in Tempe, Arizona. Eric Farah has joined the company as Business Development manager and will be responsible for sales in the 12 states in the West Coast territory. Prior to joining SnapCab, Farah served as vice president of Sales and Project Management for Jaz Elevator Products in Phoenix. Until now, SnapCab has handled its West Coast sales from its U.S. headquarters in Warrington, Pennsylvania. The new office will handle sales in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawaii.

Waterfront Development In New York City

Construction of the first phase of Hunter’s Point South Project in New York City recently started and is said to be the city’s largest affordable housing project since the 1970s. This phase will include two high-rise residential buildings, a school and a waterfront park. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, SHoP Architects and Ismael Leyva Architects designed the two buildings, which will be 32 and 37 stories.

Construction Spending Rebounds in February

Construction spending rebounded in February, with gains from the January levels in residential, private nonresidential and public investment, according to data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). However, associated officials suggest the rise will likely be short lived. According to AGC’s Chief Economist Ken Simonson, “There are increasing signs that 2013 will be a good year for a wide variety of project types.”

Construction put in place totaled US$885 billion in February, up 1.2% from its January level. The February 2013 level was up 7.9% compared to that of February 2012. Private residential construction climbed 2.2% for the month and 20% year over year. Private nonresidential spending increased 0.4% for the month and 6.1% year over year. Public construction spending rose 0.9% for the month but declined 1.5% over 12 months.

Pincus Moves To New Facilities

Pincus Elevator Co. has announced its move to a new headquarters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. A reported growth in maintenance accounts led to a necessary move to a larger service center, warehouse and office space. The new building’s space, at 7,000 sq. ft., more than doubles that of the company’s old building, which was also in West Chester. Pincus has stated revenue growth of more than 24% per year over the last three years.

Elevator Concepts By Wurtec: Year One

Elevator Concepts Ltd. by Wurtec celebrated its first anniversary this year, following a period of what the company calls “significant growth in sales and customer service.” In March 2012, Elevator Concepts Ltd. of Riverview, Michigan, announced it was becoming part of the Wurtec Inc. family. With more than 25 years of custom manufacturing experience, Wurtec offers tools for the modernization, installation and service departments to elevator companies around the world. Elevator Concepts has more than 150 years of combined industry experience and aims to assist clients with residential and limited-use/limited-application elevator needs. It sells a complete line of hydraulic and winding-drum elevators, and dumbwaiters.

Magnetek Announces New Website

Magnetek announced the launch of its new website (www.elevator drives.com) in April. Though the site contains the same address, the new version is intended to be easier to navigate and incorporates graphic displays. All related information, including brochures and manuals, is now located on each product page. In addition, the website is mobile optimized for smartphones and tablets. Magnetek’s online Elevator Drives Energy Savings Calculator and Drive Consultant portal for elevator consultants remain integral components of the website.

“We plan to add useful application information and technical tips to our website to help customers get the most out of our products and enhance elevator performance,” director of Magnetek’s elevator business Ed Butte said. “We also want to make sure building owners and property managers who visit our website understand the energy-saving benefits of our products.”

BIM Standards In Construction

Though many large companies have already implemented building information modeling (BIM) standards on a project-by-project basis, many industry members are considering adopting formal BIM standards across entire organizations, rather than just single projects. According to Construtech, creating the standards could allow organizations to standardize how data is accessed across all construction projects.

The New York City (NYC) Department of Buildings (DOB) and the Irvine Co. in Orange County, California, announced their efforts to implement BIM guidelines for future building projects. The NYC BIM guidelines target the project safety-review process, establishing a network of information contractors. Construction companies will be able to electronically submit information to expedite the plan-approval process and improve jobsite safety. Irvine Co. incorporated BIM standards to allow developers to have access to critical project information using project model data.

Downtown Brooklyn’s City Point Development

COOKFOX Architects of New York City has designed City Point, a 1.8- million-sq.-ft. mixed-use development in Downtown Brooklyn, New York. The project is to be built in three phases and encompass retail and office space, market-rate housing and a market hall. The formation of City Point is intended to create three residential towers, with areas between each tower being used as terraces and green spaces to promote sustainability.

The first phase features retail anchor One Dekalb and will be the area’s first new building on the Fulton Mall corridor in decades. Phase 2 construction began in March 2012 and will feature 225,000 gross sq. ft. of housing, a 335,000-gross-sq.-ft. residential tower and 660,000 gross sq. ft. of retail space to be connected to One Dekalb. Phase 2 will also feature a market hall. Phase 3 construction is expected to begin by June 2017 and include approximately 600,000 sq. ft. of office and residential space. In addition, phase 3 will feature City Point’s tallest building.