Getting Creative

Vantage supplies VT equipment for a royal redo at La Gorce Palace.

by Daniel Baltzegar
photos courtesy of Vantage Elevator Solutions 

La Gorce Palace Condominium is situated right on the shore of the bright blue waters of the Atlantic in the Mid-Beach area of Miami Beach, Florida. The bright blue glass windows adorning this 34-story tower almost seem to mimic the color of the ocean, making La Gorce Palace a sight to behold.

Completed in 1996, the building’s original vertical-transportation (VT) equipment was Dover TIV Traflomatic controllers with geared machines. In early 2020, La Gorce Palace began its search for consultants to provide scope and budgeting for the modernization of four traction elevators to begin in 2021. 

Almost all the major equipment needed to be replaced, including controllers, machines, fixtures, door equipment and cab interiors. Due to the condominium’s proximity to the water and surrounding buildings, a crane was not permitted to hoist the equipment to the roof. Therefore, companies had to be creative during the bidding process. In the end, Suncoast Elevator was awarded the project due to its package solution, ability to work out the logistical challenges and positive reputation in the market. 

Suncoast Elevator chose Vantage Elevator Solutions as its complete package supplier and engineering partner. Vantage provided four Hollister-Whitney GL260 gearless machines with 350 ft/min travel speed. EC Pixel AC controllers with Regen drives were also chosen for the project. 

Because using a crane was not possible, special rigging had to be designed and built on the rooftop by Thomas Weeks, founder and president of TW Elevator Solutions. Utilizing structural steel and I-beams, this special rigging allowed Suncoast to use the existing elevators to haul controllers and machines up to the top floor, where protection was built for the floors and walls. Once the equipment was brought to the rooftop, the special rigging allowed the equipment to be “hopscotched” in two different points on the roof at different elevations and safely swung into the machine room. 

Suncoast performed the project with extreme care and professionalism. As a complete turnkey project, the contractor also was responsible for meeting electrical and fire service requirements along with replacing all wiring, controllers, machines and governors in the machine room. In the hoistway, all door equipment was replaced with GAL Manufacturing products, utilizing the MOVFR™ operator. Traveling cable, hoistway wire, hoist and governor cables were also replaced. In the elevator cab, MAD Elevator car operating panel touchscreens were installed, as well as MAD hall fixtures. Custom cab interiors were designed, manufactured and installed by Vasile Elevator of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.