Modernization Across Industries

In this Company Spotlight, VTX describes its work with retail, higher-education and government clients.

According to reports, the nearly US$15-billion global market of elevators, escalators and moving walks is anticipated to grow by 4.3% in the next eight years. In many locations, builders with limited real estate are building taller-than-ever structures.

Simply put, the demand for vertical transportation (VT) is on the rise.

Vertical Transportation Excellence (VTX) helps meet that demand by focusing on design, construction, modernization and maintenance of elevators, escalators and moving walks. The company is a division of Gannett Fleming, Inc., and regularly collaborates with the multidisciplinary services of the global infrastructure firm. With more than 60 offices across the globe, Gannett Fleming provides solutions for a broad range of industries including facilities, transportation, earth sciences/natural resources, geospatial, water and power. All VTX personnel are certified inspectors. VTX is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Our team has created solutions in sectors such as retail, higher education and historic government buildings.

VTX is our preferred contractor, and we are very happy with the work it has produced for us over the years. Richard Hart, King of Prussia mall manager

Retail

Boasting more than 450 merchants in a 2.9-million-sq.- ft. retail hub, King of Prussia holds the title of largest shopping mall in the U.S. VT within this Philadelphia-area mall is critical so 20 million annual shoppers can move through the building easily and quickly.

When mall owner Simon Property Group faced various elevator and escalator issues, they trusted 10-year partner VTX to develop a proactive preventive-maintenance program that addressed the problems at hand with unique designs and contractor oversight, and put a plan in place to keep equipment fully functioning for years to come. VTX also provided design services for 66 new elevators and escalators as part of the mall’s recent US$150-million expansion project involving the addition of a 155,000-sq.- ft. connection between the Plaza and Court sections. King of Prussia Mall Manager Robert Hart said:

“Our staff values our longstanding partnership with VTX. The company professionally manages our elevators and escalators by providing oversight of repairs, capital projects and upgrades. VTX is our preferred contractor, and we are very happy with the work it has produced for us over the years.”

Higher Education

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is home to nearly 70,000 students and more than 22,500 faculty and staff. Equipment and information moves quickly between its more than 300 research centers and institutes statewide. Not only is it the largest institution of higher education in New Jersey, it is also the eighth-oldest university in the country.

The preservation of both the university’s historic character and its modern, fast pace converge around the school’s VT. VTX provides design and elevator maintenance contract specifications for nearly 400 elevator and escalator units across the university’s campuses in New Brunswick, Newark and Camden. VTX has continuously provided modernized designs for 10 years, giving even the historic buildings of the campuses up-to-date equipment, and is on call to address issues immediately, helping prevent the interruption of classes and events.

Prior to the start of the project, VTX also served as a witness for Berks County as it successfully sought an injunction to require the previous service provider to return a proprietary tool critical to servicing the equipment.

Modernization Meets Historic Venue

With only one working elevator in the Berks County, Pennsylvania, courthouse complex, county officials came to VTX in need of a comprehensive design, development, construction and procurement plan. VTX and Gannett Fleming provided design and construction administration consulting services for the modernization of 18 traction and hydraulic elevators. The conjoined annex, services and courthouse buildings feature refurbished and reused fixtures to preserve the complex’s historic look and feel.

Prior to the start of the project, VTX also served as a witness for Berks County as it successfully sought an injunction to require the previous service provider to return a proprietary tool critical to servicing the equipment. The project resulted in increased reliability and performance of the elevators in all three buildings.

Since VTX’s founding in 2000, the company has developed long-lasting relationships with clients across the nation. From retail to higher education to historic government buildings, VTX has worked in various markets, modernizing equipment for clients and improving equipment safety.