Reimagining Work

It seems we are still not moving back to the office. According to The Wall Street Journal, we have hit a high nationwide of 44% occupancy during the pandemic era. Some cities are lower — NYC was 41.2% in June. Rarely, however, are conversions (from office space to apartments) the answer. The cost of real estate in cities like NYC make conversions unprofitable. However, there is growth of conversions in Tier 2 and 3 cities and co-working providers taking over empty floors in brand-new buildings. Indian philanthropist and businesswoman Dr. Malini Saba says, “Leaders in a variety of industries are reimagining the nature of work and the role of the office in inventive and audacious ways.” Clearly, these changes will affect the vertical-transportation (VT) industry.

This issue is one of our largest of the year. It will go to the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) 73rd Annual Convention & 2022 Exposition in September and has a section that touts activities in Louisville and the upcoming two-day exhibition. Also, we welcome two new writers: Vong Keovongsa, who will be writing about management and leadership on a regular basis, and Åsa Christina Magnusson beginning a four-part series, Rise: The Untapped Potential of Women in the Elevator Industry. This fascinating study looks to be a driver of change. Magnusson will also be speaking at NAEC on this subject.

We focus this month on Architectural Materials and Design.

• Empowering Mechanics by Michelle Rose. SnapCab is offering an online learning platform for remodeling elevators. The class is self-paced, and can help contractors and building managers with updates that customers will notice.
• Innovation Through Design by Triantafyllos Fournaris. KLEEMANN collaborated with a world-famous car designer to create three styles of cabs using different materials in each.
• Accessible and Avant-Garde by Helena Calado. The San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, has won architectural awards and earned LEED sustainable building certification. TK Elevator provided accessibility solutions especially adapted for heavy traffic for the landmark.
• London (and Beyond) Calling by Kaija Wilkinson. These submissions to our photo contest show the vast beauty of the entries that didn’t win, but feature architecture that dazzles from London to Philly to Bangladesh.

Aside from the upcoming NAEC event, we report on several other events and visits:

• Here, Experienced and Ready for Business by John Koshak. Five members of the International Association of Elevator Consultants attended and had a booth at BOMA International in Nashville. A great number of visitors didn’t know about the organization, so it was an excellent introduction.
• A Dynamic, Promising Way by Bülent Yılmaz. Ascen-tec fair in Athens, Greece, was a beautiful and well-attended exhibition. Many in the Greek VT industry greeted visitors, and experts exchanged views on the many topics of importance to all.
• In Poised for Growth by T. Bruce MacKinnon, check out the interview with the new president of Draka EHC, Richard Parvesse, who has been with Draka 20 years. The wide-ranging discussion went from working during COVID-19 and the merger of EHC Global and Draka to an interesting outlook on private equity.

Last and very important, we have Product of the Year. The VT industry has always excelled at developing new products to adjust to circumstances and move the industry forward. This is the second year we will award a prize to the product you vote to be the most inventive or important. Vote between September 27 and October 31. It’s in your hands!

We hope you enjoy this thought-provoking issue.