Elevator World New York April Newsletter

Volume 62 | April 2024

ELEVATOR WORLD New York is EW's free monthly newsletter focusing on vertical-transportation news in the Greater New York Region. Contact the EW Editorial Department to submit news or the EW Advertising Department to advertise and reach more than 5,000 subscribers in the New York area.

April 2024

ECNY SUPPLIER SHOWCASE "BEST ONE EVER," WITH A FEW SURPRISES

From a supplier's perspective, the Elevator Conference of New York (ECNY) Supplier Showcase on April 10 at Villa Barone Manor in the Bronx was the "best one ever," according to FIELDBOSS President Jonathan Taub. "Booth traffic was consistent throughout the day, with a mix of both prospects and existing customers," he said. "There was a noticeable upbeat energy, as contractors are generally quite busy, but seemed to enjoy a break at a nice venue with a buffet lunch and lots of friends to catch up with." Showcase organizer Bobby "Bobby Dee" Francesco tells ELEVATOR WORLD there were 87 exhibitors and more than 800 visitors at the showcase for its 23rd year. "It's hard to believe that we've been doing it for this long," De Francesco said. "I think people are fully coming back after a few slow years. It's a good year for New York." Along with their latest products and innovations, companies continued to offer the goodies for which the Showcase has become known — Mongrain Vertical Transport's hand-rolled cigars, of course, but also a few surprises. FIELDBOSS/Rimrock Corp. Marketing Coordinator and freelance illustrator Jacque Armijo created a wonderful promotional card with FIELDBOSS information on one side and "ECNY Legend" Bobby Dee on the other. The card even had a place for an autograph. "It was hilarious!" De Francesco said. "I was walking around, and every exhibitor had one. People were coming up to get my autograph. I started to think somebody was setting me up for something!"

Bobby Dee, front, with Frank Mazeski, Justin Phoomahal and Paul Sickler of Benfield Electric

An upbeat energy permeated the event. Seen here is VDA Vice President Rob Castellano.

(l-r) FIELDBOSS/Rimrock Marketing Coordinator and illustrator Jacque Armijo and Jonathan Taub at the FIELDBOSS booth with the Bobby Dee illustration

IN MEMORIAM: JOHN FICHERA

John Fichera, co-founder of NYC-based TEI Group, passed away on April 3 surrounded by family at his home in Moorestown, New Jersey. Fichera built a successful career in the elevator industry, starting as a helper after high school and eventually helping launch TEI. Given his need to always be productive, his retirement in 2016 was short-lived: He quickly returned to the industry as a part-time consultant until his diagnosis with bile duct cancer. Nothing was more important to Fichera than family, and he spent his final days poring over paperwork to ensure his children and grandchildren would find stability and peace in his absence. "They couldn't have asked for a better father, grandfather, mentor and friend," his obituary stated. Fichera was predeceased by the love of his life — his wife, Donna. Survivors include children, Tina, Michael and Angelo; his mother, Patricia; brother, Jeffrey; and five grandchildren. TEI stated:

"The elevator industry has suffered a huge loss. John started his path in the industry at Archer Elevator in 1979 under the leadership of Edward L. Bonardi. Then, a decade later, he joined a small elevator company. As executive vice president of modernization and TEI partner, his dedication and stubborn drive to succeed helped transform this small elevator company into the TEI Group that you know today. Along the way, he made lifelong friends. John was a family man, an elevator man, a man who cared about his community and a friend. He gave the industry 40 years, including 27 at TEI Group, and we will spend more than a lifetime remembering him."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that anyone who knew Fichera commit one very intentional act of generosity, whether it benefits a friend, stranger or charitable organization. In other words, simply put a dose or two of good into the world, and think about him for a minute.

Images courtesy of TEI Group; In the photo on the right are (l-r) Fichera, TEI Executive Vice President Michael Staub and TEI President Mark Gregorio.

NORTH AMERICAN ELEVATOR COMPLETING MAJOR ELEVATOR INSTALL AT BRONX LOGISTICS CENTER

North American Elevator, headquartered in Linden, New Jersey, is wrapping up a US$6-million elevator install at the 1.2 million-ft² Bronx Logistics Center, a five-story industrial building in the Hunts Point area. The property was designed by ARCO Design/Build Industrial and developed by Turnbridge Equities, New York YIMBY reported upon its topping out in late 2022. Amazon occupies 568,500 ft² of the facility, a deal reported by outlets including the Commercial Observer in November 2022. The installation consists of 10 elevators with Imperial Gearless machines, four of which are high-speed gearless units. North American Elevator owner Tommy Curran served as project manager. Bronx Logistics Center boasts expansive warehouse floors accessed nearly 800 ft from one another through separate entrances and the greatest availability of parking in the market. Look for an upcoming feature story in ELEVATOR WORLD.

Aerial rendering of the Bronx Logistics Center; image courtesy of Turnbridge Equities and ARCO Design/Build Industrial

EXP TO PROVIDE DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES FOR MTA ESCALATOR-REPLACEMENT PROJECT

EXP Services P.C., a global engineering, architecture, design and consulting firm, has been selected with lead contractor Skanska to perform design-build services for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) replacement of 21 escalators throughout the city. Set to run through February 2027, the US$146-million endeavor includes the replacement of 21 escalators across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. It also includes the replacement of escalator machine-room equipment. In announcing the contract in March, EXP observed the project "marks a significant collaboration between EXP and one of the nation's largest transportation authorities." EXP teams consist of technical project management experts with decades of experience both globally and locally in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, station rehab, program/project management, construction services, public involvement, civil engineering, transportation planning, engineering, design and sustainability. As the lead designer, EXP will be responsible for all phases of design in collaboration with all disciplines. Throughout the project's construction, temporary stair handrails and guardrails, in compliance with ADA requirements, will be installed. The project consists of the removal of one escalator at the 51st Street station and replacement of the following:

Two escalators at the Park Place station
One escalator each at the High Street and Franklin Avenue stations
10 escalators at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station
Six escalators at the 21st Street-Queensbridge station

WSP TAPS YAGHOBI TO LEAD VT DEPARTMENT

WSP USA, part of WSP, a global provider of engineering, environment and professional services, has tapped Sean Yaghobi as vertical-transportation (VT) department manager. Based at WSP USA's NYC office, Yaghobi will be responsible for delivering design, construction and testing/commissioning services for VT design on WSP projects including airport terminals, government buildings and more. In addition to supporting the full VT project life cycle, he will drive strategic growth of WSP's VT business as part of the firm's Northeast Transportation and Infrastructure business management team. Yaghobi has more than 20 years' VT experience in manufacturing, construction and engineering services. He has successfully delivered VT for the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building in Washington, D.C.; and the U.S. Postal Service. Additionally, he has worked on rail, transit, government and building projects in major cities throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East. Yaghobi holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering and is a licensed elevator/escalator inspector with the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities.

SIX NEW ELEVATORS AT TWO BROOKLYN STATIONS MARK MILESTONE

An array of accessibility upgrades at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) Metropolitan Avenue and Lorimer Street stations in Brooklyn, including six new elevators — three at each station — mark a milestone: completion of the Construction & Development department's first design-build American with Disabilities Act (ADA) package, MTA announced on April 1. The work was fully funded by a federal grant. The Authority tells ELEVATOR WORLD the elevators were provided by subcontractors E-J Electric Installation Co. and Modern Elevator. The elevators include new fire alarm systems, smoke/heat detectors and security cameras. Each elevator is also equipped with an emergency two-way communication system including audio and visual. The mezzanine area around the elevators has been regraded to create ADA-accessible pathways. When ridership plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, MTA took the opportunity to fast-track ADA projects at 15 subway stations. Following the April 1 announcement, there are 151 ADA-accessible stations and 38 stations where ADA work is underway.

The ADA upgrades received a warm welcome; photo courtesy of MTA.

GOVERNOR, MAYOR, PANYNJ ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT US$10-BILLION MIDTOWN BUS TERMINAL

In March, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, NYC Mayor Eric Adams and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement to support the US$10-billion replacement and expansion of the 73-year-old Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. "Recognizing the importance and catalytic potential of the project," the city has committed 40 years of tax revenue — expected to help the Port Authority raise US$2 billion, 20% of the project cost from three potential new commercial developments on three sites, according to Hochul's office. Two of those projects would be situated atop the new terminal, and the third would be built at a nearby PANYNJ-owned site by the Port Authority and private developers. Designed to meet projected 2040-2050 commuter growth at the busiest bus terminal in the world, the new 2.1 million-ft2 terminal design features an "iconic" entrance on West 41st Street and Eighth Avenue, 3.5 acres of publicly accessible open space, more street-level retail and a multistory atrium. The project is expected to create approximately 6,000 union construction jobs and will be built in phases with a temporary terminal and new ramps completed in 2028 and the new main terminal completed in 2032.

The new Midtown Bus Terminal will feature a multistory atrium; image courtesy of PANYNJ.

WYNN RESORTS AND RELATED UNVEIL RENDERINGS OF HUDSON YARDS WEST

Wynn Resorts and Related Cos. unveiled renderings in March showing Hudson Yards West, the second phase of the Hudson Yards megadevelopment on Manhattan's far west side, The Architect's Newspaper was among outlets to report. With Wynn Resorts in the mix, a casino resort is part of the plan: specifically, a five-story podium containing a casino with a tapered, 80-story hotel tower above. The casino hotel and two other towers — a 1,366-ft-tall office tower and a residential tower of unspecified height — would together anchor the property on the currently undeveloped Western Rail Yards. Also on the drawing board are 5.6 acres of publicly accessible landscaped space that integrates with the adjacent High Line, which the residential tower would straddle. An architect had not yet been named in March, and the plan faces numerous hurdles, including "lengthy land-use and environmental impact reviews" and success in obtaining one of three gaming licenses that will be issued in NYC later this year. If all goes smoothly, construction will take approximately five years to complete.

Three new towers anchor the development Hudson Yards West; image courtesy of Related Cos. and Wynn Resorts.

HUDSON YARDS' VESSEL SET TO REOPEN

Custom elevator serving Vessel; image courtesy of Liberty Elevator

The Thomas Heatherwick-designed Vessel in Hudson Yards on Manhattan's far West Side is set to reopen "at some point this year" after closing indefinity in 2021 in the wake of four people flinging themselves from the 150-ft-tall structure to their deaths (NY Newsletter, December 2021), Hyperallergic is among outlets to report. The move was announced by Related Cos., owner of the honeycomb-shaped, US$260-million tourist attraction, on April 12. The source said Related told the New York Times that new safety measures will include floor-to-ceiling steel mesh covering approximately half of Vessel's accessible area, as well as barriers on four stairwells and adjacent landings. The top of Vessel will remain closed, while the first two levels will be open. Vessel opened in 2019, and has been criticized for, among other things, questionable funding sources and alleged lack of safety features. Unrelated to any issues, its elevator — designed by Liberty Elevator with Cimolai of Italy — was an ELEVATOR WORLD 2020 Project of the Year winner.

THEA BOWMAN HOUSE BREAKS GROUND ON ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTION

Thea Bowman House in Utica, NY, held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 3 to kick off the installation of a new elevator at its DeSales Center, The Central New York Business Journal reports. The US$1.2-million project will make the center accessible. The new elevator will also open rental possibilities on the building's top floor, which houses several rooms that would be suitable for nonprofit tenants. Renting the space would give those agencies room to grow while also generating revenue for Thea Bowman House. Thea Bowman House Executive Director Jane Domingue said the group looks forward "to having full accessibility at our center for our children, parents, employees, and the community." Along with the US$250,000 from Oneida County's American Rescue Plan Act funds, the project also received support from private donors and other organizations.

Thea Bowman House holds groundbreaking for its new elevator project.

NAESA INTERNATIONAL TO PROVIDE NY MECHANICS TRAINING

The National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities (NAESA) International has received approval to teach New York mechanics training classes. Registration is open for courses offered April 29 in Buffalo, May 1 in Albany and May 7 in Blauvelt. More dates will be announced, and NAESA will work with large groups to schedule classes at their preferred locations. For more information, visit the NAESA website or contact the office at 360-292-4968.

NEW RENDERINGS REVEALED OF MIDTOWN SUPERTALL EMBLEMATIC OF "NEW" NEW YORK

A series of fresh renderings of a proposed 1,600 ft-tall, 1.8 million-ft² supertall office tower designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners and developed by Ken Griffin of Vornado Realty Trust and Rudin at 350 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan were revealed by outlets including New York YIMBY on April 17. An evening aerial view of the glass-clad tower shows a massing with six setbacks — the lower four topped with landscaped terraces — on the eastern elevation and a sheer surface on the western face from street to pinnacle. White-paneled perimeter columns frame the building's base, with a glass-encased lobby set back from the street. Citadel and Citadel Securities will be the anchor tenant, leasing 8,500 ft2 for more than 2,100 employees. The entire building will be able to house 6,000 workers. Mayor Eric Adams said the project reflects "a doubling down on our efforts to build a 'New' New York…and expand NYC's iconic skyline." The project is slated for completion by 2032, with a public review process scheduled early next year.

A nighttime view of 350 Park Avenue; rendering courtesy of Foster + Partners

White-paneled perimeter columns frame the building's base, with a glass-encased lobby set back from the street; rendering courtesy of Foster + Partners.

UNIVERSITY, MTA DISAGREE ABOUT WHO SHOULD PAY FOR ADA-COMPLIANT ELEVATOR

Columbia University and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) disagree about who should pay for an American with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant elevator at the 125th Street subway station next to a new, 34-story Columbia University residential hall in West Harlem, Streetsblog NYC reports. The source observes the private, Ivy League school and MTA have been in a four-year "tug-of-war" over the school's decision to finance a wider escalator but not an elevator. The city's Zoning for Accessibility law, which requires subway-adjacent developers to work with the MTA on building station elevators, was enacted in October 2021 — after Columbia University's plan to widen two street-to-mezzanine escalators on the station's west side had already been approved. Escalator-widening work has yet to begin, and at least one local lawmaker says the university, with its US$13-billion endowment and significant tax breaks, should "not be averse to contributing financially and logistically." An ADA-compliant elevator between the station's mezzanine and street levels could cost up to US$100 million, according to one source.

DOB TO REVOKE COMPANY'S COURSE-PROVIDER STATUS AFTER INDICTMENT

Early this month, Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Jimmy Oddo said the department intends to revoke the DOB-approved course provider status of Brooklyn-based Valor Consulting, a company that previously provided OSHA and Site Safety Training (SST) courses to local construction workers. The move follows a criminal indictment filed in Manhattan court against Valor senior executives and employees accused of selling SST identification (ID) cards to workers without providing any of the required safety training. More than 17,000 active SST ID cards issued as a result of Valor training certificates have been deactivated, and those with these cards are no longer allowed to work on larger and more complex jobsites in NYC until they acquire a new SST ID card from a legitimate DOB-approved course provider.

WOMAN FALLS 16 FT DOWN ELEVATOR SHAFT IN JERSEY CITY APARTMENT BUILDING

A 53-year-old woman fell approximately 16 ft down an elevator shaft at an apartment building in Jersey City, New Jersey, on March 18, CBS was among outlets to report. After retrieving her granddaughter from the bus stop, the woman opened the elevator door on the first floor and walked into an empty shaft, as the car was not there. The child apparently did not walk through the door and was uninjured. Firefighters arrived quickly and rescued the woman, who suffered a broken arm and a torn intestine, according to relatives. She underwent surgery on March 19. When CBS visited the site on March 20, the elevator was locked and covered in caution tape. A representative of the property's management company said, "We are actively investigating the incident, along with our elevator company."

UPCOMING EVENTS

39th Annual Pop/Joe Golf Outing

Old Brookville, New York

September 9, 2024

For more information, visit website.

2024 United Convention & Exposition

Atlantic City, New Jersey

September 23-26, 2024

For more information, visit website.

International Elevator & Escalator Symposium

Paradise Island
Bahamas

November 12-13, 2024

For more information, visit website.

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