Elevator World New York | April Newsletter

Volume 73 | April 2025 ADVERTISEMENT 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 2025   TEI GROUP AWARDED MAJOR 30-UNIT CONTRACT AT THE TORCH Long Island City-headquartered TEI Group announced today it has been awarded a major 30-unit contract at The Torch, a supertall hotel skyscraper also known as 740 Eighth Avenue that will rise 1,067 ft above Times Square. TEI Group said it is "honored to collaborate on this massive landmark," designed by ODA Architecture and developed by Extell Development Co. The under-construction 56-story building will feature a 500-ft spiraling glass structure at the top inspired by the Statue of Liberty, as well as lower-level retail, a restaurant on the top two floors, a VIP lounge, a 260-ft drop ride and an observation deck. The US$1.3-billion tower will be served by 28 elevators, three of which travel more than 900 ft at over 2,000 ft/min; and two escalators. TEI President Mark Gregorio observed The Torch is a continuation of an already-strong relationship with Extell and general contractor Suffolk Construction, stating: "With the construction experience of Vice President John Rose and General Manager Mike Donohue on high-rise, high-speed elevator installations, TEI Group is well positioned. Global engineering support from Nidec Elevator Group, our in-house engineering group and our field personnel seasoned in 2,000 ft/min elevators will deliver an outstanding vertical-transportation system for this project." The Torch at 640 Eighth Avenue takes its place on the Midtown Manhattan skyline; rendering courtesy of ODA and SLCE Architects The 56-story building will incorporate an observation deck; image courtesy of ODA and SLCE Architects. ADVERTISEMENT   SKYLINE ELEVATOR SYSTEM FOR NEW BROOKLYN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING Skyline Elevators tells ELEVATOR WORLD it provided an 11-stop, 3500-lb capacity elevator for 1615 Cedar Street, a new residential property with eight stories above ground in Midwood, Brooklyn. The building is owned by Candor Capital and was constructed by Prestige Construction NY in record time, with work starting in September 2024 and finishing in January 2025, according to Skyline. The Skyline team began elevator installation in November 2024 and passed final inspection by January 2025. The corner post unit has one side opening at the lobby landing and travels at 200 ft/min. It boasts: Imperial Electric motor, gearless 478 machine with 2:1 roping ESI Elevator Systems controller PTL fixtures Fundamental Elevator Solutions rails and brackets GAL door equipment Hollister-Whitney governor and safeties Perlen Steel platform, sling and counterweight Elevator entrance; image courtesy of NYC Housing Connect via New York YIMBY   NOBLE ELEVATOR PROVIDES THIRD ELEVATOR FOR QUEENSBORO PLAZA Accessibility advocates welcome the new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant elevator at the Queensboro Plaza station near the east end of the Queensboro Bridge; image courtesy of MTA. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) tells ELEVATOR WORLD that Noble Elevator Co., Inc., based on Long Island, installed a new elevator on the north side of the Queensboro Plaza MTA station in Long Island City, Queens. Welcomed by the MTA and accessibility advocates earlier this month, the elevator is the third serving the station following Modern Elevator installing two units on the south side of the station late last year. MTA observes the project was made possible by the Zoning For Accessibility (ZFA) Transit Improvement Program. As part of the agreement, Grubb Properties, which owns 25-01 Queens Plaza North, financed, constructed and will maintain the new accessible entrance. This is the first ZFA project to open to the public, with more in the pipeline. ADVERTISEMENT   MONTANARI AND PARTNERS COME TOGETHER FOR BRONX MACHINE INSTALL The new machine; image courtesy of Montanari North America Earlier this month, the Montanari North America team joined local distributor Triumph Electrical Supply and Lift Elevator LLC for installation of a new machine for an elevator system serving a condominium building in the Bronx. The compact dimensions and vast range of configurations for Montanari's M98H geared traction machine — ideal for elevators with up to 2500-lb capacity and speeds of up to 400 ft/min, made for an easy job, according to Montanari. Montanari thanked Lift Elevator President John Lubina for choosing "our Made in Italy machines and trusting our longstanding technical expertise." The team celebrates the successful install; image courtesy of Montanari North America. ADVERTISEMENT 50TH ANNUAL POP/JOE: THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! The countdown is on for the 50th anniversary of the "Pop" Frohlinger/Joe Marchese Annual Memorial Golf Outing benefitting the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF). Honoring both its namesakes and all past honorees, this year's special celebratory event will be held rain or shine on September 8 at the Brookville Country Club, 210 Chicken Valley Road, Old Brookville, NY. The outing has been sold out for the past 10 years, and limited space and sponsorships are available. Due to overwhelming demand, organizers are running a double shotgun outing this year. Preferences for sessions will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The event includes lunch, and golf will be followed by cocktail hour and dinner. As always, there will be raffles, a 50/50 drawing, special National Association of Elevator Contractors raffles, giveaways and prizes. Course contests include Beat The Pro, Putting, Longest Drive, Straightest Drive and Closest to the Pin on Par 3 Holes. The Pop/Joe Committee consists of Joel Frohlinger, Vincent Moscato, Vikki Moscato and Melissa Frohlinger. Please contact EESF at email for further information. ADVERTISEMENT   IN MEMORIAM: RICHARD THOMAS DALVANO Dalvano Richard Thomas Dalvano, longtime owner of Barist Elevator Co., Inc. of Deer Park, NY, passed away on February 24 at age 88. Dalvano initially served as a helper, then a mechanic, at a number of NYC area elevator companies before launching his own maintenance and construction business in 1974. A successful businessman, he worked long and hard to grow Barist, eventually selling it to KONE in 2015 before retiring and then settling permanently in Naples, Florida, with his beloved wife, Betty. Dalvano was a former president and Board of Directors (BoD) member at Elevator Conference of New York (ECNY), as well as a former National Association of Elevator Contractors BoD member and director. He enjoyed playing golf, traveling and sharing lots of laughs with friends. "Everyone who has walked a path in life with him has recounted his genuine goodness, honesty, loyalty and willingness to help others," his obituary stated. Colleague and ELEVATOR WORLD Correspondent Matthew Jackson said: "Back in my days at AFD Industries, Richard was one of my first customers, and I knew very quickly I had better know what I was talking about. Later on, Richard recruited me to the ECNY BoD and eventually, guided my ascension to president of ECNY, taking the reins from him. I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the many times I sought his counsel, knowing I would always get the unvarnished truth, good or bad. Those were fun days! Rest in peace, dear friend." ADVERTISEMENT   DESIMONE ACQUIRES SAN FRANCSICO-BASED KP ELEVATOR CONSULTING DeSimone Consulting Engineering, headquartered in the landmark 140 Broadway building in the heart of the Financial District, announced on April 2 it acquired San Francisco-based KP Elevator Consulting, part of an ongoing strategy to broaden its multi-service platform. The acquisition will enable DeSimone to offer a full range of vertical-transportation (VT) consulting services from due diligence and concept development to final construction of VT solutions for new, renovated and converted buildings. Going forward, KP will operate under the DeSimone banner out of the existing San Francsico office. KP Elevator Consulting founder Kelly Houlihan, a Qualified Elevator Inspector (QEI) and 37-year industry veteran, will lead DeSimone's new VT team as a firm principal. Under Houlihan's leadership, KP Elevator Consulting has delivered complex VT projects for industry leaders such as the Space Needle in Seattle, Greystar, Hines, Tishman Speyer, the Federal Reserve and The Orden Co. DeSimone Chairman and CEO Stephen V. DeSimone said his company has been consistently impressed by the "exceptional quality of work and professionalism" of KP Elevator Consulting. (l-r) Kelly Houlihan, QEI, of KP Elevator Consulting; DeSimone Chairman and CEO Stephen V. DeSimone and Kurt Schieszer, now a principal and director in DeSimone's San Francisco office; image courtesy of DeSimone ADVERTISEMENT   NECD PROMOTES TWO TO PROJECT MANAGER National Elevator Cab & Door Corp. (NECD), headquartered in Brooklyn, recently announced that Matthew Maldonado and Shreya Upadhyaya have been promoted to project manager. During his three years with NECD, Maldonado has consistently exceeded expectations, demonstrating a keen eye for detail and exceptional organizational skills. He successfully coordinated several high-profile projects for key customers, streamlined internal processes to minimize timelines and built multiple client relationships that have led to long-term partnerships. Maldonado's promotion "reflects not only his technical expertise, but also his growth as a trusted leader at NECD," NECD President John Farella said. Over her three years with NECD, Upadhyaya has demonstrated remarkable aptitude, taking a detail-oriented approach to handling multiple projects. Her achievements include building and maintaining relationships with new and existing customers, introducing new internal processes to optimize cost control and directly managing multiple complex projects. Farella said the company is confident Upadhyaya's "experience and expertise will enhance NECD's ability to deliver the service our customers have come to rely on." (l-r) Matthew Maldonado and Shreya Upadhyaya   5th ANNUAL STEAKS, STOGIES & CANNOLIS FUNDRAISER COMING UP (l-r) Greg DeCola and Matthew Jackson at last year's Steak, Stogies and Cannolis fundraiser; image courtesy of EW Correspondent Matthew Jackson The Rockland Lodge Order of the Sons of Italy, based in Blauvelt, NY, announced that its 5th annual Steaks, Stogies & Cannolis fundraiser is coming up on May 16. The event is scheduled from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. at Tallman Beach and Pool Club, Tallman State Park, 2 Tallman Mountain Road, Sparkhill, NY. The US$125 cost includes beefsteak, beer, wine, soda, music and, of course, cigars and cannolis. One of the key missions of the Rockland Lodge is to amplify the image of individuals of Italian descent, reinforcing their invaluable contributions to society. Contact Anthony Albanese at email or phone 845-527-5380 for further information about the fraternal organization or the event. ADVERTISEMENT   AXXIOM ELEVATOR COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF EVOLUTION ELEVATOR South Florida-headquartered Axxiom Elevator completed its acquisition of Evolution Elevator & Escalator Corp., based in Staten Island, NY, with offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Maven Group, which facilitated the deal, announced on April 15. Evolution, a respected elevator and escalator service provider in Southeast Florida, will continue to operate in New York and New Jersey. Axxiom CEO Jeremy Metzger said Evolution's unique service portfolio and focus on employees and customers "make them a terrific addition to our growing team." This is Axxiom's third acquisition in the past two years. Evolution founder Lou James, alongside "a fantastic group of talented mechanics," will continue to serve many landmark service accounts. James said he is excited about future growth powered by Axxiom's advanced systems and procedures. Axxiom completed the deal with financial backing from Gauge Capital. Massumi + Consoli LLP served as Axxiom's and Gauge Capital's legal counsel. ADVERTISEMENT   FORTE COMPLETES YANKEE STADIUM ESCALATOR REPLACEMENT Forte Construction Corp. announced it completed a crucial escalator replacement at a key Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) station at the historic Yankee Stadium in the Bronx just ahead of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees' opening day on March 27. Installed by KONE, the two escalators represent the only accessible connection between the underground B/D trains and the elevator 4 train at the historic Yankee Stadium — 161st Street MTA station. More than 112 years old, the station sees more than 5.3 million riders pass through annually, making it the busiest subway station in the Bronx. Over nine months, subcontractor KONE replaced the more than 20-year-old escalators with new models featuring larger, noise-free motors. The equipment machine room was upgraded, receiving a new sprinkler system, air-conditioning units, secure doors, fire alarms and a remote escalator real-time monitoring system. The project adds to a growing list of Forte escalator modernizations across the MTA system. The modernized escalators; image courtesy of Forte ADVERTISEMENT   IN MEMORIAM: DAVID M. CHILDS David M. Childs, the Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) architect best known for realizing One World Trade Center (WTC) and working with developer Larry Silverstein after 9/11 to rebuild Lower Manhattan, passed away on March 26 in Pelham, NY, outlets including the Architect's Newspaper (AN) reported. He was 83 years old. Describing Childs as an esteemed collaborator and dear friend, Silverstein said "no single individual was more responsible" for successfully rebuilding the WTC as Childs. A native of Princeton, New Jersey, Childs also created NYC landmarks 7 WTC, Worldwide Plaza, the New York Mercantile Exchange, the John F. Kennedy International Airport Arrivals building, the Bear Stearns (now JPMorgan Chase) headquarters (HQ) and Park Hyatt hotels. With projects all over the world, his work on NYC's Moynihan Train Hall "marked a full circle," the AN observed. After earning his master's degree in architecture at Yale University in 1967, Childs moved to Washington, D.C., where he met SOM Founder Nathaniel Owings. Childs started the firm's D.C. office and designed the masterplan for the Washington Mall and Constitutional Gardens, HQ for National Geographic and U.S. News and World Report; numerous hotels; and the expansion of Dulles Airport's main terminal. In 1984, Childs became a senior design partner at SOM's NYC office. "I know a lot of what I've done is not 'A' work," Childs is known to have said. "But my role is different; I wanted to raise the level of everyday development as much as I could." David M. Childs; headshot via the Architect's Newspaper NEW JERSEY TRANSIT BOD PLAN TO REPLACE ESCALATORS AT HAMILTON STATION The New Jersey Transit Board of Directors (BoD) contracted Hall Construction Co. for parts fabrication and installation for two new escalators at Hamilton Station in Trenton, New Jersey, on March 31, Mass Transit reports. The US$5.2 million contract includes the replacement of two escalators at Hamilton Station, one of the busiest stations on the Northeast Corridor. The replacement plan has accelerated the timeline for completion by nearly six months. The production of parts is expected to take up to 10 months and the new escalators are scheduled to be operational by late spring/early summer 2026.  ADVERTISEMENT WORKER INJURED WHEN DUMBWAITER FALLS ON HIM IN MIDTOWN A worker sustained multiple trauma injuries as a result of a dumbwaiter falling on him in Midtown on March 25, outlets including WABC reported. A Century Elevator supervisor said the worker was in the pit beneath the unit checking its hoist cables when the cab fell from the third floor and pinned him. A 911 call was placed at approximately 12:30 p.m., and a "confined-space rescue" by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) commenced at the private club on East 54th Street shortly thereafter. FDNY officials said they originally tried to lift the dumbwaiter, but after it shook, they decided to breach both sides of the cab walls to reach the man, who was then rushed to a hospital. "A confined space is a manpower-intensive operation," FDNY Deputy Chief Nicholas Corrado said. "We had units securing the car itself, and we had units breaching walls to get access to the patient." The incident is being investigated by the Department of Buildings. DOB ELEVATOR UNIT INSPECTS CONEY ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK The iconic Wonder Wheel was built in the 1920s; image courtesy of Deno's Wonder Wheel. Every year ahead of the summer season, inspectors from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Elevator Unit head to Coney Island to inspect the amusement park rides to make sure that they are safe for operation, ABC 7 reports. In mid-March, the DOB inspected Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park's rides and elevators. The inspectors with the elevator unit are tasked with making sure rides are safe before the amusement parks open for the season. They check everything from the inflatables to the 100-year-old carousel, and the iconic Wonder Wheel, which was built in the 1920s. Once they are given the green light, the rides are ready for the public, though the DOB may perform additional inspections periodically throughout the season, which began on April 13. ADVERTISEMENT     UPCOMING EVENTS IAEC Forum New Orleans, Louisiana May 19-23, 2025 For more information, visit website.   CECA Convention Niagara Falls, Canada June 9-12, 2025 For more information, visit website. 50th Annual Pop/Joe Golf Outing Old Brookville, New York September 8, 2025 For more information, visit website. Editorial submissions, reprint permission requests and subscription/removal requests should be sent to the ELEVATOR WORLD Editorial Department. EW New York editorial staff: Angela C. Baldwin, Kaija Wilkinson, Sophie Goodwin and Lindsay Fletcher. The EW Editorial Calendar can be downloaded here. ELEVATOR WORLD New York is a registered trademark, and all rights are reserved. Copyright 2025 © Elevator World, Inc.   Copyright © 2025 Elevator World, Inc., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.   Where to find us: Elevator World, Inc. 354 Morgan Ave Mobile, AL 36606-1737 Add us to your address book   Changed your mind? You can unsubscribe at any time.