Elevator World New York | March Newsletter

Volume 84 | March 2026

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 3,500 subscribers in the New York area.

March 2026

SEASONED VT EXPERT EDGETT JOINS DESIMONE CONSULTING ENGINEERING

Edgett

DeSimone Consulting Engineering, a global company founded in NYC in 1969 that provides vertical-transportation (VT), structural engineering, façade consulting and more, on March 5 announced that Steve Edgett has joined the firm as senior technical advisor. Edgett joins DeSimone after decades as a leader and cofounder of Edgett Williams Consulting Group, widely regarded as one of the industry's premier VT consultancies. Throughout his career, he has advised on supertall towers, global corporate headquarters (HQ), landmark mixed-use developments, major technology campuses and high-end retail properties. His portfolio includes Apple Park, Google's Bay View Campus, Shanghai Tower and the award-winning JPMorgan Chase supertall HQ 270 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Spanning a full city block, the property is served by some 90 elevators and escalators. Edgett joins a DeSimone VT team led by Principal Kelly Houlihan, QEI. DeSimone Chairman and CEO Stephen DeSimone said:

"Bringing Steve Edgett to DeSimone is a meaningful step forward for our firm and our clients. He brings an extraordinary depth of experience and a genuine passion for VT that further strengthens our service offering. We are thrilled to have him on board."

OTIS VT OVERHAUL FOR FORMER BEAR STEARNS BUILDING

383 Madison Avenue; photo by Michael Young for New York YIMBY

Otis tells ELEVATOR WORLD it is performing a major vertical-transportation (VT) overhaul at 383 Madison Avenue in Midtown East — formerly the Bear Stearns building — which is being revamped to serve as offices for JPMorgan Chase's investment arm. The 47-story, 1.2 million-ft² tower will have 25 elevators modernized, including the addition of the Compass^® 360 destination-dispatch system and Otis' EMS Panorama^TM 2.0 real-time VT monitoring software. Otis will also install two new elevators — one Gen3^TM Edge and one Otis HydroFit^TM — and four new escalators. Originally opening in 2002, the tower was designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). The redesign is being handled by SOM along with Foster + Partners and Gensler. New York YIMBY reported in February that the project was moving along, with façade removal underway. The tower's transformation is scheduled for completion in winter 2027.

G-TECH ELEVATORS FOR NEW PARK SLOPE BUILDING

G-Tech Elevators tells ELEVATOR WORLD it provided a vertical-transportation system consisting of four overhead traction elevators for 85 4th Avenue, a new 13-story mixed-use building in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Each making 20 stops with 3500-lb capacity, the units travel at speeds of 350 to 500 ft/min. All elevators have BTS Elevator Package packages with GAL door equipment, Imperial machines, Hollister-Whitney fixtures and Elevator Controls controllers. Ahead of anticipated completion in the summer, New York YIMBY previously reported that 85 4th Avenue was designed by James Shannon of Strekte Corp. for Harry Einhorn under 85 4th Avenue LLC. Its 176,757 ft² will house 193 rental units, 5,415 ft² of commercial space and 1,996 ft² of community space. There will also be a cellar level and 79 enclosed parking spaces. A diagram of the building shows a ring of balconies from floors two through nine and setbacks starting at the 10th floor.

Diagram of 85 4th Avenue; photo by Michael Young for New York YIMBY

REPORTS: KONE IN TALKS TO BUY RIVAL TKE

Finland-headquartered KONE is in talks to buy TK Elevator (TKE) as early as in "the coming weeks," Reuters is among outlets to report, citing Bloomberg. Private-equity owners of Germany-headquartered TKE, Advent International and Cinven, have been preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) since at least fall 2025, with the U.S. considered as a location. Recent volatility in equity markets have made a sale more appealing than an IPO, however. As they continue to look at a potential listing, Advent and Cinven seek a valuation of as much as EUR25 billion (US$28.8 billion), including debt, in any potential deal. KONE, TKE, Advent and Cinven all declined to comment, Reuters said. KONE has a significant presence in the NYC area, with a major branch office located in Long Island City. TKE is a major operator in the North American vertical-transportation market with more than 160 branches and service centers.

ECNY TO HOST QEI RECERTIFICATION SEMINARS IN APRIL

Elevator Conference of New York (ECNY) has announced more one-day educational seminars that will meet the requirements for "Annual Maintenance of Qualifications" for the 2026 renewal of your QEI Certification. Note: A total of 10 h for 1.0 CEU will be provided for 2026. Attendees can attend the seminar titled "Code Update of the ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators & Escalators" on either April 22 or April 23 at the Villa Barone Manor in the Bronx. Each seminar will be a full-day, 8-h program from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The final 0.2 CEUs (2 h) will be completed via on-demand training, which will be available in each attendee's NAESA International profile in order to fulfill the entire annual requirement. This QEI class will also count toward New York State Continuing Education Credits for both inspector and mechanic licensing. This program is available exclusively to ECNY members and is presented as a joint venture between ECNY and NAESA. Attendees are asked to register for the event on www.ecnyweb.com no later than April 16. All registrants must provide their Driver's License number or New York State ID number when registering for the event. If you have any questions, please contact ECNY by email.

SONS OF ITALY ROCKLAND LODGE ANNOUNCES UPCOMING EVENTS

Greg DeCola of VDA, Inc., director of the Rockland Lodge Order of the Sons of Italy in Blauvelt, NY, announced dates for two upcoming annual Sons of Italy events: Steaks, Stogies and Cannolis on June 5 and the Annual Golf Outing on June 18. Typically drawing hundreds of participants, including a large contingent from the New York elevator industry, Steaks, Stogies and Cannolis began in 2021 to raise funds for the charitable work of Sons of Italy Rockland Lodge #2176 and celebrate Italian heritage. Son of Italy's Ed Bonardi Memorial Golf Outing, now entering its 34^th year, supports annual scholarships awarded by Sons of Italy. "Details will be forthcoming," DeCola said. "Please mark your calendars!"

NJ BILL WOULD PROTECT RESIDENTS DURING ELEVATOR OUTAGES

Under proposed bill A4480, New Jersey building owners will face fines if they fail to restore elevator service within a given time frame or provide Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant alternatives for those unable to use stairs, outlets including PIX11 report. "Seniors, people with disabilities and families with children should never feel imprisoned in their own homes because of a landlord's failure to act," said Sen. Britnee Timberlake, who introduced the legislation with Assemblyman Kenyatta Stewart. Elevator alternatives could include evacuation chairs, ramps and motorized stairlifts to help residents enter and exit each floor of a multistory building. Proposed fines range from US$500 for the first violation in a calendar year up to US$2,500 for any violation "deemed to create an acute health or safety risk," including an additional US$2,500 fine for each continuing violation tied to that risk.

SAVOVIĆ APPOINTED TO CVU NY CHAPTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Savović

DeSimone Consulting Engineering, a global company founded in NYC in 1969 that provides vertical-transportation, structural engineering, façade consulting and more, announced on February 25 that structural engineer and Associate Principal Dalibor Savović has been appointed to the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU) New York Chapter Board of Trustees. A longstanding member and supporter of the nonprofit CVU, formerly the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Savović will collaborate with peers from across NYC's architecture, engineering, development and construction sectors to guide organizational and chapter-level growth. Based in DeSimone's NYC office, Savović brings experience leading multidisciplinary teams in the structural design of significant developments in Europe (Mindet in Aarhus, Denmark) and the Middle East (City Tower 1 in Dubai). He has made significant contributions to the CVU Germany, Dubai and U.K. chapters.

DOB EXTENDS THIRD-PARTY ELEVATOR INSPECTION PILOT PROGRAM

The Department of Buildings (DOB) announced it has extended its Third-Party Elevator Inspection Pilot Program through December 31. The program allows approved elevator agencies to perform acceptance tests for new elevator installations, alterations or modernization work. These acceptance tests must be performed in the presence of a witnessing elevator agency, which cannot be affiliated with the elevator work or the approved elevator agency that performed that work. A licensed director, co-director or elevator inspector from the witnessing elevator agency must be present while the acceptance test is being performed. Personnel hoists and amusement rides may not participate in the pilot program, and the DOB reserves the right to end the program prior to December 31, or to amend the requirements of the program.

FOUR OTIS ELEVATORS FOR NEW BROOKLYN RECREATION CENTER

Otis tells ELEVATOR WORLD it provided four Gen3^TM Edge elevators with Otis ONETM Internet of Things service for the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, a new US$141-million community center at 3105 Farragut Place in Little Haiti, East Flatbush, Brooklyn. New York YIMBY reported in February the 74,000-ft² center opened with elected officials including NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending the ribbon-cutting. Expected to serve more than 41,000 nearby residents, the facility includes a six-lane competition swimming pool; a three-lane walking track; a gym for basketball, volleyball and pickleball; and fitness areas for weightlifting and cardio. The facility was designed by Studio Gang, with Consigli Construction as general contractor.

The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Little Haiti, East Flatbush, Brooklyn; image courtesy of NYC Parks

KONE ELEVATORS FOR NEW MIXED-USE BUILDING IN QUEENS

KONE tells ELEVATOR WORLD it provided two MonoSpace^® 500 elevators for 183-03 Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, a new seven-story mixed-use building designed by Marin Architects and developed by Piermont Properties. The building, for which the affordable housing lottery launched in February, according to New York YIMBY, features 46 residences and ground-level retail. Amenities include a rooftop terrace, a shared laundry room, a recreation room and storage. Marin Architects observes the 80,000-ft² building is constructed of pale gray brick and only steps away from the 179th Street subway station. Residential units include air conditioning, energy-efficient appliances, intercoms, name-brand appliances, countertops and finishes.

18303 Hillside Avenue; image courtesy of Marin Architects

HISTORIC BUILDING WITH STORIED PEDIGREE CHANGING HANDS

The Scribner Building; image courtesy of Thor Equities

The Scribner Building, a 13-story historic office structure at 597 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, is set to change hands, with Aurora Capital Associates and AVRS Partners in contract to buy it, The Real Deal NY reported earlier this month. Built in 1912, the property once served as headquarters for Charles Scribner's Sons, publisher for literary legends Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, among others. The sale of the 69,000-ft² building follows the lender taking it back from Thor Equities, which had defaulted on a US$105-million loan. Clothing retailer Club Monaco occupies with the entire retail portion of the property, with the office portion completely vacant. D&D Elevator last modernized Scribner's elevator system, engineering a complete retrofit that included new machinery in the existing overhead machine rooms, new state-of-the-art computerized controllers and an energy-saving regenerative drive.

2WTC RENDERINGS RELEASED AHEAD OF CONSTRUCTION

Foster + Partners, in collaboration with developer Silverstein Properties, released updated renderings of Two World Trade Center (2WTC) ahead of construction re-starting sometime this spring, ArchDaily reported on March 2. The 373-m-tall, 56-story skyscraper will serve as the new global headquarters for American Express and sit directly across from the Santiago Calatrava-designed Oculus transportation hub. Excavation for the final commercial tower planned for the WTC campus in Lower Manhattan at 200 Greenwich Street initially began in 2008, but disagreements between the Port Authority and Silverstein resulted in delays and a re-design by Bjarke Ingels Group. With funding and an anchor tenant secured, Silverstein returned to Foster + Partners in 2020 to update the design, which now incorporates more than one acre of outdoor landscaped space and a stepped composition of slender volumes rising from a rectilinear base. The elevator package for 2WTC has not yet gone out for bid. That could happen later this year.

Outdoor space in the form of planted terraces and intermediary amenity levels will offer panoramic views of Manhattan and the Hudson River; image courtesy of Foster + Partners and Silverstein Properties.

The rectilinear base; Planned as a fully electric building, the building is expected to pursue LEED certification; image courtesy of Foster + Partners and Silverstein Properties.

THE ELEVATOR DATABASE ADDS STATE OF CONNECTICUT

Logan Ober, a systems engineer for the Novato Unified School District in California and recent transplant to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, announced he expanded his U.S. elevator database, The Elevator Database, to include Connecticut, effective March 2. The online database lets users search by city, conveyance number, speed, capacity, machine type and installation date, among other information. "This is one of the states I'm most excited about, as I have many friends and professional industry connections from Connecticut," he said. Ober previously added Massachusetts to the database, building on a project that began with his home state of California. He would later add Colorado, North Carolina and Texas. Next on the list, he said, is either New Hampshire, Vermont or Ohio. "I am also in the process of 'remastering' each state and bringing the new, unified user interface to each state," he said. "Good things are coming to The Elevator Database!"

NJ FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE TEEN GIRLS FROM 90-FT ELEVATOR SHAFT

New Jersey firefighters rescued two teenage girls from the shaft of a 90-ft-tall elevator that had stalled between entrances to the 9th Street NJ Transit Light Rail station between Hoboken and Jersey City, NJ, on February 28, News 12 reported. Approximately 12 firefighters responded to the scene, using a rope system to make contact with the girls and keep them calm. The elevator had become stuck approximately 20 ft from the bottom of the Hoboken side of the platform, and the rescue took several hours. No one was injured. "There's a lot of equipment involved, a lot of bags, a lot of carabiners and pulleys and ropes and all kinds of equipment," firefighter Bill Bowman said. Problems had been reported with the elevator before, and it was taken out of service as crews from NJ Transit and an elevator repair company worked to figure out the problem.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NAEC Spring Educational Conference

Long Beach, California

March 22-25, 2026For more information

visit naec.org.

ECNY Supplier Showcase

Bronx, NY

April 15, 2026For more information

visit ecnyweb.com.

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