Modular Elevators – Now You See It, Now You Don’t / What will the elevator look like when it is ultimately finished? In other words how will it integrate with the overall design of the building? There has been plenty of misinformation about modular elevators. Many believe that it is always an easily identifiable hoistway or shaft on the exterior of the building. That is not true, of course.
First, they can be placed inside a project or on an exterior wall. Placement for MEM is not a usual concern as they can go wherever the architect deems is suitable. Secondly though, just because they are placed on the exterior does not mean that it will be easily identifiable when the project is finished. Below you can see a series of photographs of the MEM Elevator System being placed on an exterior wall, but then it is covered. It seamlessly fits into the overall design. You can also see in the series when designed early in the project, how tight the relation can be between the elevator and building structure. It can then be covered in nearly any material used today. Now you see it, now you don’t.
Poof. Like magic it is gone. The building retains the look the architect, owner and designer desired.
So, if your concern in going with the MEM Elevator System is that it won’t integrate into the building design don’t worry. It will. That means that you can have all the advantaged of the MEM Elevator System with no drawbacks when it comes to project design.
But let’s not ignore the inside of the structure. Again, below you can see what the interior of the building looks like facing the elevator doors and hoistway. It is seamless as well with no obvious break in the integrity of the design.
Sometimes, due to the complexity of elevators people think that a modular elevator has to be even more difficult to use in a planned building project. That assumption is not true. A modular elevator is just an elevator in most respects. They have many of the same components, just installed in a smarter and better way. Installing the commercial quality elevator in a factory means more inspections, better fit of the components, and much less time on the installation. That makes them better and easier way in many ways.
Craig Braund, MEM Systems expert with TLShield and Associates agrees saying, the MEM elevator makes projects easy for everyone. “Whether you are looking at the capabilities of design to the simplicity of installation and speed of placement and start up, no other elevator can compete. It is the best option for low and mid-rise applications.” He went on to say that working with the professionals is key. “Too often in the construction industry people don’t understand how the modular units are integrated. In this case everyone worked in concert with each other for stunning final results.”
So, now you see it, now you don’t is not just a magic trick. It takes teamwork and vision, but the outcome is better than what traditional elevators can offer. Team on this project deserves a thanks and congratulations. So, to RAD Technology, Palomar Health and the architecture firm Mascari Warner Dinh Architects thank you for including us!
Now you can act. If you are impressed with the project and the MEM Elevator System. I you are a bit curious contact us. We can provide you a seamless and easy solution to your projects as well. We provide two great ways to find out more.
If you have a project in mind and think we would be a solution click the Fast Track Quote button below. Fill out as much as you know on the form. We will contact you with in 24 hours to fill in any blanks and let you know a thumbnail number. We also believe in transparency, so we offer a great opportunity to schedule a live virtual factory tour. Just click the button and request a date.
MEM Elevator – Walk Through Wonder / RAD Technology Medical Systems worked with the Palomar Health team and Mascari Warner Dinh Architects for a spectacular design. It is a 6,700 sq ft, custom 2-story OSHPD approved CSU addition. The plan included the MEM Elevator System that you can see in a 3D Walk-Through RAD posted.
In addition the unique design for the expansion, the walk-through clearly shows the modular elevator. It was designed to include a complete stainless-steel package. It gives the building a clean, professional look Palomar Health was looking for.
Also, this project is proof positive that speed to completion does not have to impede great design. Some may think a fast timeline can be detrimental to the overall aesthetics of the building. However, based on the final look, feel, and quality, we see that is not true. One would not know that the project was assembled and ready for occupancy in less than 8 months.
Craig Braund, MEM Systems expert with TLShield and Associates says this was a perfect fit. “Anytime you need speed and quality combined in a project that contains a low to mid-rise elevator, the MEM Elevator System is the best option.” He went on to say that working with the professionals at RAD, Palomar and Mascari Warner Dihn was a pleasure. “Too often in the construction industry people don’t understand how all the various components work in concert with each other. The finished Palomar project shows precisely how everything should work together.”
So, from Modular Elevator Manufacturing and the MEM Elevator System, congratulation for a fantastic project. To RAD Technology, Palomar Health and the architecture firm Mascari Warner Dinh Architects thank you for including us!
Now you can act. If you are impressed with the project, the MEM Elevator System, and a bit curious contact us. We can provide you a walk through wonder like the one featured in the 3D rendering. We provide two great ways to find out more.
If you have a project in mind and think we would be a solution click the Fast Track Quote button below. Fill out as much as you know on the form. We will contact you with in 24 hours to fill in any blanks and let you know a thumbnail number. We also believe in transparency, so we offer a great opportunity to schedule a live virtual factory tour. Just click the button and request a date.
ChatGPT and Modular Elevators – For over ten years I have been thinking about, talking about and chatting about modular elevators. See, I am in for the long-haul and if modular elevators are going to revolutionize the construction industry, it is going to take some time and effort. It is not going to be a simple ad buy or singular social media post that wins the day but a consistent stream of information. More than that, it will take a conversation with back and forth. The modular elevator industry needs to inform and answer any and all questions.
But, has my patience paid off? Is there more market acceptance for the MEM Elevator System than there was a decade ago?
That is where ChatGPT comes in. There is probably no better way to find out if you have broken out of a box than if a bot gives information about you when asked. That is especially true if the answer is accurate and informative. So, just out of curiosity I opened ChatGPT and typed in a simple inquiry, “Tell me about Modular Elevators.” From that question the bot responded:
Russ Ward
Tell me about modular elevators.
ChatGPT
Modular elevators, also known as prefabricated elevators or plug-and-play elevators, are a modern innovation in elevator technology. Unlike traditional elevators, which are typically built on-site in a construction project, modular elevators are constructed off-site in a factory setting and then transported to the installation site.
Here are some key features and benefits of modular elevators:
- Off-site construction: Modular elevators are built in a controlled factory environment, allowing for higher quality control and faster production times compared to traditional on-site construction methods.
- Customization: Despite being prefabricated, modular elevators can be customized to meet the specific needs and requirements of the installation site. They come in various sizes, configurations, and designs to fit different buildings and applications.
- Ease of installation: Since modular elevators are pre-built and pre-tested in the factory, installation time on-site is significantly reduced. This can result in cost savings and shorter construction schedules.
- Minimal disruption: Installation of a modular elevator typically causes less disruption to the surrounding environment compared to traditional elevator installations, as much of the construction work is completed off-site.
- Energy efficiency: Many modular elevators incorporate energy-efficient features such as LED lighting, regenerative drive systems, and standby modes, helping to reduce energy consumption and operating costs over time.
- Safety and reliability: Modular elevators undergo rigorous testing and quality assurance procedures in the factory to ensure compliance with safety standards and reliability in operation.
- Scalability: Modular elevators can be easily expanded or relocated if the needs of the building change over time. Additional modules can be added to increase capacity or adapt to new construction requirements.
Overall, modular elevators offer a convenient, efficient, and customizable solution for vertical transportation in various types of buildings, including residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
The thing that stands out to me is that the information is largely accurate. Sure, I can quibble with a word or two, but overall well done. Maybe I am being replaced?
I’m not sure you would get the same result 10 years ago if this kind of AI technology had existed back then. There was no place to type in a query and get an answer. Instead you had to sort through websites and compile information. That was a daunting task despite modular elevators being around for a couple of decades. The information was scant as there was never a concerted effort to tell their story in any substantial way. The result was only a handful of modular elevators were being sold annually nationwide and as a matter of fact, the company that invented the product and had the first factory went out of business.
Since that time sales nationwide for modular elevators have been multiplied by a factor of ten or more and now they truly are a high-quality alternative, not just a novelty.
But the question is, does a positive response from ChatGPT mean that a modular elevator is the best choice for your project? For low and mid-rise applications we think that it does. But, for you we realize that is a tough question to answer. However, with more and more market acceptance it is probably time to explore the possibilities for all the benefits that even ChatGPT recognizes.
And we try to make that easy for you. We offer a couple ways for you to get more information for your project. The first, is to look at our website and see the photos, videos, and our open and transparent process. We encourage you to explore and ask questions.
The second is to ask for a Fast Track quote. It is an easy and quick way to find out if we are a good fit. Just click the button below and fill out as much information you have. We will get back to you within 24 hours to get any details you might have missed and let you know the approximate cost and production timeline.
Lastly, you can request a live virtual tour of our factory or if you are in California, you can make an appointment and stop by. It really is that easy to join the elevator revolution!
Elevator Engineering Services – When you start looking at an elevator for your projects, often times the engineering is a mystery and it is easy to feel neglected. Sure, all elevator companies have downloadable plans, but sometimes that is the only information you the building owner, architect or engineer are privy to until it is too late. Then any changes or issues are on you.
To address that problem in the elevator industry we felt a revolution was needed. That meant frontloading the discussions about placement, engineering, hoistway size, cab size and capacity to the front of the process. We do this in a collaborative meeting with all the parties needed called an engineering/design charrette.
A great example of how we help was in a recent engineering charrette.
The building owner wanted as large an elevator as possible attached to the exterior of the existing structure and at first blush, it appeared as if a larger gurney compliant elevator could be placed. This is despite it being only a two-stop building that code did not require a gurney sized elevator at all. They downloaded the plans from our website and dropped them into place. But then the architect and engineer dug a little deeper and found some problems leading to some serious questions.
The hoistway was going to be just a little bit too wide.
The meeting or charrette was schedule and through working together all the questions were answered and simple solutions were discovered. In just one short meeting we were all on the same page. The project went forward, the architectural plans were updated and the project was scheduled for manufacturing. The adjustments also went to our engineering team to make the proper alterations. We then shared our engineering with the customer.
Everyone was happy and everyone had all their questions answered.
When you think outside of the box instead and are willing to communicate instead of obfuscate things generally go very smooth. That is how we see it and why we are leading an elevator revolution.
But that consultation was not something special or out of the ordinary. We provide that service on all of our projects. We want each elevator project to go smooth and so it only makes sense. And get this, if you want engineering completed early and a meeting to go over everything in your package… it is still a part of the total package price. There are no added fees or charges for completing engineering or having the design/engineering charrette
If you like that we are making a significant changes to a historically stubborn industry. Then consider contacting us for a pricing or a factory tour. Just click one of the buttons below. We are looking forward to you joining the elevator revolution.
We Understand Elevators for You – Elevators are a niche within a niche. Or a subsector of construction that no one really understands and maybe they shouldn’t. Think about it, in the US there are around 10,000 new commercial elevators installed each year.
Yet the construction industry as a whole is huge in comparison. It is more than 4% of the national GDP, and there was $1.823 trillion dollars in total construction in 2023. Lastly there are roughly 8 million employees in the construction industry. Yet only about 108,000 are in the elevator industry. That’s less than 1.5%! Elevator folks are a small exclusive club and they know it.
The upshot is that a vast majority of construction employees, architects and building owners know precious little about elevators because they don’t deal with them very often. So, honestly there is little reason for them to understand them. Most construction professionals rarely deal with elevators as they are, in context of the entire construction industry, rarely installed.
So when you have a project that must have or probably should have an elevator what are you to do?
Over the past decade or so I have come to a profound conclusion. The general construction industry, from architects to the people that swing hammers for a living, hate the elevator industry. This is due to a lack of trust and a bit of arrogance in the elevator industry. And hate is not too strong a word. We did a construction industry-wide poll and it revealed exactly that. There has a been a break in trust. This break in trust is especially pronounced in dealing with the big elevator companies. They tend to be in the habit of hiding vital information and realities of the trade from their customers.
“… a new way needs to be fashioned to revive the elevator industry and meet your needs.”
This lack of transparency has repercussions. Although you can download drawings online and talk to a salesperson (when you can get a hold of them) there seems to be little desire on the part of big elevator companies to get into the vital details of your project.
They want you to throw up a hoistway and then wait for them to complete the work when they want to. This process was fine for the 1900’s, but it’s infuriating today. A revolution was more than needed in the vertical transportation industry and alternatives were developed. These alternatives maybe a better fit for your project, but how do we mend fences and overcome the trust issue? To take advantage of possible alternatives like modular elevators, a new way needs to be fashioned to revive the elevator industry and meet the needs of the customer.
Trust must be rebuilt.
To build back trust we felt a completely different approach was needed that broke with the old pattern of the elevator industry. We have determined that open, clear, responsive, and honest information about your specific project is best. Through this approach we will rebuild trust and develop relationships that will better improve the relationships that seem to have been lost.
It begins with the premise that we understand elevators. Rest assured we do. We have been in the modular elevator business for over two decades with decades more experience prior to that in vertical transportation. But more importantly, we understand elevators for you. We know you do not have the time nor inclination to know all you need to know about elevators. We do, and our approach of full transparency throughout the entire process will let you see the difference. It will also build back the trust in the elevator industry. That trust has been lost over the years by dominance by an old out of dated philosophy and processes. But we at Modular Elevator Manufacturing are claiming it back through communication.
It is our goal as a company to revolutionize the elevator business. But this can only be accomplished with your help. You may leap to the conclusion this means you have to buy our product… we would love that. But that is not our goal. Our goal is to have open and transparent conversations about your project. So we want you to bring the hard questions. Ask us about how the unit fits in your plans, the engineering or even whether you need an elevator at all.
Those discussions will lead to a new perspective on the mysteries of the elevator industry and demystify it so you can make better decisions for your your specific project or projects.
That reformation of the elevator industry may lead to increased sales… or it may not. But we feel with more trust in the elevator industry it will improve our odds. So, if you have a project coming up and a low to mid-rise elevator is in the plans, but you need a discussion please contact us. Whether you think a modular elevator is the solution of not, we will discuss your project to help you. A great place to start and for simple numbers to compare costs, click on the button below for a FAST TRACK QUOTE. That will being the dialog.
Also, part of our effort to be transparent includes a live virtual tour of our manufacturing facility. Click that button to sign up.
Schools and Modular Elevators – Newhart Middle School/Mission Viejo, CA. Innovation can be hard to accept. However, when it comes to education, there is a long history of embracing a revolutionary method when it comes to elevators.
As an example, in Mission Viejo they embraced innovation. First, they created a brand new STEM learning environment. It will serve the children of Mission Viejo for years to come. But second, they embraced innovation in choosing the MEM Elevator System for their vertical transportation needs. But, this is not unusual as the education sector has always been willing and ready to embrace new and better technology.
Newhart Middle School is not the first school to embrace a modular elevator by a longshot. We know this because schools have been a part of the Modular Elevator Manufacturing portfolio from the beginning. Historically, the modular elevator was largely designed to be a fast, easy solution to provide accessibility for schools. The need was huge and a fast solution was needed that met their timelines. The education vertical quickly realized that the new innovation of modular elevators was the best solution and as a result a partnership was formed. For over 20 years that partnership has grown and is still going strong today.
At one time and for nearly ten years our number one selling market segment was education at all levels. These projects include elevators for dorms, schools, parking facilities, stadiums, and press box accessibility. It remains an important part of what we do as we are providing more elevators for education than ever before, but other verticals have now picked up on the innovation we provide and have caught up.
Schools remain a large part of our business model because the needs of schools are the same when it comes to the elevators they choose. The benefits of our modular elevators meets those needs so well we are the natural and best choice.
With all those benefits it is not hard to see how other verticals have caught up with the education segment of our business.
Our success in other vertical markets comes from taking the lessons we learned in dealing with various school districts and applying them to every market sector. The results is our experience and willingness to improve has led to a superior product. And as it turns out every type of business, government entity, or building owner wants the same thing when it comes to choosing the elevator for their project.
They want an easy, yet reliable and high-quality solution for their projects. We can provide that whether it is new construction or a retrofit application; in an industrial setting, commercial property, hospitality or in a school.
We have a solution that meets and exceeds your needs. That is what the people in Mission Viejo understood. We manufactured as elevator for them. It was delivered when they needed it. Set in place in a couple hours and started up in less than a week when permanent power was supplied. Below are pictures of the process.
What you are seeing is a fully installed elevator being placed through a hole that was left in the build. It was set in just a couple hours and was started up in a couple of days. Revolutionary!
As you can see, the project looks great. It went in faster and easier for the school with no disruption to classes. Also, it embraced their movement towards more innovation in all they do.
If you would like to see about this project or others like it, we are opening up our factory to live, virtual tours at your convenience. All you have to do is click the button and fill out a simple form. We will then schedule the tour at your convenience. During the tour we will answer any and all questions. You can also schedule an in person visit as well.
Lastly, if you have a project in mind and want to speak directly to one of our representatives fill out the Fast Track form. We can provide you a thumbnail number in hours.
For more great photos of the project, visit our good friends at Miller Construction. Their team did a great job!
MEM Cuts Costs as Interest Rates Rise/ Interest rates are on a roller coaster ride and that roller coaster is heading up. This is a very real, and can be a very damaging problem for the US economy and the construction industry. As the chart below demonstrates the march higher began prior to April of 2022 and continues to this day. The purpose is to slow inflation to around 2% by putting downward pressure on economic activity through Federal Reserve rate hikes. In other words if money becomes too expensive, then industries such as construction will slow. The economy does not shift at a whim especially when all the forces are aligned for inflation at this time regardless of Fed policy. The point is that this maybe a long trend and not just a blip. Inflation has been very sticky and continues to be.
So what can be done in the construction industry to combat high interest rates that maybe here for sometime? Borrow less. Our industry engages in long-term commitments and obligations with slim margins. That applies more pressure as we build, meet payroll and see operating costs explode as simultaneously financing those costs increase. Suddenly, we grasp for every potential savings available by trimming general costs and seeking alternatives.
The right alternative is a commercial quality elevator that has a long-term history of success and that can replace the need for a construction elevator on the jobsite. By consolidating the tasks of a permanent elevator and a construction hoist, costs can be significantly reduced. But, only an elevator fully installed at the beginning of the project and ready for start up early on can meet the need.
The MEM Elevator System can cuts costs as interest rates and inflation holds firm. Below are just two recent projects that we just finished installing where the permanent elevator doubled as the construction hoist. Not having to employ a construction elevator can reduce costs immensely. This option is not just a way to save during inflationary times, but just smart business.
In both cases the elevator unit or MEM System was placed early in the project. The system is designed to be self-supporting, so it is placed and awaits power, set up and inspection. Placing the fully installed elevator takes less than four hours and the set up portion of the project is usually less than a week in total hours. This makes it not only plausible to save significantly, but a certainty of reducing costs.
As you can see from the photo the elevator operates just like any other construction hoist with a set call box for access. We also go to great lengths to protection the cab interior. Protective panels and wraps are in place during the build. You can also see that it is not a project dependent on any one type of construction method. the MEM System is at home in modular construction to stick built applications.
Additional project savings are due to fact that the MEM Elevator System arrives with the elevator fully installed in the factory produced hoistway. This includes elevator doors and frames. That means no call backs on tape and mud crews, painters and flooring contractors. It is estimated that $40,000 per elevator opening can be saved on most jobs.
If you want to find out more about how choosing the right elevator cuts costs click below. You can either get a thumbnail budget number for the MEM System for your next project or, your can schedule a live virtual tour. During the tour we will pull back the curtain, so you can see how we produce the best elevator solution for all mid and low-rise applications.
Elevator Poll Results In / Oct, 2023 – When it comes to polls the type you hear about most are of the political variety. I hate to say it, but those polls usually have a hidden purpose. They are not very straight forward and often try to lead to specific predetermined conclusions. Prognostication or propaganda? We approached our first of its kind elevator poll in a much different fashion. We actually wanted to know the truth about what construction professionals really had to say about elevators.
As a result we sent our simple five question poll to nearly 20,000 construction professionals from architects and engineers to project managers and elevator companies. We then took 12 months to gather and analyze results. Our purpose was to gauge and discover impressions, problems, shortcomings and possible solutions.
We also held multiple open forums and are now ready to share final results.
Our desire is to improve an industry that has not substantially changed in how it installs elevators or deals with the construction industry for over 150 years. To make improvements we wanted to start with actual information from the people that deal with elevators and have to live with the challenges they present.
After all, our goal is to lead an elevator revolution. You can’t lead anything unless you know where you are going. And knowing where you have been is also a big help.
As mentioned before to augment the polling data we also held a series of open forums regarding the elevator poll and industry concerns. The opportunity for input was vital because for a revolution to take off it must start with a well founded idea. But as the idea grows, connections are created and communication with like-minded individuals and companies come together. Then you can have true innovation and change.
The open forums discussed the results of the elevator poll, confirmed our suspicions and we connected through communication with folks that want the same thing; a responsive elevator industry that provides solutions not obstacles.
Everyone involved (including elevator professionals) want to change the practices and products for the better. So what are the findings?
You can access each individual graphics below by clicking on them. Using the polls and with the help of our open forums we came to some important conclusions for the elevator industry and how it is viewed by the construction industry as a whole. But don’t take our word for it. We encourage you to look at the graphics and add your comments below as to what your impressions are. Forward this to others for their input. As time goes by we can enhance our perspective. This is because we are searching for truth and not trying to promote a specific perspective. We feel communicating and continued analysis will help both industries (construction and elevator) improve.
The responses and discussion groups revealed the following:
The overall customer experience is negative regarding the elevator industry. Over 88% feel the experience was horrible to needs improvement. Over 40% felt it was horrible to barely tolerable. No sugar coating it, it is not a good result. However, keep in mind this attitude shifts dramatically depending on occupation or role. 90% of design professionals believe their experience to be generally good. Easy to use websites for plans are a big help. Turns out however, websites can’t install an elevator. This also means that the elevator industry focuses effort on the sale of elevator units, not difficulties of those downline from the decision.
A possible reason for the negative experience is the elevator interrupts job completion. 65% in our poll say the elevator always creates delays. At the end of any build, the pressure is on to finish up. Tensions run high as time is running out. One person we talked with about the frustration said, the elevator company indicated they would have to push out more than 6-months passed the expected occupancy date. Understandably he was apoplectic, but stuck and he knew it. His impression of the elevator industry is forever harmed.
The traditional elevator industry has no solution for the pace of the install. They will be done when they are done and the timelines for the elevator crew are often times at odds with the construction manager’s expectations. Bad communication and unresponsiveness may be the heart of the negative reviews.
The most important consideration regarding the purchase is on time start up and use. But there is no control over that with current industry standards. The conventional elevator is an immovable object stuck on the critical path. That creates a feeling of loss of control or helplessness.
Cost, Type of Conveyance and Structure are also concerns that sometimes present few options for improvement. Too often based on poor specs, builders are over sold regarding conveyance type for the building with hidden costs. Also, cost of the elevator does not encompass all the ancillary aspects of the build, so at the end of the project the actual investment in the elevator is unknown.
How much money per stop is wasted due to call backs of drywallers, flooring and painters? One construction professional has indicated the traditional elevator cost him $30,000 to $40,000 more per stop due to call backs of other trades. He found another alternative.
Good News! There is flexibility as no one polled automatically keeps the same elevator company due to past experience. This means change is possible. However, pushing the choice of elevator to the bidding process leads to specs that stifle innovation. As we have learned and discussed in our forums, elevator companies largely ignore the specs anyway. They supply bid packages with tons of caveats and wherefores, not even addressing specs. So why push the decision out to or past the bid process where you are now under more of their control?
By the time you are passed the bid phase, it is often too late to consider other alternatives without additional costs. All hope of innovation is gone. Ultimately, construction professionals are often locked into just a couple bad choices. It also sets in stone an unfavorable timeline for project completion.
Difficulties – Start up is the elephant in the room. It is a huge issue, but out often out of anyone’s control, including the elevator installer, especially regarding inspection and final approval. Cost overruns are a huge and constant issue. Also, the lack of communication costs time and money on the project. One example provided was the inspection of the elevator was pushed by the general contractor to be expedited. This led to the elevator being fully ready… but life/safety aspects of the building were still not complete. That meant a failed inspection and then change orders to return for a second scheduled inspection. Open communication would have resolved that issue before it became one.
This poll and open forums lead to a great starting point for the construction industry to begin to change how it views elevators and all the pitfalls. It also gives Modular Elevator Manufacturing and others in the elevator industry the perfect opportunity to change the industry from the inside out. In the next blog post, we will get into the specifics of how the elevator industry can change to improve its image, product and installation.
We will continue to discuss how a revolutionary way of dealing with real issues can improve your projects, reduce headaches and can lead to a better way of building. Elevators will never be problem free, but they can be improved and that is our hope as we lead an Elevator Revolution.
In the mean time if you want to know more about the MEM Elevator System please let us know by clicking a link below. You can take a virtual tour of our factory where we openly discuss our process and the elevator industry. You can also request a Fast Track Quote if you have a project in mind and are curious about the solutions we offer. One more reminder – please comment below. Your input is important.
Modular Elevator Inside or Out – One of the most common questions we get asked is, Can you place the MEM Elevator System on the inside of a project? The reason for the question is more than likely what you see most in photographs of modular elevators and on our website elevator on an exterior wall. We tend to do that so people looking at them can clearly see the elevator and that it includes the hoistway.
See, a modular elevator is a manufactured elevator hoistway with all the elevator components factory installed, so showing the hoistway seems to make sense. However, that has led to the common mistake of thinking that they can only go on the exterior of a build.
Most recently two of our elevators were placed at approximately the same time and as you can see in the video below there was one of each (outside and inside). That is probably about the percent when it comes to new construction. Exterior placed elevators probably hold a slim edge, but overall as we produce only high-quality commercial elevators and they can be placed anywhere. This is especially true as they are self supporting structures.
Now when it comes to retrofit projects, where the customer is adding an elevator to an existing structure, we do many more exterior applications. But that is not because of our product. It is due to structural needs and spatial requirements for the project. An exterior elevator usually makes more sense and is a better solution.
In the photographs for this blog post you can see the interior application. In the 5 – story dormitory project at the University of La Verne, you can see our fully installed elevator hoistway going smack-dab in the middle of the building. Not only that, if you look at the conceptual drawing you won’t see even a hint of a hoistway. The duplexed modular elevators were simply placed on the inside of the project.
Also, note that the elevators came in sections. Each section can generally be up to 50 feet in height. But, because of the revolutionary stackable design we are not held to 50 feet or less. As a matter of fact they can be designed for most low or mid-rise applications.
For the La Verne project, the elevators went in during the construction phase. However, due to the flexibility of modular elevator units, they can be set at anytime. For instance, with the interior elevator in the video it could have been placed first, but the project manager wanted the bulk of the project standing before the elevator went in. They just left us a hole and our elevator simply slipped into place. That is less common as most often construction managers like to move the process of craning the elevator into place to the beginning. The set takes place right after the foundation work is completed and the pit is poured. They like to see the elevator portion of the project done and out of the way with only a startup needed.
As you can imagine, a fully installed elevator set in just four hours revolutionizes the elevator and multi-story construction industry. That is especially true if it is at the beginning of the build. Once placed the commercial quality elevator waits for the rest of the project and off the critical path instead of the other way around. When power is supplied it is ready for startup. This means they can be used as construction lifts.
Also remember there are other benefits as well:
For instance there is no need for setting aside space for elevator mechanic tools or components. Modular Elevators are safer than having an open elevator shaft on the jobsite. They are greener as well with less onsite traffic, less scrap and more recycling. The revolution has begun. It is time to consider modular.
If you are impressed with the concept or timeline or have more questions. Join the revolution by clicking the button below. We will provide you a Fast Track thumbnail quote in 24 hours. Feel free to start a conversation by providing some details on an upcoming project. You can also sign up for a virtual live tour. One last thing, a big thanks to our friends at Steinberg – Hart for a great design!
MEM – Leading the Elevator Revolution.
Hospitality Needs the Best Lead Time – Usually, I try to begin a post with a soft approach. It pulls the reader in and makes for a better read. But there is no soft-peddling or easing into this one. Plainly put the MEM Elevator System has the best elevator lead time in the construction industry today. It really is that simple. Once all the preliminary work is complete we can deliver a fully installed, ready to start up, commercial quality elevator in less than 6 months. Crunching that lead time is exactly what the hospitality industry needs (See our latest project at a Disney Resort).
But beyond delivering a fully installed elevator when you need it, when it comes to hotels all your specific requirements can be addressed with the MEM Elevator System. Ultimately, for low and mid-rise projects there is no better option that has the reliability and flexibility you need. This includes all building types including modular, storage containers, stick-built, reinforced concrete or any other type of construction.
We can produce elevator cabs to any specs you wish and glass elevators are easy, for us. The units can be for new construction or retrofit projects. They can be on the exterior of the building or on the interior. Placement doesn’t matter. MEM can provide exactly what you need.
With our process you get your elevator when you need it. A fully-installed high-quality commercial elevator can be placed on your site in less than four hours.
It is a real simple process. We know precisely how long the manufacturing process takes from start to finish. You tell us when you would like the unit or units delivered and we back the start of manufacturing to meet your schedule. That easy.
You keep us updated regarding any changes so there are no surprises. When the start date rolls around we manufacture the hoistway and wrap it in the appropriate amount of drywall per code. Then the elevator rails and entrances are installed. Simultaneously, the cab is being built to your specification. All the wiring is being completed. Then the cab is inserted, final prep is done and your elevator is delivered and ready for start up and inspection.
It is more than time to end all the headaches you face with the elevator portion of your project. There is no reason it has to be so complex and filled with so many problems and delays. We have started a revolution with our design and process so join the revolution.
Click the button for a Fast Track or schedule a LIVE VIRTUAL TOUR.
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