Star Elevator Wins Elevator of the Year for Modernizing a 1907 San Francisco Landmark
Elevator of the Year Winner Modernization of the Metropolis Trust Building
Star Elevator has won the Elevator World Project of the Year award for modernizing the elevators in the Metropolis Trust Building at 625 Market Street, San Francisco. The 15-story historic landmark, built in 1907, had a century-old criss-cross cable system with counterweights running in separate hoistways. Star Elevator re-engineered the system to a modern overhead traction configuration, cutting energy consumption by 45-50% and improving safety and reliability.
Due to the placement of the machines under the hoistways, and the need for proper rope lead off of the overhead sheaves, the counterweights did not run in the same hoistways as the cars.
- mauvehaus
I love that seemingly random trades that we largely take for granted have these case studies that result in awards for things us muggles never think about.
A garage I went to subscribed to a trade magazine for towing and recovery companies and left the issues in the waiting room. Sure enough, they had a recovery of the year type of award.
- telesilla
I don't know if it's still running but the hand-operated elevator in Chicago's Fine Arts building on Sth Michigan Ave deserves an award. I always enjoyed having an excuse to visit the music rooms on the top floors. The first time I visited I was worried but seeing the skill of the operator was something else.
https://soundquality.org/2025/04/chicagos-last-manually-oper...
Maybe they shut it down already and are reading Elevator World for replacement ideas. A glass one please!
- atombender
The staggering number of fonts used on that award [1] is something to behold. I count maybe six?
[1] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/669edd08b2a3fe...
- Uncle_Brumpus
I guess it makes sense that there's an elevator of the year award, though it's never something I'd have thought of.
The photo of one of the brake assembly components mounted to a welded tubular skid, bolted to a large structure of I-beams, bolted to another I-beam skid which is bolted to the floor, is tickling me as slightly humorous.
- lexicality
I wish there was more explanation as to why the original builders decided to make a cat's cradle out of the roping. It's not like you can accidentally run the cables for cab #1 all the way over cabs 2 & 3 because you weren't paying attention during installation.