Congratulations to Adam Bey, Henry Handel, Tony Bey and the rest of the gang at Handel & Sons Elevator of Kent, Ohio.  Their submission of photos from the historic Garfield Building in Downtown Cleveland has earned them their first Garaventa Lift Project of the Month.  The Garfield Building was built in 1898, and is so named because the edifice was built by the two sons of President James Garfield.  In 2015, the building was in the news again as chunks of the decorative exterior fell off and smashed in to a parked Toyota minivan.  Thankfully, nobody was injured.  Since then, it has undergone extensive renovations and is now an upscale multi-unit residential building.

The application showcases a very common accessibility solution where the floor-to-floor travel distance is less than five feet.  The product used is a Garaventa Genesis Opal, model GVL-OP-42.  The lift is floor-mounted with an autofold ramp at the lower landing for access to the platform.  The lower landing call station is located clear of the door swing to make it easy to use.  It is the standard color of satin grey along with champagne anodized aluminum components.

The lift is also equipped with several optional features, including laminated glass panels in both gates, powered gate operators, braille push buttons, courtesy lights and a hands-free emergency telephone.

The post Vertical Lift for Cleveland Landmark Wins Dec POM appeared first on Creating an Accessible World.

Congratulations to the fine folks at Mobility Concepts of Fife, Washington.  Their submission of photos from Microsoft in Redmond, Washington has earned the the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for February, 2018.

Treehouse Gains Accessibility

Microsoft has rigged up three high tech treehouses for employees to work and meet in up in Redmond’s Pacific Northwest Douglas firs.  The elaborate meeting rooms were built by Pete Nelson, host of the TV show Treehouse Masters. 

Two-stop Genesis Vertical Platform Lift

The treehouses are a part of Microsoft’s “outdoor districts” which are connected to buildings around its Redmond campus.  The company built the treehouses after a recent employee survey found many workers would like to work outdoors more if they could.  A Garaventa, Genesis, VPL, was included in the design allowing for two of the three treehouses to be accessible to all employees.

The lifts are two-stop Garaventa Genesis vertical platform lifts with factory-

Doors have Power Openers

made enclosures.  The enclosures are enclosed on top with shed-style sloping roofs and have painted steel panel walls.  Walls are also available with clear or bronze plexiglas or laminated safety glass.

The post Wheelchair Lift for Microsoft Treehouse Wins POM appeared first on Creating an Accessible World.

Our thanks and appreciation go out to Chris Dufek, Martin Crowley and the rest of the great crew at Midwest Accessibility Products

of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Their submission of photos from The Children’s Museum in

Indianapolis, Indiana has earned them the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for March, 2018.

Can you believe that this is the second Project of the Month in a row to feature vertical lifts for accessibility to treehouses?  Last month, we featured Genesis Enclosure vertical lifts allowing for access to treehouse office space for Microsoft. 

This month, a more traditional treehouse located at The Children’s Museum actually contains a Genesis Shaftway vertical lift within the treehouse structure.

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Our thanks and appreciation go out to Stewart Smith and the rest of the great crew at Genesis Elevator of Kennesaw, Georgia. Their submission of photos from the Seven Oaks Country Club in Alpharetta, GA has earned them the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for April, 2018.

Can you spot the Genesis Enclosure elevator? This project is a perfect example of an accessibility application that blends in with its environment. The champagne aluminum extrusions closely match the beige siding on the building providing an aesthetically pleasing installation.

The Seven Oaks Country Club offers community events, a fitness center and other opportunities for homeowners to socialize with other residents. The Genesis Enclosure Elevator is a great addition to the community center and it will provide a fully code-complaint accessibility solution.

The post New Vertical Lift for Georgia Community appeared first on Creating an Accessible World.

Our thanks and appreciation go out to Trever Hill, Ken Turpin and the rest of the great crew at Upper Canada Elevator, Ottawa. Their submission of photos of an Elvoron Residential elevator in Ottawa has earned them the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for May, 2018.

Notice the bright gold COP and hall stations. In addition, the client chose brushed brass handrails to avoid the appearance of fingerprints. The departure from the typical nickel finish on the gate hardware is one of the other things that makes this application unique. The bronze gate hardware matches the door and frame while providing contrast.

Antique white panels have been installed in the accordion gate to match the rustic elegance of the stone wall. The elevator also features maple raised panel cabin walls and ceiling. They provide a warm and welcoming ambience.

The post Unique Residential Elevator Nabs May POM appeared first on Creating an Accessible World.

Our thanks and appreciation go out to Dan Zammer and the rest of the great crew at Access Elevator and Lifts Inc in Kansas City. Their submission of photos from the Indigo Hotel in Kansas City, MO has earned them the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for June 2018!

This ADA compliant lift is part of a renovation project for the Indigo Hotel in downtown Kansas, located in a historic 12-story tower originally constructed in the 1930’s.

For this project an Xpress 2 Indoor Inclined Lift was chosen to save as much usable floor space as possible and fit easily into the pre-existing stairway. This lift now enables accessible access between the main lobby and the lounge.

Did you know that custom RAL paint colors can be used to allow a lift to blend into its surroundings? This project is a perfect example of an accessibility application that does just that. The custom RAL color matches the wall perfectly to create the appearance of a wider staircase and provide an attractive and clean finish.

The post Custom colored inclined lift at the Indigo Hotel appeared first on Creating an Accessible World.

Our thanks and appreciation go out to Bill Click and the rest of the great crew at Allrise Elevator in St. Louis, Missouri. Their submission of photos of a Genesis Enclosure Lift in St. Louis, MO has earned them the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for July 2018.

The custom white finish on the door and frame is a popular color solution for residential applications since it provides outstanding contrast within the area. Also, notice how the white finish accompanying the glass panels create a modern aesthetic. The glass panels allow natural light to enter and brighten up the space. Another benefit is that it allows the passenger to enjoy the surrounding view while occupying the lift.

This indoor application provides access from the entrance to the second floor of the home. In addition, the Genesis enclosure offers a space saving solution for residential remodeling projects since it does not require a machine room like a home elevator would.

The post Modern Genesis Enclosure Application in Missouri appeared first on Creating an Accessible World.

Our thanks and appreciation go out to Jason Retallick, Jamie Savage and the rest of the great crew at Garaventa Lift, BC. Their submission of photos from the Elvoron residential elevator at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, BC has earned them the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for August, 2018.

Premium stainless 3-speed automatic sliding doors are a popular choice since they are ultimate in convenience and the most modern choice. Also notice how the cabin flooring is consistent throughout the home. This allows for the elevator to blend in with the environment. In addition, the walnut veneer cabin walls create a mid-century modern appearance, a design feature that is also consistent throughout the home.

The PNE is a non-profit organization, which raises revenue through the Prize Home Lottery. Community members can purchase tickets in hopes to win a beautiful home, such as this one. The money raised supports agriculture, arts, community and local programs.

This Elvoron home elevator has an inline drive system, a premium control panel with a built-in telephone, and hallway call stations with digital floor displays. These features help create the safest, most convenient and modern application.

Check out this Virtual tour of the PNE Prize Home. Are you able to find the elevator?

The post Contemporary elevator enhances Prize Home appeared first on Creating an Accessible World.

Our thanks and appreciation go out to António Leitão and the rest of the great crew at Rocargo Tecnomobile in Portugal. Their submission of photos from the indoor GSL Artira application in Lisbon has earned them the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for September 2018.

Notice how precisely the guide tubes are aligned with the handcrafted, and radiating staircase. This application has been engineered to perfection. Also, the standard satin grey finish contrasts with the maple finish of the staircase yet matches the surrounding walls to create a sense of unity. As well, the Artira will fit into most existing stairways, with minimal or no modification required. Therefore, a staircase such as this one can be preserved without having to be removed.

This Artira installation has been modified for personal use in a home. It has manual controls and a smaller platform than an ADA compliant commercial application. Therefore, it is a versatile and space-saving option in one’s residence. In addition, the size of the ramp has been customized/increased to provide a safe exit on the upper landing. With the installation of the GSL Artira, the client has access to all three floors in their home.

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Our thanks and appreciation go out to Don Sanchez and the rest of the great crew at Garaventa Lift, BC. Their submission of photos from the 1686 Lands End Road residence in Saanich, BC has earned them the Garaventa Lift Project of the Month for November, 2018.

The Elvoron residential elevator is featured in a luxurious home located along a stretch of rugged coast. It contains white melamine cabin walls and a black ceiling, forming a striking design element. In addition, the antique black premium COP, hall station and built-in phone, contrast very well with the white cabin walls and surrounding decor. In keeping with elevator safety codes, the tinted mirror panels are made of laminated safety glass (provided by others). This appealing option along with the energy-efficient LED lighting creates a sense of space.

Providing access to the 933 sqft Master retreat that over looks the beautiful ocean, island and mountains, this elevator is a premium option for luxury homes. It can be designed to harmonize with the interior of any home.

Check out this video.