Revolution Mill

Additional Info

Award Winner : Phoenix Modular Elevator

Architectural Excellence : The project is a modular 2500 lb capacity, two-stop inline, ADA wheelchair compliant elevator and hoistway with 15’-5.5" of travel from a courtyard to a second-story common area. The total height is 35’-7” from the pit floor to the roof line. The design is visually stimulating inside and out. The finished hoistway contains a glass wall and three drywall sides covered in a finished exterior to match the rest of a modern structure that joins two wings of a rustic and historic clothing factory, Revolution Mill. The interior of the elevator cab is a high quality stainless steel car on three sides and glass back wall facing outward to look out on the courtyard below. The elevator also has elegant brushed stainless steel fixtures.
Lastly, the look of the building design is brought forward through the structure; because the unit is glass, the steel supports and structure of the car and hoistway are painted and finished to match the overall concept of the rustic building.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : Cost effectiveness is accomplished in several ways. First, the modular built elevator is not subject to cost over runs due to weather. The elevator hoistway is built in a factory and the work is never slowed by outside weather conditions. Second, the elevator cab is built at the same time as the shaft. This saves significant time and, like the hoistway, the cab fabrication is not subject to excessive cold or heat. Third, material waste is significantly reduced in our production. We know the exact total amount of materials for each elevator and consider layout of the materials to keep costs lower. Finally, other site work does not have to accommodate the elevator construction. Oftentimes, the elevator is the most time consuming element of a major building project and creates delays. The Revolution Mill project clearly demonstrates that other construction can be completed uninterrupted, as the elevator was built off site, then shipped and ultimately installed in just three days.

Design Firm Name : Belk Architecture

Engineering Firm Name : Phoenix Modular Elevator

Installer Firm Name : Resolute Elevator

Occupied Date : 7/3/2017

Owner Firm Name : Revolution Mill

Production Start Date : 9/29/2016

Project Location City : Greensboro

Project Location State Name : NC

Technical Innovation : The technical innovation is demonstrated in two ways. First, the manufacturing process alone is unlike any other in the elevator industry. A Phoenix Modular elevator is factory built horizontally and remains that way until set. This project started with a 4"X 4" tube steel frame and door openings. It was then clad in sheathing on three sides and elevator door frames were added. On the inside of the hoistway, drywall was applied and elevator rails were welded to the structure, aligned, and plumbed. The innovation of this process is not to be understated. It creates a stable, self-supporting structure that is plumb and square every time; something that can’t be said about the stick-built alternative.
The second innovation is the application of glass walls in the cab and hoistway. The elevator is engineered and constructed to take the glass walls inside the cab and the hoistway wall facing the courtyard. Overall the innovation makes the look, ride, and aesthetic appeal extraordinary.

Total Square Feet : 226