The Challenge – No Room for the Machine Room

The Challenge

ATK in Kansas City, MO, decided to add an elevator to the outside of an office building. It was a two-story building, so a hydraulic elevator was the natural solution.  But the challenge was the lack of space for a machine room. Typically, the machine room is adjacent to the elevator, either on the outside of the hoistway or inside the building.  A creative solution was needed, which ended up being a custom modular machine room.

The Solution - A Custom Modular Machine Room

The Phoenix Modular Elevator design team worked with the architect to find a creative solution to this challenge. Together, they found room above the hoistway that included access to the roof for maintenance.  This allowed PME to place the machine room at the top of the hoistway, something typically only done with traction elevators.  They confirmed with the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) in advance that this would be acceptable, which helped ensure a smooth inspection with no surprises.