Our work on the Walker Center’s elevators called for a similar reverence for the building’s history as did the lobby renovations. Our goal was to strike a balance between preserving the machines’ original character and designing an updated user experience.

Different tactics were employed for the various elevator entrances on each floor. On the main floor, just off of the grand, historic lobby, the elevators embody a sense of opulence that’s characteristic of the shared spaces in the significant building. 

Original fixtures of the elevators, like the original brass doors and matching mailbox, were cleaned and preserved, and each new material and feature was selected to center the original elements. Here, the brass doors are inlaid within sheets of sleek white marble, which continue a material theme seen throughout the lobby. This entrance is bright and decorative, with nods to the city’s storied past.

On other floors, an opposing color scheme serves to balance the ground floor’s historic style with a more contemporary feel. Here, the same brass doors stand out against a backdrop of black painted walls. There’s a higher level of contrast in this color scheme, allowing the historic elements to be the centerpiece and creating a modernized visual balance.

Certain features, while in need of an update, were chosen to match the original fixtures. The call lanterns at each cab are a great example of this idea, carefully selected for their brass coloring and vintage-inspired style, but with all the function and sleek form of a modern elevator call lantern. 

While we designed from a place of love for design and reverence for historic style, we knew that when it came to a piece of machinery as important as an elevator, it was key for function to take top priority. A bit of extra time and effort allowed us to reach all of our goals in this project, creating functional, up-to-date elevators with no shortage of style.