Posts in Elevator History
The Solomon Guggenheim’s Lost Glass Elevator

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as The Guggenheim, is an art museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. One of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century, was also one of his last. A reinforced concrete spiral unlike anything the world had seen secured Wright as the worlds greatest architect, but this masterpiece is missing one distinguishing detail that would have changed everything.

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The Historic Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City

Built on the very edge of a cliff overlooking the a 76m (250ft) drop, overlooking the surrounding city, the 611 room 80-metre-tall (260 ft) was the tallest buildings in the entire province of Quebec. To shuttle passengers and their luggage through the 18 storey building monolith, architects installed three gated manually operated elevators in the main lobby. More were added during two major expansions to the hotel, one in 1908–09, and another in 1920–24.

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Worlds First Outdoor Glass Elevator

In the 1950s, the world's first outside glass elevator was built installed at the hotel to the worlds amusement. From its opening in 1927 through the 1950s, the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego, California. was the most glamorous apartment-hotel in San Diego. The large "El Cortez" sign, which is illuminated at night, was added in 1937 and could be seen for miles.

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Johnson Research Tower and Administration Building marks Frank Lloyd Wright entry into the Vertical Landscape.

Designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright for Herbert F. "Hib" Johnson, the building was constructed from 1936 to 1939 as the headquarters of the Johnson Wax Company. The 14-story Johnson Wax Research Tower, completed shortly after (1944–1950) includes some of Frank Lloyd Wrights only known elevators.

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Eiffel Tower Elevator

Equipping the Eiffel Tower with safe passenger lifts was a major concern of the government commission overseeing the Paris Exposition. Although some visitors could be expected to climb to the first level, or even the second, lifts clearly had to be the main means of ascent.

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Restoration Hardware Takes Luxury Retail to the Next Level

Entering Restoration Hardwares massive New York store, guests will discover a soaring central atrium with a high-speed glass elevator as the central showpiece that transports visitors up to the skylit rooftop park. “It wasn’t the internet that killed retail stores; it was a lack of imagination and investment,” explains CEO Gary Friedman.

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25 Creative Elevator Designs That Changed Everything

Elevator design is not something many people think of. Even professional architects, urban planners and designers overlook their significance to modern buildings and cities as a whole. Over the past decade our team of vertical transportation specialists has worked to elevate the narrative around these little spaces in a big way.

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The Bradbury Building | One of a Kind Filigree Elevator and Central Atrium

The Bradbury Building is an architectural landmark located at 304 South Broadway at West 3rd Street in downtown Los Angeles, California. Built in 1893, the five-story office building is best known for its extraordinary skylit atrium of access walkways, stairs and elevators, and their ornate ironwork

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Featured Elevator Centro Cultural Correio | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Cultural Center Correios is housed in a historic building that is part of the Cultural Corridor located in the Center of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The building has 3 480 square meters, spread over three floors interconnected by an elevator, from which you can have a panoramic view of the entire internal environment

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Featured Elevator Toronto Eatons Centre | 220 Yonge St - Toronto

Designed by Eberhard Zeidler and Bregman + Hamann Architects as a multi-levelled, vaulted glass-ceiling galleria, modelled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy, the Toronto Eatons Centre is a one of a kind mall in downtown Toronto.

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Featured Elevator The Balfour Building | 119 Spadina Ave - Toronto

The Balfour Building is one of Toronto's lasting piece of Art Deco architecture owned and maintained by WTF Group. Their dedication to preservation and heritage inspired this custom wall graphic recreating the architectural elevations by Jewish Architect Benjamin Brown. 

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