Two Elevators Replaced at 14th Street/Eighth Avenue Station
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
14th Street/Eighth Avenue Station.
Forte Construction Corp.
NEW YORK CITY - Forte Construction, a general contracting firm, replaced two elevators at the 14th Street/Eighth Avenue subway station.
This is part of a larger accessibility upgrade across MTA stations, according to the release. The station is a transfer point between the A, C, and E lines and the first Manhattan Stop on the L line. Located in Chelsea, it also “serves as a key conduit to some of New York City’s most famous attractions,” says Forte Construction. Crews worked to replace the exterior elevator and install a canopy that meets MTA design standards. Additionally, Forte says it replaced an elevator that brings riders from the L train platform to the mezzanine by using a roped hydraulic elevator. This reportedly gets rid of the need to drill a large hole in the ground, which would increase the risk of contamination of soil or groundwater.
During the time in which crews replaced the elevators, crews also made sure that art installations at the station were not harmed in order for the station to keep its character. Urban Art Projects (UAP) removed several sculptures to be refurbished before their return to the station.
Goldman Copeland served as lead designer on the project. Their oversight of the elevator upgrades led to “updated elevator equipment rooms, enhanced electrical and mechanical systems for increased reliability and expanded capacity to minter the elevators’ performance remotely,” says Forte Construction.
Assistant project manager Elif Chavez said, “This station serves as a critical artery for residents and tourists alike, whether they are going to work or visiting some of New York’s most famous cultural institutions . . . We are not only proud to work with the MTA to make public transportation more accessible for all, but to ensure that this treasured art installation remains in place.”
