Image of the new music and communications building at Northwestern University, IL

When Ken Mason of Professional Elevator Service (PES) needed an elevator cab manufacturer to produce three new high-end elevator cabs for a new music & communications complex at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, he knew G&R Custom Elevator Cabs was the right cab manufacturer for the job.

Located in Chicago, IL, PES is a successful, highly respected full service independent elevator contracting company owned by Ken Mason. PES works directly with building managers, administrators, owners and architects at various facilities. He and his staff are responsible for maintaining day-to-day operations and maintenance of elevators, systems and controls, and installing or repairing components/equipment on a contractual basis.

Being in business for 25-years, and because smaller scale repair or modernization is a regular occurrence for them, Ken and his staff know first hand which cab manufacturers can be relied upon to provide the quality information and products they require. Elevator contractors like PES are often an information source for their customers and architects when elevator-related project initiatives arise.

Often this will mean recommending a cab manufacturer for their project and this has the potential to create a risky situation because the architect (who typically acts as an owner’s agent) may not hold the same favorable opinion [of a cab manufacturer] that they do. Creating a difference in opinion at the start of a major project could impede on team unity and reduce confidence levels. Ken explains below:

“Getting the project started off the right way is important. If an architect is involved and has prior knowledge about other project partners, their opinion typically impacts which partners will be chosen for a project. If an elevator cab manufacturer and an architect can communicate directly and keep me in the loop, we can save time and money. G&R is very responsive, especially when architects want to get started quickly.”

For the Northwestern University project, it was determined that G&R Custom Elevator Cabs was the most appropriate cab manufacturer because of G&R’s extensive experience with luxurious cabs in high-profile buildings, the significant work history G&R had with PES and because both [G&R and the architect] had favorable opinions of each other.

For Ken, choosing a cab manufacturer isn’t just about the product that’s created, it’s also about loyalty and how problem resolution is handled. Ken said:

“I know I can pick up the phone and talk to someone at G&R. I can call and get some action. There will be times when things are missed in any project, but for me it’s about how you deal with it.”   

Finding an experienced elevator manufacturer capable of providing impeccable service, a high-degree of technical expertise, the ability to meet the pace of a project architect, and the experience to diligently navigate the manufacture-to-design process professionally can be difficult in this industry. A couple notable reasons why include the fact that there is a steep learning curve in the manufacturing and elevator industries, the extensive length of time that it takes to master managing the entire design-to-manufacture process efficiently while also servicing unplanned, ad-hoc requests that come up in a “real life” work day. It’s during this process that the true nature of a cab manufacturer’s experience and commitment level to customers begins to show.

What does this mean for PES? Well, elevator contractors choosing to align themselves with cab manufactures that carry the weight of their claims and have the technical expertise to work through the challenges of complex projects increase the likelihood of higher project success & satisfaction rates and deal with less discontent, mistrust or loss of valuable relationships.

Learn more about this interesting project or visit our project gallery to see photos.

“Getting the project started off the right way is important. If an architect is involved and has prior knowledge about other project partners, their opinion typically impacts which partners will be chosen for a project. If an elevator cab manufacturer and an architect can communicate directly and keep me in the loop, we can save time and money. G&R is very responsive, especially when architects want to get started quickly.”

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