The Egg

The Egg – named for its iconic design – is the Empire State Plaza’s Center for the Performing Arts. The A|r Vertical Transportation studio was invited to provide complete elevator modernization for the facility. The unique building required six custom-designed elevators, including four circular passenger elevators, a hydraulic platform lift that services six floors, and a one-of-a-kind hydraulic stage lift with a travel distance of over 100 feet.

Some fun facts about this historic building and our elevator modernization:

Although the “stem” holding up the Egg seems to rest on the platform of the sidewalk, it actually anchors the building by going down six stories into the ground.
There are virtually no straight lines throughout the entire building construction (including our rounded elevators!)
The Egg’s stage lift is adaptable to the size of the performance. For larger equipment and set designs, the opening height can be increased to over 22 feet.

Deep Energy Retrofit at Buffalo State College

The next wave of environmentally-conscious design goes beyond merely reducing negative impacts to buildings that positively contribute to the environment through regenerative design.

Courtyard Defined by Architectural Resources

The Rails

No precise definition of a courtyard exists. Throughout time, courtyards have manifested in many fashions, whether open or enclosed, offering a main attraction or a tranquil transition, a public destination, or a secluded retreat.

Happy Holidays

From our family to yours, have a joyful, magical, and healthy holiday season, and a wonderful New Year!

Library Design in a Changing World

With the ever-evolving nature of teaching and learning, the academic library has already undergone a great transformation by adapting to new paradigms present in higher education. The proliferation of digital resources and scholarship has meant that access to information is everywhere and even more critical in the current circumstances.