Schindler has secured a major contract to modernise 31 elevators at the General Motors Building, one of New York City’s most prominent commercial landmarks.
Located at 767 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, the 50-storey building occupies an entire city block near the southeast corner of Central Park. Completed in 1968 and currently owned by BXP, the property is undergoing upgrades aimed at strengthening its premium amenities and improving the experience of tenants and visitors.
Complete Overhaul of Elevator Systems
The modernisation programme will cover the building’s original elevator machinery and core mechanical components. Schindler will also install new controllers and upgrade the electronic infrastructure supporting the vertical transportation systems.
By renewing both the mechanical and electronic elements, the project is expected to improve the elevators’ performance, reliability and operational efficiency while extending the useful life of the building’s vertical mobility infrastructure.
The scale of the contract makes it a significant modernisation assignment, particularly given the General Motors Building’s age, high occupancy and importance within Manhattan’s commercial property market.
Schindler PORT to Improve Passenger Movement
Schindler PORT, the company’s destination-dispatch and access-management technology, will be integrated into the building as part of the project.
The technology is designed to manage passenger traffic more efficiently by assigning users to appropriate elevators based on their selected destinations. This can help reduce unnecessary stops, shorten waiting times and improve passenger flow during busy periods.
PORT will also support the building’s security systems by enabling controlled access to individual floors. The combination of traffic management and secure floor access is expected to provide a smoother and more personalised experience for tenants and visitors.
Upgrading a Recognisable Manhattan Address
The General Motors Building is among the best-known office towers along Fifth Avenue. Its location beside Central Park and its presence across a full city block have made it a distinctive part of the Manhattan skyline for nearly six decades.
According to Vikén Martarian, a member of Schindler’s Group Executive Committee responsible for the Americas region and the Escalators segment, the partnership with BXP will significantly improve the building’s vertical mobility systems.
He said the upgrades would enhance comfort, safety and efficiency for people using the building, while helping the property maintain its position as a leading commercial address in Manhattan.
Mechanical Renewal Meets Digital Mobility
The project reflects a broader approach to elevator modernisation in ageing high-rise buildings. Rather than focusing only on replacing individual components, the work combines mechanical renewal with digital traffic management, modern control systems and integrated access features.
For high-traffic commercial properties, such upgrades can support more predictable passenger movement, improve the management of peak-hour demand and strengthen the overall tenant experience.
Schindler and BXP have not disclosed the financial value of the contract or the expected completion schedule.
The modernisation will allow the General Motors Building to retain much of its established elevator infrastructure while introducing contemporary control, security and passenger-management capabilities.
Source: Schindler Elevator Corporation