A Cohesive Arrival: Forbes-Ergas’ Elevator Design at The Brevard
Forbes-Ergas Design Associates’ work at The Brevard, a 410-unit cooperative at 245 East 54th Street, was featured in Habitat’s December 5, 2013 article by Ronda Kaysen.
The following is a paraphrased synopsis of the project coverage.
Connecting the Lobby and Elevator Experience
The Brevard had already updated its lobby and hallways, but its aging elevator interiors remained visually disconnected from those renovated spaces. When the building undertook an elevator modernization, the board used the opportunity to address the appearance of the cabs as well.
Having designed the lobby and hallways, Forbes-Ergas returned to help coordinate the elevator interiors with the building’s refreshed common areas. The selected finishes combined woven metal and bronze elements, balancing appearance with durability.
Planning the Interior Alongside the Equipment
The article highlights the value of considering cab finishes early in an elevator project. Coordinating those decisions with mechanical work can help prevent last-minute selections and avoidable delays.
Paraphrasing Joel M. Ergas’ comments in the feature, the experience of moving through a lobby and into an elevator should feel visually connected. The Brevard project demonstrates the importance of treating these shared spaces as parts of a complete design.
Source: Ronda Kaysen, “Elevator-Cab Upgrade: When Aesthetics Can Give Your Market Value a Lift,” Habitat, December 5, 2013.