PRESERVATION
Tech Notes

MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
NUMBER 1

Replicating Historic
Elevator Enclosures

Marilyn E. Kaplan, AIA
Director of Historic Preservation
Cannon

Guarantee Building
Buffalo, NY

Louis Sullivan's Guaranty Building, constructed in Buffalo, New York, between 1895 and 1896, is one of pre-eminent examples of early highrise building design. Particularly notable is Sullivan's skillful integration of the technical requirements and architectural opportunities presented by the advancement in elevator engineering with the related systems comprising the building's vertical circulation. The 3 year restoration of this National Historic Landmark, completed in 1984, included the replication of the historic elevator enclosures on the first two floors within the significant lobby spaces.

When constructed, the 165' building was the tallest in the City of Buffalo. Its first floor was a rectangle 116' by 93' containing a spacious and richly detailed circulation space that connected the two main entrances and lobbies, central elevator and stair core, and retail spaces. The upper 12 'stories were U-shaped to maximize the penetration of natural daylight. With the exception of the centrally located core that contained the electric elevators and single stairway, the entire building perimeter was occupied by offices entered from a double-loaded corridor.

The genius of Sullivan's design is reflected in the building's ability to transmit light throughout the interior. The openness of the first floor plan was enhanced by 15' high, glazed interior partitions and large art-glass skylights (see figure 1). On upper floors, translucent florentine glass at corridor walls maximize the light available to the corridor and offices as well as to the elevators and stairs.

The design of the elevator assembly skillfully integrated the complex daylighting scheme and an efficient vertical circulation system. Although the original cabs were removed in 1962, it is believed they were constructed with iron frames and glazed walls. Sullivan's solution included the placement of elevators within a shaft containing a skylight, white reflective glazed brick, and windows that provided the occupants of the elevator cabs views outside the building, including Lake Erie.

The elevator doors and walls that enclosed the elevator shaft and faced the elevator lobbies were part of a cast iron enclosure assembled from vertical and horizontal members: posts, friezes, cornices, base moldings, and pierced infill grilles. All were detailed with an ornate organic pattern based on the growth and emergence of a germinating seedpod, and finished with electro-plated bronze.

On each floor other miscellaneous cast metal elements followed the building's organic theme. These included ornamental call button plates and mail chutes, and above the elevator doors, medallions placed on wire-welded mesh "veils" intended to obscure the elevator equipment behind. On each floor, one medallion served as the floor indicator.

Figure 1. First and typical upper floor plans, 1897. Extensive skylit circulation area on the first floor and glazing at corridor partitions contributed to the building's openness and transparency. Drawing: Cannon, Javier Salzar