While riding in my work’s elevator at the Tribune Tower, I couldn’t think of any other elevators that had the same button design.
Have you ever seen the same elevator button design in two different buildings?
Elevator button design
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You would have to be a very observant person, someone who is almost totally visual, to notice something like that. Fortunately, I am that type of person. I’ve often taken notice of the design of elevator buttons while also noting the maker of the elevator itself. I used to think that perhaps the design of the buttons and the panel would be the same within a company’s line, but I did not find that to be true. At least not initially. OTIS is a popular elevator manufacturer and during my first few years in Chicago I noticed that OTIS was THE elevator in my apartment building and in my work building. You might think the buttons and panels would be the same, but the elevators were different sizes. I believe newer buildings are more likely to have elevator buttons of the same design, especially the glass and steel mega-structures which have the more generic stainless steel elevators with the stainless button panels. But I would have to start some sort of tracking process in order to report design differences. The differences could be so subtle from one to the next that I would probably need side by side comparisons to note those differences.
i haven’t noticed any buildings with the same elevator buttons. It would be cool to have an entire book of just elevator buttons. sounds like a project for someone that works downtown. ah hem. nudge nudge. spudart.
I have noticed that buildings owned by Equity Offices have little tv screens in the elevator. Oakbrook Terrace Tower and the Apple building at 30 E (or W) Wacker have the exact same setup. Both buildings are owned by Equity Offices. They report on weather, news, sports, etc.. They also have little tidbit factoids. It’s a very nice thing to have in the elevator. I enjoy it very much.
yes, i do plan on photographing elevators that i have access to. I will attempt to photograph: the outside doors when closed the interior from inside (however, this can be inconsistent the set of elevator buttons a closeup of the number “2” of the buttons. I was thinking of doing floor “1” instead. And i will do a pencil rubbing of either floor 1 or floor 2.
floor “1” could be tricky. Places usually don’t use the number “1”. They usually use “G”. I think “2” is a safer better. Plus it’s symbolic that every single elevator in existence must stop at floor 2, unless floor 2 doesn’t have access via elevator and it skips to 3 or higher. But to get to any floor, the elevator must pass by floor 2.
I concur. Not all elevators have all buttons for all floors in the building. Many skyscrapers use different elevators for access to different floors. One elevator may be for floors 2 – 15 and another for floors 15 – 21 [or something like that”> … in newer buildings the elevator that goest o 15 -21 wouldn’t have floors 2 – 14 listed on the panel. All elevators go to the main level though, whatever that is called “1” or “G” or “Main”, etc. That fact could add another interesting dimension to the project.
Wow, it’s amazing to listen to people talk about elevator buttons when they aren’t even part of the elevator industry! I run a small manufacturing company of pushbuttons and other elevator equipment and I love looking at elevator buttons! Have fun with your project and thanks for your post on elevator buttons!
Wow, tom I like the selecton of elevator buttons on your site: http://www.cjanderson.com/elevatorfixtures.htm My favorite is the CJA Classic/Antique Fixtures – “The Original”. However, the PhotoFixtures are pretty cool too. It makes me wonder what sort of photos buildings put in there. Logos? Photos of the building? Do some buildings just leave it blank?
I love he Classic/Antique as well. Very nice!
Sorry .. typo! I love THE Classic …