New York, USA

The project of the century

Some 40 meters below the streets of Manhattan, a new railway station and rail tunnel have been built. Schindler supplied the escalators and elevators for the enormous East Side Access project.

Park Avenue is one of the world’s most exclusive thoroughfares, cutting through Midtown Manhattan and hosting landmarks like the legendary Waldorf Astoria and the MetLife Building, to name just a few. But its uniqueness goes far below the surface. More than 40 meters underground lies one of the most expensive tunnels ever built, connecting East 63rd Street to Grand Central Madison – a newly constructed underground commuter station complete with eight platforms, four tracks, and 58 customized Schindler escalators and elevators.

The idea behind this vast infrastructure project was born back in the 1960s, when plans were made to use an existing tunnel under the East River to improve the commute between Long Island and East Manhattan. A new railway line would have gone under the East River and led directly to Grand Central Station. However, this would have required the construction of a new section to connect East 63rd Street – where the existing tunnel reaches Manhattan – with Grand Central Station.

For 50 years, this project remained nothing more than a pipe dream – until New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) finally decided to make East Side Access a reality. The new railway station opened in January 2023, and the train line now carries tens of thousands of commuters to Midtown and back every day, reducing travel times for many of them by up to 40 minutes each way.

Jim O’Neill, Schindler Head Foreman Escalators, stands on the upper floor of Grand Central Madison, watching passengers on the escalators. “I love seeing the astonished look on people’s faces. Anyone using these escalators for the first time is amazed at how long they are and how quickly they move. There’s nothing like it in the whole of New York.” Jim’s father and grandfather also worked in the elevator industry. He’s been with Schindler for 28 years, and now manages its operations in Manhattan and the Bronx. He’s seen and experienced a lot in his time at the company, but is still filled with pride when he looks out at the Schindler elevators and escalators in Grand Central Madison.

The customized escalators were developed and built at the Schindler production plant in Clinton, North Carolina. The 17 Schindler 9700 escalators reach a depth of 30 meters and, with a length of 51.8 meters, are the second-longest escalators in the whole of the USA. As Christophoros Anayiotos, an engineer on the team, explains: “The length of the escalators posed a technical challenge, especially as space limitations meant that we weren’t able to install the huge drives in the lower area, as we would normally. Given the unique nature of the units, we also had to develop a modified control system.”

The size, weight, and sheer quantity of escalators involved meant that the Schindler crew of eight really had to go the extra mile. One of them, Schuyler “Ace” Ferdinandson, was in the second year of his apprenticeship when installation began in 2014. “Even today, I’m sometimes amazed when I see the bright, clean station with its marble walls. When we started work here, there was nothing but mud, rubble, and rats,” he recalls. In fact, cats were brought onto the site in the hope that they would catch the rats before they gnawed through the cables.

“We spent seven demanding years in a tough environment. It was such a lengthy project that alongside our installation work, we also had to carry out maintenance to make sure that, while we were installing new escalators, the units that had been installed two years earlier were still operating smoothly.” At peak times, as many as 30 Schindler technicians were deployed at the enormous underground construction site. Meanwhile, high above them, trains were arriving at Grand Central Station and millions of New Yorkers were going about their daily lives.

“We gave this project our all and, as a result were able to prove to our customer MTA just how good we are,” says Schuyler “Ace.” Now an Escalator Foreman Night/Adjuster, he’s responsible for the maintenance work carried out on the escalators at night. The Schindler Service team ensures that all escalators and elevators run smoothly and that the journey from Long Island to Midtown – passing through Queens and Manhattan East Side – is as quick and easy as possible for the tens of thousands of commuters who take it. “East Side Access is a project close to our hearts, and it’s just as important for New York. Through our work, we can make the quality of life of New Yorkers a little better. That makes us proud and gives extra meaning to what we do.”

Breathing new life into existing emblems

The historic building One Madison Avenue has under­gone a complete renovation, combining its existing structure with inno­-vative additions. Schindler installed the elevators for the evolved skyscraper.

When Bobbie Cardeñosa rides in one of the elegant high-rise elevators and sees fingerprints on the stainless steel panel, she has to resist the urge to wipe them away with her sleeve. “My fellow technicians find it amusing – but this project is my baby and everything needs to be perfect.” The Associate Project Manager has been overseeing the work at One Madison Avenue in the Flatiron District for two years. The construction work was completed in 2024, but Bobbie still spends time on-site once or twice a week to meet the customer or colleagues.

The building has had an eventful history. It was completed in 1893 and briefly held the title of New York’s tallest structure. Over the next 130 years, it underwent many renovations and rebuilds. Then, in 2020, the building owner carried out a complete renovation, expanding the original ten-floor structure with a spectacular 17-story addition.

Schindler installed 30 brand new elevators, including 25 Schindler 7000, and one Schindler 9300 escalator. The Schindler PORT transit management system ensures swift and stress-free passenger flow for the large number of employees working in the new high-rise. “Our customer had very high expectations. We were able to meet them, through dedication and a focus on operational readiness,” says Bobbie.

Project Executive Jerry Piserchia, also involved in the project, added: “We impressed the customer with our product quality, rather than with low prices. We stayed on budget and on schedule, and, thanks to our extensive experience, we were able to find a solution to every complex situation that arose. In the long run, these factors save our customers money – and that’s why so many decide to partner with Schindler time and time again.”

Rejuvenating treatment

Schindler is installing 18 elevators with state-of-the-art technology in the art deco skyscraper, 500 Fifth Avenue.

Stepping through the revolving doors of this office building on Fifth Avenue is like taking a step back in time. The lobby, with its marble and brass and art deco flourishes, gives away the building’s age – much like the emblematic Empire State Building, located just nine blocks away, this skyscraper was constructed between 1930 and 1931.

A total of 18 elevators serve the 60 stories of 500 Fifth Avenue, welcoming 1 850 people to work each day. Four Schindler teams are currently busy modernizing these elevators and equipping them with the Schindler PORT transit management system. Commenting on this complex undertaking, Elevator Foreman Eric Boland explains: “Old buildings like this one are demanding, because you never know exactly what awaits you – and there are space limitations.” Not only that, modernization projects are carried out in buildings while they’re still fully operational, meaning that any disruption must be kept to a minimum. “Working both safely and efficiently is vital. This motivates my team to deliver the best possible results for our customer,” Eric explains.

The office space is leased by real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. Property Manager David Leest says: “The elevators are a major factor in determining whether our tenants are satisfied. Their employees want to reach their office floors safely and quickly – without having to wait in line for a long time. Plenty of companies can install elevators, but ensuring they operate effectively and are safe – that’s certainly not something every firm can do. Schindler has smart employees and delivers leading technology. And if, from time to time, something is not quite perfect, Schindler offers exceptional support.”