“The consistent support and fast turnaround around from ESI and team made this project possible. Because of our great team and the support from ESI, we were able to turn this project over to the customer in 5 months from submittals to project turn over which helped us and ESI secure 7 more modernization with the same customer. Hats off to the ESI team! ” – Francis Jones -Owner Prime Elevator
Executive
Summary
The vertical transportation landscape in Dallas, TX recently witnessed a remarkable engineering transformation. Stan Holland and Francis Jones, owners of Prime Elevator, a premier contractor operating out of the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas, successfully executed a modernization of Elevators on three geared, 350 feet-per-minute (fpm) traction elevators.
What began as a standard system upgrade evolved into an industry-shaking showcase of modern design and mechanical ingenuity. The project serves as a new benchmark for how independent contractors can elevate standard modernizations into premium, modern-technology installations.
Overcoming Legacy
Engineering
Challenge
The three legacy systems, originally installed in 1980, relied heavily on legacy Dover relay logic. While these systems proved durable over four decades of service, they presented significant operational inefficiencies by modern standards:
Prime Elevator completely stripped out the 1980s infrastructure. They replaced it with an advanced digital framework designed to optimize traffic flow, reduce energy expenditure, and drastically improve ride quality.
Advanced Technical Architecture
The core of the upgrade centers around specialized technology integrations designed for maximum reliability and a future-proof lifecycle.
Next-Generation Non-Proprietary Controls
The mechanical backbone of the system is now governed by state-of-the-art ESI ES2 controllers with 8-inch touchscreen user interfaces. This allows technicians to real-time monitor system diagnostics, adjust floor timings, and track error logs instantly through ituitive and visual ease.
Enhanced Passenger Safety & Communication
In perfect alignment with upcoming structural demands and modern building codes, the new car operating panels (COPs) feature built-in two-way video communication systems. (Even thought Texas is not requiring it yet) This critical lifeline ensures that visual and verbal contact can be maintained between passengers and emergency monitoring personnel during an entrapment, vastly improving accessibility and passenger peace of mind.
Going Above and
Beyond Code:
The Prime Details
Where standard modernization jobs focus strictly on basic functionality, Prime Elevator separated itself by heavily investing in technician safety, environmental visibility, and bespoke craftsmanship.
- Motion-sensor halos above the machines
- Custom-built controller stands
- Motion-sensor controller cabinet LEDs
- Laser-etched Prime branding
- Fully illuminated hoistway paths
- Ambient blue LED accents
Industry
Standards
By fusing mechanics with unparalleled aesthetic precision in the machine room, Prime Elevator has challenged traditional modernization boundaries. This Dallas project demonstrates that the back-of-house mechanical spaces can—and should—be engineered with the same level of care, branding, and futuristic designs in this modern-day era.