TEI Group awarded contract at 660 Fifth Avenue, NYC

TEI Group was awarded a contract for the modernization of 22 elevators and one installation of an elevator at the iconic 660 Fifth Avenue (between 52nd and 53rd streets). 

The modernization will feature the latest non-proprietary elevator control system designed by MCE (Motion Control Engineering) and utilizing both turnstile and wall-mounted destination entry devices. 

Brookfield Properties announced a $400 million renovation project in the fall of 2019, which will renovate the internal lobby as well as its public appearance, which holds a memorable place in Manhattan's skyline. The 41-floor building is a prime location in Midtown Manhattan with a modernization plan to include a state-of-art facade designed to reduce energy consumption. In addition, the lobby is to include active retail amenity in conjunction with its newly modernized elevators. The complete interior and exterior redesign will be completed in collaboration with Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), one of the world's most prominent architectural firms. KPF has worked on premier NYC locations, such as: 10 & 30 Hudson Yards, 390 Madison and 1 Vanderbilt.

660 Fifth Avenue (formerly 666 Fifth Avenue) has historical value as it was once the chateau mansion of William K. Vanderbilt in 1882. The mansion was demolished in 1926 and replaced with a 12-story office building. Years later, a new office tour was designed by Carson and Lundin and then built by Tishman Realty Construction in 1957. In the late 1990s, Sumitomo Realty and Development purchased the property only to have Tishman Speyer buy it back in 2000. It was sold to Kushner Properties in 2007, and later purchased by Brookfield Properties in 2018.

With the renovations, the new 660 Fifth Avenue will have a different aesthetic than the previous six-decade-old structure. The sweeping views of the city, increased sunlight exposure, double-height ceilings and overall modernization will lure companies to rent space in this building, currently valued at $1.29 billion, one of the priciest locations in New York City.