We use them every day. They’re critical in the workplace, airports and underground railway systems to convey workers or travelers quickly and efficiently to their destinations And they’re becoming more and more commonplace in residences for convenience or for people who are unable to climb stairs.
Yet, elevators have barely evolved since they were first invented in 1857. One walks in; presses a button to go up or down and then you get off. Between getting in and getting out, we still experience that awkward moment. You know the “moment” — you stare at the floor, the doors, watch the numbers change until we reach our floor; anything but have to talk to the people sharing the lift with you.
Things are changing though. While safe operation of an elevator is of top priority, esthetics are now an important consideration in elevator interiors and Nature Coast Installation Services (NCIS) is on track to make your elevator ride a more exciting visual journey.
In January 2017, Wade Sutherlin and his wife, Amanda, of Spring Hill, decided to branch out on their own and launched NCIS Elevator.
A talented carpenter, Wade has been in the elevator cab industry for many years customizing elevator interiors in properties from public housing to posh, expensive office buildings in Boca Raton, condominium high rises, multi-million dollar residences in Miami and Orlando, new construction projects, hospitals, medical research facilities, assisted living facilities and military bases.
“It took me 5 years, working alongside a qualified technician, to earn my elevator technician competency license,” he said, “and I have to attend workshops and take classes regularly to keep up-to-date with the very stringent rules regarding the operation, maintenance and refurbishment of elevators.”
Amanda was working a full-time job until Dec, 2017, but is now actively involved with the business. She’s also a real estate investor
“I’m plugging myself in more and more to assist him like keeping his calendar straight, following up on calls, researching products, also the more mundane things like invoicing, accounting and learning elevator language,” she said.
Amanda also accompanies Wade on jobs with him and works alongside him.
“You know, pass me that tool or this tool — whatever I can do to help him,” she said.
The couple is currently working out of their home and the garage is their workshop.
“Not so unusual, Microsoft and Apple both started up in a garage,” laughed Amanda.
NCIS’s primary focus is specializing in the manufacture and install of high-quality, custom-built elevator cabs and they have a quite considerable list of clients, so much so they are actively looking for a business property.
Wade stated that from getting an initial enquiry about redesigning a cab interior can take up to 4 to 6 weeks.
“I start with a pre-construction meeting with the client and find out what design elements they’re looking for,” he said. “Each job is unique and it could be just one small elevator in a home or as many as four or five elevators in an office building or hospital,” he said.
“There’s a myriad of materials, finishes, and accessories that the client can select, depending on the building and what the client wants,” said Wade. “They could want sleek, edgy, sophisticated, contemporary or classic – something to match the rest of the building.”
Once Wade knows what the design considerations are, he makes sure the products he recommends are code compliant, affordable, and not too heavy.
“One client wanted marble cladding in his lift interior and we know how heavy that can be,” he said. “So we sourced a composite marble that was wafer thin,” said Wade.
At a typical client meeting, the couple takes chip-chains of beautiful laminates, stainless steel accents, mirrors, rigidified metals, recessed lighting samples and innovative flooring options.
“We can be as creative as we like,” said Amanda. “Clients enjoy a design that’s “out-of-the-box.”
“Once the design is finalized, we source the products, schedule deliveries and only then do I start stripping the old elevator cab to make way for the new,” Wade said. “It’s always my goal to deliver the desired effect,” he said.
One client of NCIS is The Lani Kai Island Resort in Fort Myers.
“The resort requested a specialized, color-changing lighting system for their elevators as it goes up and down,” said Wade. “I’ll have to customize the cab to accommodate the lighting device and the hotel can also control the lighting effects from an App on their phone.”
“All products, as far as possible, are sourced right here in the US and as much as we can here in the county so we can keep money in the right here,” said Amanda. “We’ve not as yet found a local source for protective padding on the walls or an upholsterer willing to diversify, but we’re still looking,” she said.
Elevators service millions of people daily so it makes sense to take advantage of its captive audience and give them something worthwhile to look at.
The options are endless. Glass ceilings, colored metals, mirrors, etched stainless steel, aged timber, bronze and even leather. Flat screens and projections can also be used to create the right atmosphere and complement the building.
Wade and Amanda Sutherlin can be reached at 727-743-7866
CONTACT NCIS ELEVATOR
Nature Coast Installation and Service, LLC serves all of Florida and the Southeastern US. NCIS is fully licensed and certified and insured as required by law.
Phone:
743-7866
Website:
www.nciselevator.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NCISelevator/
Email:
grunner30@gmail.com