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  • Hacker News
  • (2017), if the pictured award is to be believed
    by chucksmash
  • I wish there was more explanation as to why the original builders decided to make a cat's cradle out of the roping. It's not like you can accidentally run the cables for cab #1 all the way over cabs 2 & 3 because you weren't paying attention during installation.
    by lexicality
  • I guess it makes sense that there's an elevator of the year award, though it's never something I'd have thought of.

    The photo of one of the brake assembly components mounted to a welded tubular skid, bolted to a large structure of I-beams, bolted to another I-beam skid which is bolted to the floor, is tickling me as slightly humorous.

    by Uncle_Brumpus
  • My first thought was “there’s an elevator of the year award?” but reading it was fascinating. A lot of planning and work went into executing that modernization project from what was originally a fairly unique system. And 45-50% energy savings per year is a great ROI.
    by mysterydip
  • The staggering number of fonts used on that award [1] is something to behold. I count maybe six?

    [1] https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/669edd08b2a3fe...

    by atombender
  • Related, one of the most fascinating articles I've ever read:

    Up and Then Down (2014) By Nick Paumgarten https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/04/21/up-and-then-do...

    by Simulacra
  • I don't know if it's still running but the hand-operated elevator in Chicago's Fine Arts building on Sth Michigan Ave deserves an award. I always enjoyed having an excuse to visit the music rooms on the top floors. The first time I visited I was worried but seeing the skill of the operator was something else.

    https://soundquality.org/2025/04/chicagos-last-manually-oper...

    Maybe they shut it down already and are reading Elevator World for replacement ideas. A glass one please!

    by telesilla
  • I love that seemingly random trades that we largely take for granted have these case studies that result in awards for things us muggles never think about.

    A garage I went to subscribed to a trade magazine for towing and recovery companies and left the issues in the waiting room. Sure enough, they had a recovery of the year type of award.

    by mauvehaus

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