Nothing is more damaging to our platform lift industry than slapping in standard lifts with no regard to the design of the space around them. Lifts should be an asset to the building not an eyesore. Because so much bad work was done in our industry since the ADA was enacted the end users of our equipment and their advocates who lobby for them do not have a high opinion of our accessibility solutions and prefer ramps or elevators. We need to change that perception.
Granted there are many applications such as behind a stage where aesthetics is not an issue but in a bank lobby; in the dining room of a restaurant; in a museum or historic building or any prestigious location where the lift is a prominent feature attention to details so that it fits into the space like it belongs should be our #1 concern. We will discuss options for customizing lifts from very simple and low cost options to fully custom built lifts with enclosures of architectural metal and glass; wood and stone etc.. We will also cover code issues to watch out for when doing custom design work and review shop drawings from actual jobs to point out the challenges when making enclosures with as much frameless glass as possible.