Mott Building News Blog
2009 marks start of 14-month project to install Mott Building’s new elevators
December 19, 2008
Plans to modernize the building’s four main passenger elevators have been underway for several months. This week, Otis Elevator confirmed that they will begin the actual work in the building on Monday, January 5, 2009. The entire project will take approximately 14 months to complete and will include replacement of all elevator equipment located in the penthouse. Operating panels in each car as well as call buttons and directional lanterns on each floor of the building also will be replaced.
Elevator 4 will be the first car to be modernized, leaving three cars in service and operational under the old system. Elevator 3 will be modernized next and when both 3 and 4 are fully operational under the new system, Elevators 1 and 2 will be taken out of service and modernized at the same time. Given the efficiency of the new system, two modernized elevators should provide the same level of service to the building, if not better, than three or four elevators were able to provide under the old system.
As with all projects of this scope and magnitude however, there likely will be unanticipated issues to resolve and problems to overcome. We are confident that Otis Elevator, the company that installed the original elevator system in the building more than 78 years ago, has the experience and the expertise to handle even the most difficult of these challenges.
Your patience over the past year as we dealt with numerous elevator problems has been greatly appreciated, and we would like to thank you in advance for your continued patience throughout the upcoming year as we complete this extensive elevator modernization project.
Updates on the progress of the project will be periodically posted here, so please visit often.
Mott Foundation Building presents unique challenge to the City’s Fire Department
November 26, 2008
As one of only a few high rise buildings in the City of Flint, the Mott Foundation Building presents a unique challenge to the City’s Fire Department. Consequently, Battalion Chief Tony Tinnin arranged for 30 of Flint’s fire fighters to train in the Mott Building on Tuesday, November 25, 2008.
The training enabled Chief Tinnin’s crew to familiarize themselves with areas in the subbasement and penthouse, where critical equipment and gas and electrical utilities are located. The crew also toured several floors of the building to better understand the “open” single-tenant layout versus the multiple-tenant layout, as well as to observe where fire hoses, extinguishers, electrical shutoffs and stairwell exits are located.
The training is part of the Mott Foundation Building’s management ongoing efforts to provide the most secure accommodations possible for building tenants, their staff and visitors.
Water damages repaired, Mott Building back to business
November 17, 2008
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| This is the water tank that "rained" on our parade last week. To get a feel for the massive size of this tank, notice the 5 foot step ladder in the lower portion of the picture. |
The Mott Foundation Building experienced a serious water malfunction on Thursday, November 6. Thankfully, it happened at a time when building staff was on duty, could quickly identify the source of the problem and get the help needed to prevent major damage.
To follow up and add a little detail for those that may be interested – a sensor switch that regulates water flow to the holding tank in the penthouse malfunctioned and the tank overfilled. The overflow went into a drain; however, the drain was unable to keep up with such a large discharge of water. Unfortunately the extra water had to go somewhere, and the restroom drains on the 5th and 7th floors were the path of least resistance. The volume of water was so extensive that it ran out of the restrooms and down the main corridors almost to the opposite ends of the hallways on each of the affected floors.
The 6th floor also sustained damage from water seeping down from the 7th floor. Thanks to quick-thinking staff that set trash cans under drips and moved furniture and equipment, the damage was very minimal. Although it was a very long week, we can now say that repairs to the water tank are complete; carpets are dry; ceiling tiles have been replaced; and other minor repairs have been made… so we are substantially “back to normal” and ready for our next challenge.
A special thanks to all of the tenants on the 5th, 6th, and 7th floors who were especially patient and understanding throughout this ordeal. Although we did not believe it at the time, everyone said “it could have been worse.” Turns out they were right…
it could have been much worse!