December 16, 2024 • The Telephone Building

Installing a Modern Elevator Shaft in the Telephone Building

Two construction workers install structural supports in a new elevator shaft inside the historic Telephone Building.
The restoration team prepares the new elevator shaft inside the Telephone Building, aligning final supports before the elevator installation.

As part of the ongoing restoration of the historic Telephone Building, crews had completed a full rebuild of the building’s elevator shaft. The upgrade included a new five-foot-deep pit wall and a 40-foot shaft designed to accommodate a modern, energy-efficient Kone elevator.

The new system meets all current code requirements while preserving valuable interior space. Structural tie beams and reinforcements enhance safety and longevity, enabling improved accessibility without compromising historic character.

This critical infrastructure project improved functionality while respecting the building’s early 20th-century roots. 

vator shaft retrofit showcasing modernized vertical transportation components.
 Elevator shaft rebuilt to support modern vertical transportation system.

Learn more about the full restoration plan for the Telephone Building.

Restoration Updates | See daily progress on Historic Cleveland Street

An exciting new chapter of historic restoration begins for four unique properties on Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater.
See the magnificent transformation now underway