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# Smart Elevators Crucial for Aging US Commercial Buildings
- URL: https://www.industrialbriefs.com/smart-elevators-aging-commercial-buildings/
- Published: 2026-11-11T04:00:30.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-11T04:00:29.000Z
- Description: Aging US commercial buildings face a modernization challenge with outdated elevator systems, impacting tenant satisfaction and building efficiency. Owners must balance financial constraints with the need for upgrades, especially as smart building systems demand integration.
- Author: IndustrialBriefs
- Tags: construction, engineering, sustainability

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The aging infrastructure of commercial buildings in the United States is becoming a pressing concern, particularly as it relates to elevator systems. With 68% of the national office inventory built before 2000, the need for modernization is acute, especially for the nine million elevators worldwide that are 15 to 20 years old, including over a million in the US and Canada. This trend underscores a critical challenge for building owners: balancing the need for upgrades against financial constraints.

**What Happened**  
The commercial building stock in the United States is aging, with JLL data indicating that more than 70% of office spaces in major cities are over 30 years old. As these buildings mature, so do their internal systems, particularly elevators. Joseph Armas, President of Otis Americas, highlights that elevators aged 15 to 20 years are ripe for refurbishment. However, many building owners face financial pressures due to compressed valuations and high debt costs, making extensive modernization projects less appealing.

Owners are increasingly opting for partial upgrades, such as replacing controllers or improving door operations, to extend elevator life by five to seven years. Yet, Armas emphasizes the importance of considering full modernization based on performance history, particularly if electrical failures indicate the end of a control system's useful life. This decision affects not only maintenance costs but also tenant relationships and building functionality.

**What This Means for Your Business**  
For the AECM sector, the implications are significant. Building owners must weigh the costs of modernization against potential tenant dissatisfaction and operational inefficiencies. Elevators are integral to smart building systems, serving as the "spine" for building management, access control, and occupancy analytics. Without modernization, these systems remain disconnected, limiting their effectiveness.

The push towards AI integration in building systems further complicates matters. Elevators now require more computing power to support advanced dispatch algorithms and integrate with other building systems. For contractors and developers, this presents opportunities for new contracts and partnerships, particularly in retrofitting older buildings to meet these new technological demands.

**What US Operators Should Watch**  
Decision-makers should closely monitor the performance of their building's vertical transport systems. Regular maintenance records and performance history can inform whether partial upgrades or full modernizations are necessary. Additionally, staying informed about advancements in AI and building management systems can provide competitive advantages in the market.

For those involved in government contracting, understanding compliance requirements such as CMMC and NIST standards related to building infrastructure will be crucial. As federal funding opportunities arise, being prepared to bid on projects that involve smart building integrations will be essential.

*Source: https://propmodo.com/smart-buildings-need-smart-elevators-but-most-owners-are-putting-off-upgrading-them/.* [*Read the original story ->*](https://propmodo.com/smart-buildings-need-smart-elevators-but-most-owners-are-putting-off-upgrading-them/?ref=industrialbriefs.com)