Donald L. Dear Building Elevator Modernization Project

The Donald L. Dear (DLD) Building in the City of Carson has served as West Basin Municipal Water District's (West Basin) headquarters since 1991. During West Basin's tenure at the DLD Building, building maintenance staff have done an exceptional job keeping essential systems (HVAC, elevators, etc.) operational while minimizing impacts and inconveniences to staff and visitors. Specifically, two passenger elevators serve the DLD Building and carry staff and visitors from the main lobby (1st floor) to the 2nd and 3rd floors. Originally installed in 1982, the elevators are Dover elevators and typically have an estimated useful service life of approximately 20-25 years. Dover was acquired by Thyssenkrupp Elevator (TKE) in 1999, and TKE later discontinued the Dover product line in the early 2000s. TKE has deemed the elevator controller and controller type obsolete. Due to the age of the elevator equipment and lack of availability of discontinued parts, staff recommends a full modernization of both elevators which includes new controllers with soft starters, new submersible power units, new shut-off valves in the machine room and pit, new seismic rupture valves, new car and hoistway door equipment, new fixtures, new cab interiors, new hydraulic cylinders, and other related work by others. A full modernization of the elevators will improve reliability, extend their useful life, maintain acceptable performance, and significantly reduce downtime and impacts to staff and visitors at the DLD Building.