Endeavour House, in Ipswich, Suffolk, has undergone a significant lift replacement, with the installation of five Stannah lifts designed to improve performance, reliability and overall user experience.
Home to a mix of municipal offices and meeting rooms, the five-storey public building serves as a meeting point for Suffolk County Council, Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council.
With high levels of footfall placing increasing demand on the existing lifts, a full replacement was required to deliver consistent reliability and performance. The new lift solution is designed to meet current usage demands while also ensuring seamless, step-free access throughout the building.
Following a competitive tender process, Stannah Lifts was awarded the contract to deliver the lift replacement project at Endeavour House on behalf of Suffolk City Council, working with Concertus, Design and Property Consultants, and main contractors Dalkia.
The works
Stannah’s comprehensive lift replacement plan included the complete removal of five existing lifts, full refurbishment and preparation of the lift shafts, and the installation of four high-performance passenger lifts and one firefighting lift.
The aim was to provide an energy-efficient solution that complements the building’s modern appearance and ensures the safety of occupants and service engineers when carrying out maintenance work.
The challenge
A key challenge was carrying out a complete turnkey solution in a live environment. As the building remained fully occupied throughout the works, constant coordination was needed to ensure successful planning and execution. To ensure the building remained safe for occupants, hoarding was installed to segregate work areas.
Once installed, Stannah progressed with the full removal of existing lifts and the installation of scaffolding to facilitate safe access within the lift shafts. Each lift shaft was thoroughly cleaned and prepared before installing bespoke Stannah lifts to ensure a clear foundation for the equipment.
The project spanned over 12 months, but each lift installation involved working to a tight schedule, and to support the needs of a live environment, the project was delivered in a phased approach. This ensured that at least two lifts remained operational at all times to maintain step-free access between floors.
The solution
Stannah designed two sets of bespoke duplex lift systems, consisting of four passenger MRL (Motor Room Less) traction lifts. The MRL lifts are equipped with gearless variable voltage drives, which offer a smooth and energy-efficient operation and provide reliable performance over time.
These passenger lifts carry up to 13 people and operate at a speed of 1.6m/s to significantly improve passenger flow and reduce waiting times. The duplex design was chosen to enhance service reliability, allowing for one lift to remain operational if the other undergoes maintenance.
The lift car finishes and wide vision panels were carefully chosen to complement the modern interior design. The incorporation of panoramic glazed panels creates a more open and spacious environment for passengers, allowing natural light to flow through the space while seamlessly integrating with the building’s glazed aesthetic. Grey expo flooring was also chosen due to its durability, low maintenance and consistent fine-grained aesthetic, providing a modern finish that withstands heavy foot traffic.
All lift shafts were designed with LED lighting to improve visibility and safety for lift engineers. Pit and entrance fascias also help to protect the shaft structure and surrounding finishes from damage.
In addition to the passenger lifts, a bespoke simplex firefighting lift in brushed stainless steel was installed to meet stringent safety requirements, while maintaining ease of use for emergency services.
The new firefighting lift complies with EN81-73 standards, which ensure safe shutdown in the event of a fire and includes firefighting controls for enhanced occupant safety. The lift is also equipped with a car preference key switch, allowing it to ignore external landing calls during an emergency and respond solely to commands from firefighters within the lift car.
All five passenger lifts are designed in compliance with EN81:21 standards and incorporate a CTV mechanical package. For better connectivity and to ensure continual operation during power outages, a GSM unit was installed, futureproofing the lifts ready for the digital phone line switchover due by 2027.
Lifts at Endeavour House were handed over with ‘open protocol’, which gives Suffolk County Council complete freedom to choose any maintenance provider for easy part replacement.
The results
The new duplex passenger lifts successfully provide reliable and efficient movement throughout the building, delivering a future-proofed, resilient solution for long-term use. The new firefighting lift better equips the building to handle emergency situations, instilling confidence in the event of emergencies and ensuring safe and quick access for emergency services.
James Gregory, Main Contractor at Dalkia UK, says: “Working in a live environment necessitates strong coordination from all on-site teams to deliver this project successfully and smoothly. Stannah were very cooperative and worked closely with our on-site teams to create the best practical solution, whilst also delivering bespoke lift solutions that blend harmoniously with the building’s aesthetics.”
Gavin Satchell, Project Manager at Stannah, adds: “The combination of the passenger and firefighting lifts provides a practical solution for Suffolk County Council. Working together, the lifts transform the building into a safe, desirable space with step-free access to all floors. We are currently working with Suffolk County Council on a 12-month maintenance plan, ensuring the lifts continue to perform reliably.”
Stannah Lifts is proud to continue supporting Suffolk County Council with ongoing lift maintenance and repair services. With a twelve-month warranty and servicing, including 24/7 emergency callout, Suffolk County Council can be confident that their lifts will remain in great condition, leading to fewer breakdowns, lower running costs and a reliable service overall.
Find out more about Stannah Lifts maintenance and repair services at https://www.stannahlifts.co.uk
