The Massachusetts State Transportation Building is a mixed-use facility in downtown Boston with independent tenant and state offices, parking for both state employees and the public, restaurants, a day care, as well as offices for nearby Emerson College and Beantown Trolley Tours of Boston. The eight-story, 902,000-square-foot building, located in the heart of Boston’s theater district, was originally designed and built as a “showpiece of energy efficiency.”
The building’s construction was completed in 1984, and the original entrance doors were in use for over 30 years until 2018. These doors were no longer performing as they should, causing issues related to ADA accessibility and overall compliance with the standards. Aesthetically, the entrances looked dated because of scratches, chipped paint, and decades of use. What was once considered the symbol of energy efficiency in Boston, the State Transportation Building fell behind the times and building managers knew they needed an upgrade.
The building’s main doors were replaced with a total of 24 stainless steel Ellison custom balanced doors, and select entryways equipped with PowerNow Stanley Magic-Force low-energy concealed overhead power operators to meet the latest ADA standards. The doors feature four-inch-high top rails, 10-inch-high bottom rails, and four-inch-wide stiles on each side.
The building sees an abundance of visitors daily and experiences stretches of heavy foot traffic. Ellison balanced doors are ideal for spaces like this because of their quality construction coupled with durable hardware components. This combination lends long-term performance to all Ellison entrance systems, allowing them to last through decades of use and ever-changing weather cycles.
Designed with precision, Ellison balanced doors and frames are formed and welded using durable sheet materials that give them a rigid, unitized structure and helps them last much longer than typical commercial entryways. The balanced hardware sets them apart even further, notably the inset pivot point located at two-thirds the width of the door. Compared to standard hinge doors, Ellison doors are much easier to operate even on the windiest days. When opening, external and internal pressures are reduced at both sides of the door leaf. This is beneficial for areas of constant foot traffic because the doors are much easier to open and swing clearance requirements are reduced, providing a smooth pedestrian flow.
The new balanced doors successfully modernize the State Transportation Building, shaping the first interaction for visitors at its main access points. The renovations provide the benefit of long-lasting doors for owners and management, but pedestrians reap the benefits too with an effortless transition upon entering or exiting the building.
