WE BUILD THINGS
THAT MOVE

Elevator construction and modernization for the Pacific Northwest

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Three core capabilities

01
New Construction
Ground-up elevator installations coordinated with general contractors from foundation to final inspection. Multi-phase scheduling for occupied buildings and phased construction.
02
Modernization
Complete system overhauls that bring aging elevators up to current code and performance standards. Controllers, machines, fixtures, and door operators replaced as a complete package.
03
Service
Preventive maintenance programs and 24/7 emergency response to keep your elevators running safely and reliably. Monthly inspections, on-call technicians, and proactive parts replacement.

LET'S BUILD

Ready to start your next elevator project?

Contact Us
01
New Construction

Ground-up elevator installation from pit to penthouse. We coordinate directly with general contractors to align vertical transportation with the building schedule, handling everything from engineering submittals to final acceptance testing.

  • Engineering and shop drawing coordination
  • Hoistway and pit preparation oversight
  • Multi-phase installation scheduling
  • GC coordination and site safety integration
  • Final inspection and acceptance testing
Typical Projects: High-rise residential, commercial office, medical facilities, mixed-use developments
02
Full Modernization

Complete system upgrades that transform aging elevators into modern, code-compliant assets. We replace controllers, machines, door operators, fixtures, and wiring as a coordinated package, minimizing downtime for building occupants.

  • Controller and dispatch system replacement
  • Machine and motor upgrades
  • Door operator and fixture modernization
  • Cab interior renovations
  • Code compliance and ADA upgrades
Typical Projects: 1970s-90s era office buildings, aging residential towers, hotel renovations
03
Maintenance Programs

Preventive and predictive maintenance programs built around your equipment and usage patterns. Monthly inspections, quarterly deep dives, and annual assessments keep your elevators running safely and efficiently.

  • Monthly preventive maintenance visits
  • Oil analysis and vibration monitoring
  • 24/7 callback response
  • Parts inventory management
  • Annual equipment condition reports
Typical Projects: Property management portfolios, single-building owners, HOA elevator systems
04
Code Compliance

Navigate the complexity of ASME A17.1, state codes, and local AHJ requirements. We handle testing, documentation, and remediation to bring your elevators into full compliance and keep them there.

  • ASME A17.1 code analysis
  • Category 1 and Category 5 testing
  • State inspection preparation
  • AHJ coordination and documentation
  • Violation remediation planning
Typical Projects: Pre-purchase inspections, annual state testing, violation resolution
05
Emergency Response

When an elevator goes down, response time matters. Our dispatch team operates 24/7 with a 2-hour service level agreement across our coverage area. Entrapments, shutdowns, and safety issues are handled immediately.

  • 24/7/365 dispatch center
  • 2-hour response SLA across service area
  • Entrapment response and passenger rescue
  • Emergency shutdown diagnostics
  • Temporary service restoration
Typical Projects: Entrapment calls, power-related shutdowns, door malfunctions, safety circuit trips

Our Work

Selected projects across the Pacific Northwest

New Construction
Pike Place Tower
Seattle, WA
18 units
High-rise mixed-use tower with 18 traction elevators including service and freight units. Coordinated with Turner Construction on a 28-month build schedule.
Modernization
Burnside Lofts
Portland, OR
8 units
Full modernization of 8 hydraulic elevators in a converted warehouse building. New controllers, door operators, and ADA-compliant fixtures installed during occupied operation.
New Construction
Boise Medical Center
Boise, ID
12 units
Regional medical campus expansion with 12 hospital-grade elevators. Included bed-size cabs, emergency power pre-wiring, and phased commissioning across three wings.
Maintenance
Puget Sound Office Park
Tacoma, WA
32 units
Ongoing preventive maintenance contract covering 32 elevators across a 5-building office campus. Reduced callback rate by 40% in the first year of service.
Modernization
Pearl District Mixed-Use
Portland, OR
6 units
Modernization of 6 traction elevators in a landmark Pearl District building. Custom cab interiors to match the building's industrial aesthetic while meeting current code requirements.
New Construction
Capitol Hill Residential
Seattle, WA
14 units
Luxury residential tower with 14 MRL elevators. Destination dispatch system, custom finishes, and a dedicated parking shuttle elevator serving the underground garage.

Equipment

We install and service equipment from the industry's leading manufacturers

ThyssenKrupp
Traction
Hydraulic
MRL
Escalator
KONE
MRL
Traction
Escalator
AutoWalk
Otis
Traction
Hydraulic
MRL
Gen2
Schindler
Traction
MRL
Escalator
Moving Walk
Mitsubishi
Traction
Hydraulic
MRL
Escalator

What we install and maintain

Traction Elevators

Geared and gearless traction systems for mid-rise and high-rise applications. Steel ropes over a sheave driven by an electric motor. Speeds from 200 to 1,200+ feet per minute depending on building height and traffic requirements.

Hydraulic Elevators

Piston-driven systems for low-rise applications up to 6 stories. Holeless and hole-type configurations available. Cost-effective for buildings that don't require high speed, with typical travel speeds of 100 to 200 feet per minute.

Machine Room-Less (MRL)

Compact gearless systems that eliminate the traditional machine room by placing the motor and controller in the hoistway. Ideal for mid-rise buildings where space is at a premium and energy efficiency is a priority.

Escalators

Step-type moving stairways for high-traffic commercial and transit applications. Available in standard 30-degree and space-saving 35-degree inclines. Heavy-duty drives rated for continuous operation in demanding environments.

Elevator construction is what we do. Not a side business. Not an afterthought. It is the only thing we do, and we have built the company around doing it well.

Vanguard Elevator Group was founded in 2015 in Seattle by Ryan Park, a 15-year elevator industry veteran who saw an opportunity to build a construction-first elevator company in the Pacific Northwest. The model was simple: partner with general contractors early, coordinate tightly, deliver on schedule.

That approach worked. Within three years, Vanguard had expanded to Portland and Boise, building a reputation for reliable delivery on complex new construction projects. Today the company handles everything from ground-up installations to full modernizations and maintenance programs.

The team has grown, but the model has not changed. Vanguard operates as a construction partner, not just a subcontractor. Early involvement, clear communication, and schedule accountability remain the foundation of every project.

The Team

Ryan Park
Founder and Principal
Megan Torres
Director of Construction
Chris Nakamura
Lead Superintendent
Amy Donovan
Safety and Compliance

Build precisely. Deliver reliably. Repeat.

Turner Construction Skanska USA Lease Crutcher Lewis Mortenson Andersen Construction Hoffman Construction

Service Areas

Three offices serving the Pacific Northwest

HQ
Seattle
Greater SeattleBellevueTacomaEverettOlympia
Regional
Portland
Portland MetroSalemEugeneBend
Regional
Boise
Boise MetroNampaMeridianTwin Falls

Project inquiries outside these areas? We travel for the right project.

Vanguard delivered 18 elevators across a 42-story tower and hit every milestone on the schedule. Their coordination with our site team was seamless. We do not start a vertical transportation package without talking to them first.

David Chen
Turner Construction, Senior Project Manager

We hired Vanguard to modernize 8 elevators in our building while tenants remained in place. They managed the phasing and communication flawlessly. Not a single complaint from our tenants during the entire project.

Sarah Mitchell
Burnside Property Management, Director of Operations

Their maintenance team reduced our callback rate by 40% in the first year. The monthly reports actually tell us something useful, and their response time on emergency calls is consistently under 90 minutes.

James Rodriguez
Pacific Property Group, VP of Facilities

Vanguard understood the complexity of a hospital environment from day one. Infection control, noise restrictions, phased commissioning. They treated it like a medical project, not just an elevator install.

Dr. Karen Yamamoto
Boise Regional Medical Center, Facilities Director

JOIN THE CREW

We are hiring elevator professionals who want to build, not just maintain.

Elevator Constructor
Seattle, WA / Full-time

Experienced constructors for new construction and modernization projects. You will install, wire, adjust, and test elevator systems on active construction sites across the Puget Sound region.

Constructor Helper
Portland, OR / Full-time

Entry-level position working alongside experienced constructors. Learn the trade hands-on while earning competitive wages. Must be enrolled in or willing to enter an apprenticeship program.

Project Manager
Seattle, WA / Full-time

Manage elevator construction projects from award through closeout. Coordinate with GCs, schedule crews, track budgets, and ensure on-time delivery across multiple simultaneous projects.

Service Technician
Boise, ID / Full-time

Maintain and repair elevator systems across the Boise metro area. Perform monthly preventive maintenance, respond to callbacks, and diagnose equipment issues independently.

What we offer

Competitive Pay Health and Dental Tool Allowance Project Bonuses Paid Training 401(k) Match PTO + Holidays

GET IN TOUCH

Next available: Tomorrow 9:00 AM

Message received. We will be in touch.

Phone

(206) 555-0147

Email

info@vanguardelevator.com

Offices

Seattle, WA (HQ)
Portland, OR
Boise, ID

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