Walkway Over the Hudson Elevator Design

McLaren Engineering Group designed a 21-story steel, braced-frame elevator tower in Poughkeepsie, NY. The elevator travels on the outside of the steel support tower and features large windows providing scenic views of the Hudson River. It was constructed to make the popular “Walkway over the Hudson” path accessible from the shoreline. Since its opening, the elevator has added a convenient way for the public to enjoy and experience the pathway in the sky – one of the Hudson Valley’s most popular attractions.

The McLaren Difference: Applied Ingenuity

McLaren designed the steel elevator tower, concrete elevator pit and caisson foundations. The elevator tower foundations were originally designed as mat foundations to save on construction cost. The foundations were later revised to caissons when it was discovered that the groundwater was contaminated, and would need to be disposed of offsite during dewatering for foundation placement. Multiple elevator companies and elevator types were researched in order to find a smooth riding elevator design that could withstand snow, ice and dirt.

To reduce construction costs, McLaren designed an exterior elevator constructed of A588 weathering steel angles to preserve the historic industrial nature of the bridge and to save costs associated with painting. Special attention was given to detailing the steel in order to prevent excessive corrosion.

McLaren designed the steel tower for a second, future elevator to be located on the tower’s opposite side, and for a future flight of steel-framed stairs to be built on the structure’s interior.