Independence OBJECTIVITY EXPERIENCE Superior Results
If you own/manage commercial property, chances are you have elevator problems. We can be a BIG help, no matter what they are.
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WHAT WE DO
BUILDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Due Diligence - FCA / PCA
Equipment Survey & Assessment
Maintenance Evaluation
Needs Analysis / System Design
Construction / Contract Documents
Expert Witness / Insurance / Forensics
Bid Administration / Negotiation
Project Management
Proposal / Invoice Review & Maintenance Evaluation
Capital Planning, Budgeting, Scheduling
Our Specialties
We specialize in office, retail, civic, educational, justice, medical and hospitality projects and work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area and along the West Coast.
Hands-On Partners
Whatever the challenge, wherever the project, whoever is on your team, we're the partners you can depend on to help with any building transportation need.
PRINCIPALS
John E. Sellen
Edwin J. Essary
Edwin J. Essary
Work Experience
JE Sellen Consulting, Inc.: 2013 -
Lerch Bates, Inc.: 2006 - 2013
Hesselberg Keesee & Associates: 2000 - 2006
Thyssen Elevator Co.: 1997 - 2000
Dover Elevator Co.: 1990 - 1997 and 1981 - 1988
Fujitec Elevator Co.: 1988 - 1990
Bates & Rogers Construction: 1979 - 1981
Professional Organizations and Certifications
International Association of Elevator Consultants (IAEC)
Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
Construction Document Technologist (CDT)
Commercial Real Estate Professionals Network (CREPN)
Education
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
B.S. in Architectural Studies, 1979
Edwin J. Essary
Edwin J. Essary
Edwin J. Essary
Work Experience
JE Sellen Consulting, LLC: 2018 -
Syska Hennessey Group: 2013-2018
Otis Elevator Co.: 2005-2013
Schindler Elevator Corp.: 2002-2005
Entrepreneur: 2000-2002
Commercial Lender: 1995-2000
Mitsubishi Elevator: 1990-1994
Dover Elevator Co.: 1977-1990
Professional Organizations and Certifications
International Association of Elevator Consultants (IAEC)
Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
Construction Document Technologist (CDT)
Education
University of Phoenix, San Jose, CA
BSBA in Management & Leadership, 1989
CLIENTS & PROJECTS
Partial Client List
Partial Project List
Partial Project List
Harvest Properties
Stanford Hotels
Jones Lang La Salle
Cushman & Wakefield
Paramount Properties
KG Investment Properties
Alhouse Deaton
DES Architects
NMR Architects
Noll & Tam Architects
WRNS Studio
Stanton Architecture
Stanford University
Restoration Hardware
Target
JC Penney
Partial Project List
Partial Project List
Partial Project List
CA State Courthouses - Hanford, Porterville,
Madera, San Andreas, Woodland
CSU Fresno Library, American River College
Thunder Valley, Red Hawk, Cache Creek, Colusa, Black Oak, Jackson Rancheria, Lucky Seven
San Francisco - Halladie Plaza, Van Ness & Castro MUNI,
City Hall, Dept. Of Emergency Services, Laguna Hospital,
25 Van Ness, Main Public Library, Civic Center Garage,
Davies Symphony Hall
Schools - SFUSD, Washington, Edison, Mountain House
UC Davis Medical Center
500 Capital Mall, Sacramento
What a consultant knows
Service Contract Coverage
Service Contract Coverage
Service Contract Coverage
Aging elevators in a busy public building became unreliable. Despite various and extensive but failed repair efforts, one elevator had been intermittently out of service for almost a year. Due to the equipment’s age, the service company assumed it was “obsolete” so the repairs would not be covered under the contract.
Once the elevator’s operation was finally restored, the service provider assembled the cost of all the efforts and billed the owner over $90,000.
The consultant was asked to review the situation and found that the standard clause that excludes obsolescence wasn’t in the building’s service contract. The consultant presented the provider with the evidence and, after internal review, the elevator company credited the invoice and returned the owner’s money.
What's Required
Service Contract Coverage
Service Contract Coverage
Near the end of a $3 million modernization project, the only remaining work involved the building’s security contractor and the elevator company. Citing “safety code requirements,” the elevator company sent the building owner a proposal for eight days of standby time for a mechanic to be present during the portion of work done inside the elevator machine room.
We questioned the necessity of the mechanic’s constant but idle presence. We then suggested that the mechanic could facilitate proper access and isolate the security contractor’s work from the machinery, negating the need for continuous supervision. The elevator company accepted and revised the proposal, reducing the required mechanic’s time to three days of active participation for final connections and testing, ultimately saving the owner about $10,000.
What Things Cost
Service Contract Coverage
What Things Cost
A building owner must usually accept the service company’s terms for restoring service.
One common issue with traction elevators is the premature failure of their VF drives. Due to contract language and components' short replacement cycles, owners must often pay for replacements just a few years after installation. Finding such parts can be difficult, and they may also require fabrication or repair. The elevator remains out of service until the replacement is complete and adjusted.
The service company proposed replacing a drive for $65,000. The owner asked the consultant whether to move forward with the work. The consultant asked the servicer for supporting documentation. Later that day, a revised proposal was received, for the same work, this time priced at only $37,000.
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John's Contact Info