Project Role – Elevator Trade Partner
Our Team Spotlight series highlights the contributions of the project team members completing the historic Capitol Complex Project Phase II.
Pictured Above: Tumlinson Electric team on Phase II of the Capitol Complex Project. Photo courtesy of Tumlinson Electric, LLC
Elevators keep multi-story buildings moving, connecting people to every floor. Office buildings like the eight-story 1501 Lavaca and five-story 1500 Congress buildings rely on complex vertical transportation systems to serve State employees and visitors.
K&M Elevator, LLC provides vertical transportation services across Texas and is the elevator trade partner for the JE Dunn Construction team on the Capitol Complex Phase II project.
A Career Found by Chance, Built with Purpose
After high school, Jason Eggleston had his sights set on becoming a firefighter. He served in the U.S. Marines Corps, then completed firefighting training but faced a long hiring process in the competitive industry. When his neighbor, a mechanic at Schindler Elevator, offered him a position as an assistant, Jason found a new passion and his life’s work.
Jason worked his way up to mechanic and then superintendent. In the early 2000’s, he became the operations manager for a small, independent firm. It was there he met Fallon, the company’s office manager. They married and planned a future together. In 2014 they purchased Longhorn Elevator with savings and support from family and friends. Buying the Fort Worth business provided name recognition and an established customer base. They started the business with three employees while Fallon worked part time as a project manager at another company. After two years of success, they renamed the company K&M Elevator, LLC using the first initials of their two oldest daughters.
Today, the company has grown to 79 employees, and their daughter Kaitlin has joined the team as a project manager. Jason has spent more than 30 years in the industry and still loves the work.
“To become a good elevator man you need to understand your role and have strong relationships with the other trades,” says Jason. “Elevator installation requires a lot of collaboration to ensure nothing is missed and the project goes smoothly.”
Serving Clients Across the State
K&M Elevator, LLC specializes in elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, and wheelchair lift services. They provide new installation, modernization, maintenance, service, and repair. Signature projects include the UT Whitis Court Residence Hall, UT Autry C. Stephen Engineering Discovery Building, UT Southwestern Medical Center Brain Institute, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Skylink Elevator Replacement, and Houston Airport System’s Federal Inspection Services.
Phase II of the Capitol Complex Project
K&M Elevator will install eighteen traction elevators for Phase II:
- 1501 Lavaca: Nine passenger elevators and one service elevator
- 1500 Congress: Five passenger elevators and one service elevator
- Texas Capitol Mall Portal: Two elevators serving the parking garage
Because elevators require long lead times, K&M’s work began early. Once architect of record, HOK, completed the architectural drawings, construction manager-at-risk JE Dunn reviewed the plans with K& M Elevator. K&M then sent the drawings to the manufacturers for fabrication with precise specifications to ensure that the custom elevator systems would fit within the building skeleton.
While the elevators were manufactured, JE Dunn constructed the elevator shafts, called hoist ways. For the 1501 Lavaca and 1500 Congress buildings, the hoist ways were constructed floor by floor. The installation of the elevators could only begin after the hoist ways were dried in (protected from the weather). K&M visited the site during construction of the shafts to verify measurements and maintained close coordination with the other trade partners. This included working with Tumlinson Electric to coordinate power and scheduling requirements for the elevator systems.
Expert Installation and Inspection
View looking downward into an elevator hoist way. (Photo courtesy of TFC)
The fabricated elevators are delivered to the site in pieces on fifty-five-foot trucks and installed one panel piece at a time. To date, all the 1501 Lavaca elevators have been delivered and are being installed.
Each elevator takes ten to twelve weeks to install, and the installation is performed in two phases:
Phase 1 is the rough-in, or physical installation of the elevator components. The typical crew for the installation of an elevator is a mechanic and an assistant. The crew uses chains and electric hoist equipment to move material in and out of the shaft. Once the elevator is roughed in, workers from other trades will install the doors and finishes around the front of the elevator.
Phase 2 is testing and inspections. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and Building Inspection Division (BID) of the City of Austin inspect the installation and equipment to ensure passenger safety and performance standards. Approval of these inspections allows temporary access for the trades working in the building to use the elevators for work crews and materials. At this point, JE Dunn will remove the temporary buck hoists from the project.
Top and Bottom Photos: Installation of the cab in the South 1 elevator in the 1501 Lavaca State Office Building. (Photos courtesy of K&M Elevator, LLC)
Staying Safe
Installing elevators in multi-story buildings requires focus and dedication to safety procedures. Work areas are enclosed by at least three walls, separating the elevator crews from other trades. The crews wear safety harnesses to protect them as they work high above the building floor, and tools are tethered to prevent anything from dropping into the shafts. Access is controlled with no one allowed above or below the installation. K&M Elevator invests in the most up-to-date safety training and certifications for their employees. A K&M Elevator superintendent ensures that all OSHA, TFC, and JE Dunn project safety measures are in place for each installation.
Unless the elevator crews are working at the opening of a hoist way and are tied off, the elevator hoist ways stay barricaded to prevent access. The only people allowed in the elevator corridor when the hoist way is open is the elevator crew. (Photo courtesy of TFC)
Keeping Dollars in Texas
As a small business, K&M Elevator takes pride in keeping dollars—and craftsmanship—in Texas.
“Fallon and I engage in every aspect of the project,” says Jason. “We view every project as a custom installation and provide a high level of customer service to deliver a smooth, on-time installation.”
The elevator installation on Phase II of the Capitol Complex Project is estimated for completion at the end of 2026. We thank K&M Elevator, LLC for their dedication to quality client service and look forward to taking that first elevator ride in the new State office buildings.
