OTIS ushered in the age of elevators in the Philippines as the first elevator company to set foot in the country, and has since made mobility easier in larger buildings. Even before its establishment in the country in 1935, Otis has already been transporting people in the early 20th century when the first elevator was installed in the Burke Building, which still stands today along the historic street of Escolta.
At present, as new skyscrapers continue to sprout in every corner of the capital and as the number of townships continues to grow, Otis stands parallel to this growth with its innovations in elevator technologies. At the same time, it goes back to its promise of durability by taking care of its earliest installations that date back to the 1930s.
Helping keep the nostalgia alive in Old Manila
Old Manila is a great place to visit for those who want to look back on the capital’s former glory. One can either explore the vast grounds of Intramuros, or cross the Pasig River to wander around Binondo and spot the classic structures along the narrow streets that used to be the capital’s center of activity.
Among Binondo’s frequent visitors are those who crave for authentic but reasonably priced Chinese fare, but there are also those who explore on foot with their cameras in tow to take photos of the old yet majestic buildings that seem to have withstood the test of time. Not only do these buildings help keep the historic integrity of Old Manila, but they also continue to provide value by meeting the demands of today’s lifestyle. One of these buildings is the white, art-deco-inspired Yutivo Building.
Constructed during the 1920s, the Yutivo Building is one of the few structures in the Philippines which has a classic Otis elevator that still functions to this very day. The building, which is four stories high, stands on Dasmariñas Street and houses the Yutivo Corp., formerly known as Yutivo Sons Hardware Co.
The vintage Otis elevator was installed in the building in the 1930s and features the iconic brass cage that needs to be closed manually. Once inside the car, the passenger doesn’t press any button, but instead the experienced operator manually turns the crank to make the elevator go up, down and, most important, to make sure it stops exactly when it needs to. When waiting to ride the elevator, one can see on which level the elevator has stopped, as indicated by the brass dial by the elevator door.
“It adds to the building’s classic beauty and has helped prolong the building’s functionality, as well. It still works properly and to our satisfaction,” Nathan Yu, vice president for corporate affairs, said about the elevator. “It’s also very important, especially for our physically challenged employees and customers. Otis technicians come over twice a month to check it for safety, and fix and replace parts as needed.”
A short walk from Yutivo Building can lead urban explorers to other buildings in Binondo that are also known for their bygone charm and the old-fashioned Otis elevators preserved inside them, like the Calvo Building, which is also famous for housing the Escolta Museum.
According to Otis, building owners should plan for modernization and upgrade to the latest technology after the elevator has been operating for 15 to 20 years.
However, with proper maintenance and service support, it can last longer like the elevator installed in Yutivo Building.
Rising to the challenge of taller buildings
The founder of Otis and inventor of the elevator, Elisha Graves Otis, sold the first elevators in the world in 1853. Since then, Otis has come a long way, with its latest Gen2 elevators that come equipped with Otis’s patented Coated Steel belts that make for a smoother and quieter ride, and Regenerative Drive technology, which makes Gen2 switch the only battery-powered and self-charging elevator in the world.
It is hard to imagine that supporting iconic buildings from the past being overshadowed by new taller buildings is such a vital concern for a company like Otis. But for them, preserving history is as much a part of their purpose as innovating in the elevator industry.