Existing buildings

Elevators for existing buildings

Adding an elevator to an existing building — a 1970s apartment block, a pre-war tenement, a historic public building — requires solving constraints that new construction never sees: limited shaft depth, no overhead clearance, conservation rules, occupied apartments above. PROENSO has 18+ years of delivering these projects in Poland.

Six paths for existing buildings

Every existing building is different. PROENSO works in six configurations:

Path 1

Elevator in existing stairwell

Adding a compact elevator (often MRL) in the central well of an existing stairwell. Works for apartment blocks where the well is wide enough. Smallest occupancy disruption.

Path 2

External steel/glass shaft

External elevator shaft attached to the building facade. Most common for tenement buildings where internal shaft is impossible. Requires building permit and structural attachment design.

Path 3

Low pit / low headroom

Configuration when standard pit (1100–1400 mm) or overhead clearance is not feasible. PN-EN 81-21 compliant solutions: special buffers, additional safety systems, controlled top floor approach.

Path 4

Accessibility platforms

Vertical or inclined platforms where full elevator shaft is not feasible. Compliance with EN 81-70 and Polish accessibility regulations. Often qualifies for public co-financing.

Path 5

Side-of-building shaft

Hybrid: shaft attached to building side, integrated with new entrance, often combined with facade renovation. Common for hospital/public building modernization.

Path 6

Through cabin (multi-entrance)

Cabin with entrances on opposite or adjacent (90°) walls. Useful when adding elevator must serve both pre-existing access points (e.g. courtyard + street).

BGK Accessibility Fund (Polish co-financing)

Poland's Fundusz Dostępności (Accessibility Fund), administered by BGK (Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego), co-finances elevator installations in existing buildings to meet accessibility law. Eligible: housing cooperatives, homeowner associations, public institutions. PROENSO supports the technical scope; financing application is handled by the building owner with BGK directly.

We do not represent BGK and do not guarantee funding outcomes. For current rules check the BGK website directly.

Investment process for homeowner associations

Adding an elevator to a tenement building or apartment block in Poland typically involves:

  1. Homeowner association resolution — vote required for major investment
  2. Technical feasibility study — shaft options analysis (PROENSO assists)
  3. Architect / structural engineer — design, building permit application
  4. Conservation authority approval — required for listed heritage buildings
  5. Building permit — local government / construction authority
  6. Financing arrangement — BGK, bank credit, association funds
  7. Tender / contractor selection — PROENSO competes here
  8. Construction — typically 3–6 months for external shaft
  9. UDT acceptance — before commissioning
  10. Service contract — PROENSO maintains the elevator after handover

Heritage / listed buildings

Polish conservation rules (wojewódzki konserwator zabytków) apply to many tenement buildings in city centres. Adding an elevator requires conservator approval before building permit application. PROENSO has delivered projects in registered heritage buildings — typical solutions involve transparent steel/glass shafts that minimize impact on historic facade. We coordinate the technical brief; conservator approval is the building owner's responsibility (with their architect).

Adding an elevator to your building?

Send: building type, location, year of construction, current accessibility status, who is the decision-maker (housing cooperative, homeowner association, public institution). PROENSO will return a feasibility outline within 5–7 business days, with shaft path recommendations and rough budget range.