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immediately. If I visit the site and find even the slightest
problem, I immediately tell the customer and suggest how to
solve it,” says Sopajaree, who travels between sites carrying
out quality and maintenance audits. He works a ten-hour
day, as certain jobs can only be performed after hours.
Rapid spare parts availability is the biggest challenge for
Sopajaree’s team. “We’ve solved this problem by storing
critical parts in the customer’s building to ensure a quick fix
without wasting a single precious moment.”
WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS ARENA
Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan is like a
miniature city within the Big Apple. Seating 20,000 in its
Garden Arena and 5,600 in its Theatre, The Garden is a
24/7 operation hosting multiple shows every day. The buzz
never stops: an ice skating matinée might be followed by
anything from a Bruce Springsteen concert to the World
Heavyweight Boxing Championships.
During a 24-hour period, up to 30,000 people enter
and leave the complex. This includes not only visitors, but
personnel, housekeeping, merchandisers, laborers, stage
hands, electricians, performers, VIPs and media.
“We have over 30 tractor trailers here for certain
concerts. The minute the show is over, they start breaking
down the stage, and by morning we might have an ice
rink set up. During this time, you also have routine daily
and nightly deliveries going on. If the elevators aren’t
functioning, you’re looking at a huge traffic problem,” says
Service Technician
Steven Culen
.
He and his crew are responsible for 51 escalators, 17
elevators, a stage lift, and 12 handicap elevators.
NO CORNER-CUTTING
“Most callouts affect large crowds, so having good
communications with Garden security is imperative. They
constantly observe the crowd flow and make adjustments
so I can safely and efficiently correct the issue. Staying cool,
calm and collected seems to work,” says Culen.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, notes
Culen, who tolerates no corner-cutting when units are
serviced. “As they say: ‘If you don’t have time to do it right
the first time, you must have time to do it twice.’ We’re
always looking to clean, adjust, tighten and lubricate as
needed. The Garden would rather we spend the time doing
it properly than to have repeated disruptions.”
With his enviable ringside seat on big-name performers,
Culen’s workdays are full of surprises – and surprising
challenges.
“Many interesting people perform here, and you never
know what you’re walking into. Recently during an NBA
All-Star Game, a VIP had her high heel caught in an escalator
step thread – I had no idea they can make a heel so thin! She
wasn’t injured, the unit stopped properly, and I was able to
extract the shoe unharmed. The couple was thrilled.” /
“My role is very
important in
keeping our
megacity’s wheels
greased.”
Sutee Sopajaree
at the residential
complex The River.
Steven Culen and his
crew are responsible
for 51 escalators,
17 elevators, a stage
lift, and 12 handicap
elevators at Madison
Square Garden.
PHOTO
MARTIN ADOLFSSON
PHOTO
JONAS GRATZER
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