Are Smart Elevators and Touchless Systems Now Considered Baseline in Manhattan Class A?
In the years immediately following the pandemic, building upgrades such as smart elevators and touchless entry systems were marketed as standout features that helped reassure returning tenants. They were framed as differentiators—conveying safety, modernity, and a forward-looking image. Today, however, the question for Manhattan office tenants is whether these technologies are still treated as value-adds worth paying for, or whether they have become a baseline expectation in Class A office space, where prestige and functionality must constantly evolve to justify higher rents.
This page examines what smart elevators and touchless systems actually are, why they matter, how they are priced into leases, and—most importantly—what tenants should know when evaluating whether these features truly benefit their budget, image, and day-to-day operations.
What Are Smart Elevators?
Smart elevators are systems that use sensors, connectivity, and intelligent dispatching to move people more efficiently. Unlike traditional button-controlled cabs, they often use destination dispatching: a tenant inputs their floor on a panel or app, and the system assigns them to an elevator already serving nearby stops.
Tenant-Facing Advantages
- Reduced wait times: Employees spend less time crowding lobbies, a subtle but meaningful boost to daily productivity.
- Improved building image: Sleek interfaces and app-based access support a high-tech workplace identity.
- Operational reliability: Remote monitoring reduces breakdowns that can inconvenience staff and clients.
- Accessibility: Voice, Braille, and touch-free controls allow broader usability for all employees and visitors.
In practice, these features are no longer considered futuristic—they are becoming the default in modern Manhattan Class A towers.
What Are Touchless Systems?
Touchless systems extend beyond elevators. They include motion-activated doors, app-based turnstile entry, voice-controlled lighting, and contactless restroom fixtures. Originally promoted as hygiene-focused investments, they now serve broader purposes: efficiency, accessibility, and modern branding.
Tenant-Facing Advantages
- Health and hygiene: Reduces touchpoints in high-traffic areas, a reassurance for staff and clients alike.
- Accessibility: Employees with mobility limitations benefit from gesture- and voice-based controls.
- Efficiency: Automated doors and controls speed up flow in lobbies, cafeterias, and common areas.
- Modern image: A firm that hosts clients in a touchless environment signals innovation and attention to detail.
Just like elevators, these features have moved from “optional perk” to “expected standard” in Class A office buildings.
Why Class A Standards Evolve
Class A office space is always defined relative to market expectations. Five years ago, having a wellness center or green-certified systems could set a building apart. Today, without them, a tower risks being seen as outdated. The same is happening with smart mobility systems: if a Midtown or Downtown building does not have them, tenants may question whether it can really command Class A rent levels.
Landlords know this. As a result, smart elevators and touchless access are increasingly rolled into baseline infrastructure. They may not be listed as a special line item in rent negotiations, but they can explain why a space maintains its Class A premium despite competitive asking rents elsewhere.
Do These Features Affect Rent?
This is where tenants must read carefully. While landlords rarely say, “you’re paying extra for the smart elevators,” these systems do contribute to overall rent levels because they are expensive to install and maintain.
Considerations for Tenants
- Budget: If all Class A peers now have smart elevators, you are not getting “extra value”—you are simply meeting the current market standard.
- Comparison shopping: When evaluating two Class A buildings at different rent levels, check whether one has these systems. If not, ask why its pricing is not lower.
- Opportunity cost: A landlord’s investment in smart mobility may mean less flexibility in offering concessions elsewhere. Tenants should consider whether those funds might have been better applied to tenant improvement allowances, free rent, or ergonomic upgrades that directly benefit staff.
The Tenant’s Advantage
The real advantage for tenants is knowing what is standard and what is premium. If smart elevators and touchless systems are now expected in Class A towers, then they should not be treated as a reason for higher rent—but rather as a baseline amenity. This frees tenants to negotiate more aggressively for concessions that matter to their business, such as:
- More generous build-out allowances to create layouts that fit staff growth and workflow.
- Furniture inclusion in deals, which can reduce upfront costs.
- Flexible bullpen vs. private office configurations that serve day-to-day operations.
- Location advantages such as access to transit hubs or client corridors that may outweigh building systems.
Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How
- Who benefits? Tenants in all industries, but especially those that rely on frequent client visits or want to reinforce a forward-looking image.
- What matters? Not whether the system exists, but whether it is being leveraged to justify rent.
- Where is this happening? Across Manhattan’s major corridors—Plaza District, Grand Central, Downtown—Class A assets are converging on similar baseline systems.
- When did it shift? The pandemic accelerated adoption, but by 2025, these features are now standard.
- Why should tenants care? Because knowing what is baseline prevents overpaying for “premium” systems that are no longer optional.
- How should tenants act? By using this knowledge in negotiations, focusing landlord attention on concessions that impact real operational value.
Next Step
Smart elevators and touchless systems have shifted from pandemic-era selling points to baseline expectations in Manhattan Class A office space. For tenants, the key is not whether these systems exist—they almost certainly do—but how landlords attempt to position them within a leasing conversation.
Understanding this dynamic allows tenants to redirect negotiations toward what truly matters: budget optimization, image, staff layout needs, and day-to-day functionality.
At NewYorkOffices.com, our role is to help tenants see through these dynamics, compare across corridors, and secure leases where Class A systems are included without compromising other deal terms. If your business is evaluating a Manhattan office move, we can guide you through the process—from assessing building technology to negotiating rent structures—to ensure you get the best value possible.
Fill out our 📋 online form or give us a call today 📞 212-967-2061 — let’s find the right office for your business.
