Blooming Along the North Bund

Schindler delivers secure, intuitive VT system at the White Magnolia Plaza in Shanghai.

submitted by Schindler

You haven’t seen Shanghai if you’ve missed the Bund, any Shanghainese would tell you. Widely regarded as the symbol of Shanghai, the city’s iconic waterfront is at once a financial district and a cultural and entertainment hotspot loaded with history. So, when in early 2000 word got out that an imposing new complex, the White Magnolia Plaza — named and designed after the city’s emblematic flower — would soon dominate the Bund’s skyline, expectations ran high. 

In a city already awash with shopping malls, the White Magnolia Plaza was conceived as a multiuse complex, one that would house a 320-m Grade-A office building, Shanghai’s first W hotel and a world-class shopping mall. The plaza was designed to welcome more than 10,000 visitors and office workers daily. A secure and intuitive transit management system was, therefore, a must. Eager to free up as much space as possible for commercial lease, the customer had also requested space-saving elevators.

Schindler Solutions

Traffic Analysis for the Best Solutions

Jack He, sales engineer of Schindler Global Large Projects, performed a comprehensive traffic analysis to determine the best high-rise vertical-transportation (VT) solutions for the building. The outcome: 36 Schindler 7000 elevators with traveling speeds of up to 6 m/s, providing outstanding handling capacity; for the office building, six Schindler double-deck elevators and the intelligent transit management system Schindler PORT, which integrated seamlessly with the building’s security system to deliver short wait times. The order also included 46 mid- to low-rise elevators traveling at up to 6 m/s with a maximum travel height of 330 m and 56 escalators.

Double-Deck Elevators to Maximize Space Usage

Schindler’s double-deck elevators are space-saving solutions particularly well-suited for this project. The concept: two vertically stacked elevators operating simultaneously in one shaft, taking up only half the shaft space required for single-deck elevators. During off-peak time, these double-deck elevators can operate as single-deck elevators, optimizing the building’s energy consumption.

An Experienced High-Rise Consultant

Throughout the project, the Schindler team took the initiative to find the best solutions for the customer. Case in point: They recommended two double-deck elevators serve the top observation deck, which, in the original design, was accessible only by stairs. A double-deck elevator would make it possible to get from the building’s basement all the way to the observation deck — which commands breathtaking views of the city — without having to change elevators at the sky lobby.

This was a daring suggestion, and one that would have a significant impact on other elements of construction. The multinational team — made up of the building’s architect, designer, general contractor, Schindler technicians and Schindler project manager Rony Gan — had to go back to the drawing board. In six months, the team had developed a new plan. It was all worth the trouble. Approximately a dozen government officials visited the plaza before the topping-out ceremony. All were left impressed by the smooth journey to the observation deck and the flawless performance of the Schindler elevators.

Special Mentions

Since its completion, the White Magnolia Plaza has received several architecture and engineering awards in recognition of its outstanding design and applications of green technologies. These include the LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and the prestigious Luban Prize, one of China’s highest accolades in architecture.

Schindler continues to act as the customer’s mobility consultant. The White Magnolia towers over the city, and Schindler is proud to have contributed to its blooming success.

“In the many times that I have worked with Schindler, what has impressed me most is the professionalism, expertise and dedication of every Schindler employee,” said Xiaotong Fan, vice general manager of Shanghai Jin Gang North Bund Realty Co. Ltd., developer of the White Magnolia Plaza.

Technical Data and Players

• 6 units of Schindler 7000 double-deck elevators
• 36 units of Schindler 7000 single-deck elevators
• 46 units of mid- to low-rise elevators
• 56 units of escalators
• Maximum travel height: 330 m
• Maximum elevator speed: 6 m/s
• Destination dispatch: Schindler PORT
• Investor: APP and Hong Kong Construction
• Developer: Shanghai Jingang North Bund Realty Co., Ltd.
• Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
• General contractor: Shanghai Construction Engineering Management Co., Ltd.