Happy New Year?

Yes, I think we can count on that. According to the Modern Intelligence website, the size of the U.S. construction market is estimated at US$71.26 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$203.5 billion by 2029, growing at 3.51% during that time. Despite inflation and a labor shortage (and even elections), demand for commercial real estate continues to drive the market. Sustainability in commercial buildings is also a driving force in the U.S. and Europe.

This issue features our Project of the Year winners, providing a good picture of how commercial building is progressing around the world and exactly how the vertical-transportation (VT) industry adds to that picture. Projects span the world, come in all sizes and, in many cases, the VT equipment contributes to the sustainability of the buildings they are in. Based on creativity, innovation, challenges overcome, installation methods and use of advanced technology, judging was intense. Some VT equipment is in very old buildings, like London’s Big Ben, and must not affect the historical value of the building. Other projects create “another world” atmosphere by inserting an escalator into an aquarium of regional marine life in the new Grand Cruise Terminal at Doha Port. Challenges included modernizing elevators in a fully occupied, high-traffic building — Prudential Tower in Boston. An unusual building in Dubai (a city filled with unusual buildings) known as One Za’abeel is actually two vertical towers with a horizontal building connecting them and spanning an interstate. The challenges included shaftways differing in shape and size from top to bottom. Skybridge, Hong Kong International Airport, is the longest airside bridge and moving walk with room for airplanes to go under. In Australia’s The Esplanade, a luxury residential project demanded a glass elevator and shaft with temperature controls. In France, the Paris Olympics Dive Platform Lift had to be correctly rigid and rise from 1 m to 2 or 3 m for different events. The inclined lift at Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in Cottonwood, Arizona, had to climb and top the highest hill in the area. Last but certainly not least is the Chongqing Metro Line 2 that required in-truss modernization of 85 escalators in mountainous terrain in China. When all is said and done, we have slightly more than 40 pages devoted to the best of the best projects completed in the last two years, the scope allowed for this year’s submissions.

Our focus this month is Safety — always one of the most important topics we write about. Included are six articles:

• The Most Important Escalator Safety Device is another interesting report by Anthony Boom. The author describes the evolution of escalator and moving walk braking systems.
• Safe and Sound by Amy Blankenbiller. The executive director of National Elevator Industry, Inc., focuses on New Year’s resolutions and industry partnerships to improve safety.
• Not Just a Priority But a Necessity — a variety of Delco products focusing on safety
• FloodGuard^TM for Elevators — A new code requirement emphasizes rapid response to rising water (or oil) in elevator pits.
• Integrating Safety in Real-Time for Maintenance by Adam Braman. The author explores how to create and manage workflow that seamlessly integrates safety into every aspect.
• Elevating Safety and Maintenance Practices: How Lift Technology Fundamentals Impact Safety and Maintenance in CARICOM Nations through Globalization and Consolidation by Richard Lochin. There are no VT training programs in the Caribbean, which is a detriment to safety.

And don’t miss Vong Keovongsa’s Leadership Insights column, Equity Theory, which looks at safety from a slightly different perspective. 

This is a fully stuffed book with much to interest you. It is appropriate that it is the first book of the year. Happy New Year for 2025! Please let me know your thoughts at ricia@elevatorworld.com.