Mall of Scandinavia

KONE VT solutions bring efficiency, safety and style to swank Stockholm shopping complex.

On the day it opened in November 2015, the Mall of Scandinavia in Stockholm, Sweden, welcomed a crush of more than 50,000 visitors, and that number was no fluke — in three weeks, the total hit 1 million, and only eight months after opening, the mall was welcoming its 10-millionth visitor. With its 224 shops and restaurants spread over seven stories and 101,048 m2 of floor space, it was clearly designed to draw in — and accommodate — supersized crowds. After all, it’s the largest mall in Scandinavia and second-largest in the Nordic countries.

Mall developer PEAB Sverige AB and owner Unibail-Rodamco knew they would have to provide for the safe and comfortable movement of people in and around this massive structure. PEAB and its collaborators in the project turned to KONE for their vertical-transportation (VT) needs.

The Mall of Scandinavia sits in one of Stockholm’s fastest-growing suburbs, situated just outside the city center. PEAB, along with architects BAU Arkitekter and the designers, Gert Wingårdh’s firm of architects in Gothenburg, Sweden, wanted the mall to stand testimony to unique style and out-of-the-box thinking. KONE worked closely with the developers and designers to create a VT system that would match the aesthetics of the building.

KONE’s first discussions with the contractor started in 2008, and it was immediately apparent that the expectations for the mall’s VT were high. It had to be safe, efficient and environmentally friendly, with a special emphasis on energy efficiency. It also had to be pleasing to the eye. Construction started in January 2012, with the KONE team starting on-site in June of that year. Working with KONE were building-transportation systems contractor ÅF/Rulltech Ab, component supplier Sandberg & Son Snickeri and consultant WSP System.

To address environmental concerns, the mall was equipped with KONE MonoSpace® elevators, which are known for their energy-saving features. The KONE team’s plan for the mall VT went a step further, managing to cut energy consumption by yet another 35% by equipping the escalators with sensors that stop them when there are no passengers.

As for aesthetic considerations, KONE cooperated with cab outfitters Sandberg & Son Snickeri AB to reflect the principles of Scandinavian design: light, streamlined and close to nature. The escalators, for instance, were designed with wooden panels on the sides, and glass and energy-efficient LEDs at the bottom that blend in with the overall vision of the mall’s designers.

In total, KONE delivered (and will be responsible for the servicing of) 60 escalators, 46 elevators and four moving walks. For the escalators and moving walks, the mall uses KONE TravelMaster™ 110 and 115 models, while the complement of elevators includes MonoSpace® 500s and 700s. In addition, KONE provided its highly sophisticated E-Link monitoring system, which allows all equipment to be monitored from one location. To move goods and freight, the mall uses KONE TranSys™ heavy-duty service elevators.

One of the features of the Mall of Scandinavia is multilevel stores and shops, and a highlight of the project for KONE was the “domino effect” as a result of its VT solutions: several stores and businesses that were setting up shop in the mall also wanted KONE elevators.

Technical Details

KONE’s integrated solutions provide for the comfortable movement of people in the Mall of Scandinavia, but they also moved freight during the construction phase, which helped provide a smooth process and ensured all timelines were met.

60 TravelMaster 110 Escalators

This escalator, designed for commercial environments where safety, design and eco-efficiency are key requirements, cuts the carbon footprint of the building and reduces operational costs. It also boasts safety technology features: for instance, its fiberoptic skirt monitoring covers the entire length of the skirt and immediately stops the escalator when an obstruction is detected between the skirt and steps.

Four TravelMaster 115 Moving Walks

This moving walk is designed for both technical and visual qualities, fulfilling customer requirements for performance and pleasing aesthetics.

14 MonoSpace 500 Elevators

Designed with a completely renewed KONE EcoDisc™ hoisting machine, brakes, hoisting system and lift car structure, this solution promises improved ride comfort and lower energy consumption.

12 MonoSpace 700 Elevators

This solution was chosen not only for its energy efficiency, but also its robust car structure, which allows heavier car decoration and improved ride comfort.

Five TranSys (3500 kg) and 16 TranSys (2500 kg) Freight Elevators

While the mall was under construction, it became crucial to move freight in and around it. This is where KONE’s solution designed specifically for moving freight came into play. TranSys freight elevators bring the advantages of machine-room-less elevator technology to the higher capacity of freight elevators. They are exceptionally space and energy efficient, and have been a reliable solution not only during construction, but also in the day-to-day operations at the Mall of Scandinavia.

E-Link Monitoring System and Service Agreement

For a project of this size, it was clear that a one-stop solution for managing all VT equipment was needed. The answer was KONE’s E-Link monitoring system, a solution that enables building managers to monitor elevator and escalator systems in one or several buildings from a single location. It uses the building’s standard Local Area Network, and the connected elevators and escalators can be monitored and managed using easy-to-use graphical software running on a standard PC. KONE E-Link traffic displays and reports provide an accurate view of the transportation status, demand, traffic performance, and availability of the elevators and escalators in the mall.