Melbourne CBD Expansion Proposed

Australia

A plan to expand Melbourne’s central business district (CBD) was proposed in February. If the plan comes to fruition, the CBD’s boundaries would be redrawn to a new capital city zone, which would abolish height restrictions placed on structures. This would allow the city’s tallest buildings to be constructed at Fisherman’s Bend or north of Docklands. A streamlined planning approval process for the CBD was also proposed to encourage development, though height and density restrictions would remain over certain pockets of the city to protect key areas. Melbourne’s CBD grid was initially designed for 1.5 million people, but the city is now home to 4.5 million, with 85,000 more moving to the city each year. Proponents of the expansion believe it is necessary to expand the central city to match growth.

Canada

The Bow Gives Calgary New Possibilities

Calgary’s office tower The Bow was recently completed after five years of construction. The 58-story skyscraper, built by Matthews Development, is to be fully occupied by the end of the year. Now that the project is complete in the downtown core east of Centre Street, some are seeing the development of more office space, particularly in the East Village. Eighth Avenue Place has announced it is proceeding with its second office skyscraper, and three other towers are set to move forward at the old Herald Block, City Centre in Eau Claire and the Eau Claire Tower in the western portion of that area.

China

Kone Increases Ownership In Giantkone

In February, KONE agreed to acquire a further 40% stake in its Chinese joint venture GiantKONE Elevators Co., Ltd. from Zhejiang Giant Holdings Co., Ltd. Following the transaction, KONE will become the majority shareholder of GiantKONE, with 80% of shares. KONE intends for this acquisition to strengthen its position toward becoming a leading vertical-transportation provider in the Chinese market. Matti Alahuhta, CEO of KONE, commented:

“The cooperation between Giant Holdings and KONE has been excellent throughout the existence of our joint venture, GiantKONE, since early 2005. … This acquisition will further expand our product portfolio and geographical reach in these areas.”

China is among the largest markets in the world for elevators and escalators. In 2010, more than half of the world’s new elevators and escalators were sold in China. GiantKONE has grown to become one of the country’s largest vertical-transportation companies in the new-equipment and service markets, and employs more than 2,000 people in more than 40 locations around the country, with headquarters in Nanxun, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. The company will continue doing business as a separate entity utilizing the GiantKONE brand.

Kone To Supply Jinghope Plaza In Suzhou

In March, KONE announced it had been chosen to deliver 57 eco-efficient vertical-transportation units to the multi-use Jinghope Plaza in Suzhou. The order includes 33 MiniSpace™ and 14 MonoSpace® elevators, 10 TravelMaster® escalators and the E-Link monitoring system. According to the company, its energy-efficient EcoDisc® hoisting machine makes the elevators 50-70% more efficient than units using conventional traction two-speed or hydraulic technology. The escalators are heavy duty and will be supplied at the three-story shopping mall.

The Jinghope Plaza is being developed by Jinghope Real Estate (Suzhou) Co., and Longxin Group is the general contractor. It was jointly designed by Goettsch Partners, Inc., and East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., the architectural firm behind other KONE projects in Shanghai such as the World Expo Culture Center, the Information and Communication Pavilion and the Hongqiao Transportation Hub. The plaza is to comprise a 25-story Hyatt Regency hotel, a 30-story grade-A office building and a retail podium. Its estimated completion date is June 2013.

France

Flat Tower Designed For Rennes

Designed for Rennes, a medium-sized city in an old industrial area, the Flat Tower is a perforated, medium-height dome structure that would house office, residential and community facilities. According to eVolo, an architecture and design journal, the concept of the flat tower is appropriate for any medium-sized city and features recreational units at the ground level, while offices and residential units are located in its upper “cells.” An automated transportation system connects all units, which are different shapes “according to their program.” Prepared by French designers, the Flat Tower received the second-place award for eVolo’s 2011 skyscraper competition.

Germany

ECB Headquarters’ Skyscraper For Frankfurt

The European Central Bank (ECB) Headquarters project includes plans for a 185-m-tall dual-tower complex under construction in eastern Frankfurt at the existing Grossmarkthalle. Several groups of lifts are to be located both in the cores of the towers and the joint atrium. Shuttle lifts will connect the access levels with the interchange platforms, and, according to ECB, a “flexible two-car-system” and conventional lifts in each tower will aid passengers’ vertical transportation. There is to be one goods lift per tower, which also serves as a passenger lift in the event of fire.

The structure’s shared atrium joins the two towers in an energy-saving design. What ECB calls a “triple-glazed shield hybrid façade” blocks sun and glare via closable screens between each tower’s façade. In addition to offering the energy-saving advantages of a double-glazed façade, it should also allow for direct natural ventilation by means of motorized vertical floor-to-ceiling ventilation louvers. Planned use of geothermal energy for cooling and heating, low-energy office lighting and rainwater recycling round out the green features.

The skyscraper has been under construction since spring 2010, but development dates back to 1999, when Vienna-based architect Coop Himmelb(l)au won ECB’s design competition. When complete in 2014, the 48-story office building will double ECB’s floor space at 184,000 m². Submitted by EW Correspondent Andreas Wirths

Interlift 2013 Announced

After a record Interlift 2011, preparation for Interlift 2013 has begun. The event is scheduled to be held October 15-18, 2013, at the Augsburg Trade Fair Grounds in Augsburg, Germany. The VFA Forum will be held once more, with speakers discussing the latest topics from the elevator industry. A call for lectures is expected to be announced at the end of this summer. VFA Training for Trade Fairs courses will also be offered. This is designed to help seasoned and new trade-show staff prepare for the event so they can perform duties efficiently. Interlift 2011 proved to be the most successful since its premiere in 1991. The event saw 499 exhibitors spread across an area of 45,000 m² and 18,781 visitors. For more information, visit website: www.vfa-interlift.de.

India

Mitsubishi Elevator To Supply Ahuja Tower

Mitsubishi Elevator has received a contract from Ahuja Constructions to supply and install nine elevator units in Ahuja Tower, a 53-story residential building in Mumbai. Of the units, four will travel at speeds up to 6 mps, which, upon completion, will be among the fastest elevators in India. Additionally, the four elevators will feature a security system with ID cards for access to predetermined floors and the in-car touchscreen operating panels can be customized to accommodate the building’s needs. Currently under construction, Ahuja Tower is comprised of two residential buildings and is scheduled to be completed later this year.

TL Jones Opens Factory, Office In Thane

In response to increasing demand from within the Indian elevator industry, TL Jones officially inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Thane, Maharashtra, on February 15. The grand-opening ceremony, attended by elevator industry veterans and clients, included a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and ribbon cutting. The factory has a production capacity of 70,000 infrared light curtains per year and is located in TL Jones India’s head office, along with a service center and engineering department. Production of light curtains at the facility is underway, with company officials planning to add other product lines to the manufacturing schedule in the future.

Schindler To Supply World One

Schindler India has received a contract to supply 25 elevators for the 450-m-tall World One residential tower in Mumbai. The installation is scheduled to start in 2013 and will include 18 Schindler 7000 elevators and seven machine-room-less elevators. The equipment, said to include some of India’s fastest-traveling elevators, capable of speeds up to 8 mps, will serve two of the complex’s three residential buildings. Once completed, World One is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® Gold certification and be one of the world’s tallest buildings.

Toshiba Plans Growth, Expansion

President and CEO of Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corp., Japan, Shinichiro Akiba visited Toshiba Elevator, India’s headquarters in February to celebrate Japan and India’s 60th anniversary of established diplomatic relations. While attending the International Elevator and Escalator Expo held at the Bombay Exhibition Center in Mumbai, Akiba spoke on India’s growing economy and Toshiba Elevators’ commitment to the country through Toshiba Elevator, India, which was established in April 2011 and began operations in July 2011. Since then, the company has received orders for the 66-story One Avighna Park Tower (ELEVATOR WORLD, December 2011) being developed by Nish Developers and two orders from real-estate developer Hiranandani, with more undergoing active negotiations. Akiba hopes Toshiba Elevator will contribute to the country’s economic growth through its elevator and escalator business, and encourages support from developers, architects and consultants.

In March, Akiba announced plans to aggressively expand its business in India, stating, “At the moment, our focus is on the Delhi/Mumbai industrial corridor. Probably, by 2014-15, we will expand nationally.” Once complete, the company hopes to generate 8% of its global revenue from India. This would entail an increase in revenue from the market to US$125 million by 2015.

Joseph Appointed Managing Director Of Otis India

In March, Otis announced the appointment of Sebi Joseph as managing director of Otis India. In this role, Joseph will lead Otis’ business operations throughout the country. Patrick Blethon, president of Otis’ Pacific Asia Area, said, “[Joseph’s] leadership represents the next step in efforts to ensure that the people of India benefit from Otis’ product range, some of which have energy-saving features. Sebi has a long history with Otis and extensive experience in India.”

Joseph began his career with Otis India in 1987 as an engineering trainee. He spent the next 16 years in various positions of increasing responsibility, including general manager of Karnataka operations. From 2003 to 2007, he was president and general manager of Otis Philippines and in 2008 was appointed director of Marketing, Sales and Communications for Otis South Asia Pacific and Gulf Area. In 2009, Joseph was named general manager of U.A.E. and appointed director of the Gulf Region in 2011.

Speaking on the news, Joseph noted, “Otis has made good progress in India with our award-winning Gen2® elevator system and global environment program, ‘The Way to Green.’ I am confident that together with my team and Otis India’s valued customers, we will reach new heights in both energy-efficient product innovation and conscientious service in the years ahead.”

Italy

Lift 2012 Announced

Lift 2012 will once again be held in Milan. The event’s 10th edition is scheduled to be held November 7-9 at Fiera Milano’s new exhibition center, Rho Pero. Milan was chosen to host the event since it and Lombardy are hubs for the Italian vertical-transportation industry, with approximately 25% of the country’s 2,000 companies located there. For more information, visit website: www.liftitalia.com.

Japan

Tokyo Sky Tree To Open

Tokyo Sky Tree (ELEVATOR WORLD, July 2011), one of the tallest freestanding towers in the world at 634 m, is scheduled to open this month. Toshiba has installed six high-speed, large-capacity elevators in the structure. Four of these are 40-person elevators with a maximum speed of 600 mpm, among the fastest in Japan. The remaining two are service elevators with one of the longest travel distances in Japan (464.4 m). The elevators will take visitors to the first observation platform (at 350 m) in less than 50 s.

The digital terrestrial broadcasting facility, contracted by Obayashi Corp. and developed by Tobu Railway, is designed to withstand major earthquakes. The railway forecasts 5.4 million visitors this year and expects an average of 2.7 million visitors each year for the next 30 years. The tower’s construction has been the impetus for creating the nearby Tokyo Soramachi shopping complex and will also inspire name changes at local train stations. The nearest, Narihirabashi, will become Tokyo Sky Tree Station, and Oshiage will become Oshiage/Tokyo Sky Tree Mae (Oshiage/In Front of Tokyo Sky Tree).

40-Year Plan For Space Elevator

Japanese construction firm Obayashi Corp. plans to construct a space elevator in less than 40 years. The structure would take up to 30 tourists at a time a quarter of the distance to the moon using carbon nanotube technology. The proposed elevator car’s speed is 200 kph, and its rise would be in excess of 36,000 km. The company has experience with tall structures, having recently completed the 634-m-tall Tokyo Sky Tree.

Saudi Arabia

Kingdom Tower Gets Final License

Kingdom Holding Co. (KHC) announced in February that the final license to construct Kingdom Tower (ELEVATOR WORLD, October and November 2011) in Jeddah has been issued. The 1,000-m-high tower will be developed by the Saudi Bin Laden Group (SBG) and was designed by an interdisciplinary team led by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture of Chicago.

At a total cost of SR4.6 billion (US$1.2 billion), Kingdom Tower is to be the centerpiece and first construction phase of Kingdom City, Jeddah Economic Co.’s (JEC) 5.3-million-m² urban development overlooking the Red Sea and Obhur Creek. JEC’s partners are KHC, Samaual Bakhsh, Abraar, International Holding Co., Abdulrahman Hassan Sharbatly and SBG. The construction area of the tower alone is more than 500,000 m². Work is expected to take five years once begun.

Spain

Thyssenkrupp Elevadores In Madrid

ThyssenKrupp Elevadores is set to manufacture, install and maintain 96 elevators for the headquarters of financial group BBVA in Madrid. The building was designed by Herzog & de Meuron architects and will house 6,000 employees. According to an online report from ThyssenKrupp Elevator, the project includes the following equipment: 76 machine-room-less elevators; 61 synergy model elevators with a 1000-kg capacity, travel speed of 1 mps and travel distances between two and five stops; 15 latitude elevators; seven elevators with engine rooms, six of which will have a speed of 2.5 mps; and one high-speed elevator that will travel at a speed of 4 mps.

In keeping with Thyssenkrupp Elevadores’ environmental commitment, the synergy model elevators were designed in accordance with the VDI 4707-1 energy standard. In addition, the building is aiming to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® certification.

U.K.

The Shard Nears Completion

Construction of The Shard [ELEVATOR WORLD, February 2012] in London is nearing completion. In March, workers were assembling a spire of steel and glass that will sit atop the tower’s 72 floors. The glass “skin” for the section was hoisted in place via Britain’s tallest crane and affixed to a 500-T. steel skeleton. The spire will bring the tower’s height to 1,017 ft., making it Europe’s tallest building upon completion in June. Billed as a vertical city, The Shard will be comprised of 28 floors of offices, three floors of restaurants, a 19-story hotel, 10 residential units spread across 12 floors and an observatory.

Historic Tyne Escalators Closed

The last of four escalators at the Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels in south Tyneside broke down in February and is unlikely to be restored. A problem with the up escalator’s drive sprocket led to the unit being shut down for safety reasons and to prevent further damage. Officials of Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority (TWITA) are weighing their options, though Project Director Paul Fenwick believes the chances of the units being restored are remote. The escalators date back to the tunnels’ opening in 1951, with the link between Jarrow and Howdon being the only pedestrian tunnel beneath a river with escalators. When the tunnels opened, the units were the longest single span of escalators in Western Europe, the tallest vertical escalators in the world and the longest working wooden escalators in the world. As repair costs rose over the years and replacement parts had to be custom made, operation costs became prohibitive, and some of the units were removed from service. TWITA has planned a refurbishment of the tunnels, which will include replacing two escalators with inclined elevators, for later this year. The remaining escalators will remain in place for public viewing.

Worldwide

Lift Store Usa Offers Mobility Lifts

The Lift Store USA has expanded its territory to include all the Caribbean islands. They will offer direct sales and installation service for new stairlifts and vertical-platform lifts for residential and commercial applications. The Lift Store has been experimenting with the region for several years and has found an increasing interest in mobility lifts due to its aging population. However, sources for mobility lifts in the islands are scarce, forcing inhabitants to seek out companies on the U.S. mainland willing to do business offshore. For installations, The Lift Store dispatches technicians from its Florida office. According to Dennis Corrado, company director, “This arrangement is ideal for those living on islands where there is little or no availability of local sales centers or installation personnel.”

TL Jones Receives “Good Design Award”

TL Jones has received the 2011 Good Design Award for its Commander™ T2 touchscreen car-operating panel. The award was granted by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. The touchscreen replaces traditional mechanical buttons, offering elevator passengers an interactive experience. The product also features an LCD screen, and is customizable and vandal resistant. To be considered for the award, all products and graphics must be designed, in production or manufactured for a minimum of two years prior to the contest.