The Best of the Best

This issue features the first half of our 27th Annual 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. 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 nearly 30 pages devoted to the best of the best projects completed in the last two years, the scope allowed for this year’s submissions. The four remaining winning projects will be featured in the next issue. Don’t miss them.

Our focus this month is Maintenance and Safety — two of the most important topics we write about. Included are three articles on the topic:

• AI in VT by ELFIN Technology. The company writes about transforming the elevator industry using AI-based innovations.
• An Exploration of Elevator Cloud Solutions by Chao Du, Hao Gao and Jian Cao.
• Keeping Travellers Moving – Safely submitted by Stannah. The company details its new five-year Network Rail contract. 

We also report on several events in this issue, including:

• Sun, Surf and a Symposium by your author. The Bahamas’ Atlantis resort proved an idyllic setting for IEES 2024. 
• MP Open Days 2024 by MP Lifts. MP Lifts presents a bespoke range of solutions to consultants, construction project managers and lift companies in the U.K. and Ireland.
• LIFTEX 2025 Exhibitor Briefing by Madeleine Olausson, EW UK Correspondent. An event preview held at ExCeL London helps exhibitors get prepared for the much-anticipated June event. 

There is much more to enjoy in this issue, including the fine words of our regular columnists, a colorful History article, two modernization articles that highlight interesting and important projects and news from throughout the U.K. It is appropriate that it is the first book of the year. Please send your feedback, ideas and articles to angie@elevatorworld.com.