Toronto’s Curvy Condo

Canada

In Mississauga, Toronto, residents are beginning to move into the new 56-story condominium tower nick-named “Marilyn Monroe” due to its curvaceous design. Officially named the Ab-solute Tower, the build-ing was designed by Chinese Architect Ma Yansong, assisted by his partner, Qun Dang, as part of an international design competition held by the tower’s developer, Fernbrook Cityzen. The US$470-million tower is part of a five-tower condo-minium complex known as Absolute World, to be built at Mississauga’s main intersection. Due to strong sales, the de-velopers had the archi-tect deliver a second 50-story high rise with 433 units. The towers are the final two to be developed for Absolute World. The first three towers had a more conventional high-rise design. Currently, residents have moved in up to the 15th floor of the “Marilyn” tower, with occupancy of the companion tower to begin in the fall.

ACSI Announces New Principal

Ayling Consulting Services, Inc. (ACSI) has announced the appointment of Michael Cleary as principal. With more than 25 years of experience in the elevator industry, Cleary will be working with Fortune 100 companies to assist them in all technical aspects regarding their vertical-transportation equipment portfolios, including conduct-ing detailed audits, assessing maintenance contractor performance, and planning and managing modernization projects, as well as design work for new installations. Cleary’s appointment to ACSI will provide enhanced sup-port as the company further expands its position in the Canadian market. Prior to joining ACSI, Cleary served as District Operations manager, Central Canada, for KONE. Before that, he worked with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority in Ontario.

China

Thyssenkrupp In Shenzhen

ThyssenKrupp Elevator manufactured and installed a total of 116 elevators and two escalators for the 26th World University Summer Games (Universiade) in Shenzhen. In early August, around 13,000 athletes, coaches and of-ficials from more than 180 countries were expected to at-tend the sporting event to be held later that month.

The company installed 108 elevators to facilitate trans-portation throughout 28 buildings in the newly built Uni-versiade Village. A further 10 were to transport athletes in the maritime sports school (the venue for the windsurfing regattas) and in some buildings of the Shenzhen sports school. One particular highlight is an elaborately designed glass panoramic elevator in the school’s covered swim-ming stadium. It operates alongside the 10-m-high diving tower to take divers directly to their particular platform. The 492,000-m2 site is now the new campus of the Shen-zhen Institute of Information Technology.

University athletes from all around the world have com-peted in various disciplines in both the summer and winter games of Universiade every two years since 1959. The organizer is the International University Sports Federation. The next Summer Universiade in 2013 will be hosted in Kazan, Russia.

Schindler/Xuchang XIJI Partnership Update

Schindler established a new joint venture in China after acquiring a 46% stake in Xuchang Xiji Elevator Co. Ltd. (ELEVATOR WORLD, June 2011). In August, Schindler announced the approval of the agreement by “competi-tion authorities.” It also includes options for Schindler to purchase the remaining shares. The parties have not disclosed the value of the equity stake being acquired by Schindler.

The joint-venture company is named XJ-Schindler (Xuchang) Elevator Co. Ltd. and has its headquarters in Henan Province. Schindler will be represented at board level in the company, which will sell its own brand of elevators based on Xuchang Xiji’s existing products.

Xuchang Xiji has produced around 10,000 elevators and 4,000 escalators per year, and is active in design, manu-facture, installation and maintenance. The company employs around 1,000 people.

Schindler’s stake strengthens its position in the resi-dential and affordable-housing segments, China’s largest property markets. It also boosts Schindler’s presence in the country’s second- and third-tier cities, which have high urbanization rates and are considered the fastest-growing elevator and escalator markets. According to Schindler, the Chinese government plans to build a total of 36 million homes for low-income families over the next five years.

Colombia

Schindler Acquires Coservicios

The Schindler Group announced in August the acquisition of Colombian elevator and escalator business Coservicios S.A. All employees and the Ascensores Andino line of ele-vators will be integrated into Schindler. The new company will trade under the name Schindler Andino, and provide both Schindler and Andino elevator and escalator products.

Rodrigo Villa, who founded Coservicios in 1975, will become the chairman of the board of Schindler Andino.

He added:

“With the Schindler organization, our customers will continue receiving the quality products and services to which they are accustomed, and will also now benefit from the support of a global organization.”

France

Mitsubishi To Modernize Tower

Ascenseurs Mitsubishi France S.A.S., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corp.’s elevators and escalators divi-sion, received the contract for the high-speed moderniza-tion of Tour Chantecoq in Puteaux. The 53-m-tall tower, built in 1975, is currently equipped with four elevators with a capacity of 1650 kg, speeds of up to 3.5 mps and 16 stops with group control. For the project, Mitsubishi Electric and Ascenseurs Mitsubishi France will implement its NexWay range of products, specifically designed for the modernization of high-rise buildings. Among the new features to be installed are regenerative converters for maximum energy efficiency and a group control system based on Mitsubishi Electric’s traffic-control technology. Modernization work is expected to begin in January 2012 and is scheduled for completion in the same year.

Germany

Formula Systems At Interlift

Formula Systems will introduce a new range of door-protection services at booth 7133 at Interlift 2011, held October 18-21 in Augsburg. During the event, Formula Systems invites all attendees to explore its special em-phasis on “sharing its vision.” Formula Systems’ products have attained all relevant approvals and comply with EN 81-70.

For more information, visit website: www.formula-systems.com.

India

New Technique Against Illegal Construction

To enforce laws against illegal constructions, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) is planning to use controlled detonation to demolish illegal structures, es-pecially multistory buildings. In July, a blast expert gave a presentation that demonstrated how the technique would save time and raze illegal structures without damaging adjoining buildings. Using the new technique, buildings would be inspected and explosives would be planted in specific areas of the structure. Workers weaken the sup-porting columns using sledgehammers or a steel cutter on the ground floor. These columns would then be equipped with explosives. Using controlled detonators, the explosives blast around the floors to destroy the en-tire building. Currently, it takes the JDA three days to de-molish a building. The JDA is expected to make a decision about incorporating the technique after consulting with higher authorities.

In related news, unauthorized high-rise construction in the funnel zone of the Begumpet Airport is occurring at Fatehnagar and the surrounding area. Buildings with three or more floors have risen up where the airport run-way ends. Building owners claim to have received per-mission from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corp.(GHMC) for construction and believed the runway was not in use. However, depending on destination and ap-proach, aircraft take off and land using the runway. Prior to receiving GHMC permission for construction near an airport, building owners are required to receive a No Ob-jection Certificate from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). AAI officials claim that they did not grant permission for any proposed buildings in the funnel zone.

Italy

Domuslift® Made With Swarovski® Elements

IGV Group SpA of Milan announced in August that it is launching a new version of its DomusLift, made with Swarovski Elements, at Interlift 2011 on October 18-21 in Augsburg, Germany. According to IGV, this is the first time such a design has been incorporated into a lift system. The project was conceived and designed by Roman architect Arianna Callocchia and boasts an elegant and polished mix of steel, glass and Swarovski crystals, in which lights and reflections are emphasized by the Microtools Zumbtobel LED modular system.

Mexico

Reforma 432 Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking ceremony for Reforma 432, a planned luxury tower in Mexico City, was held on June 22. Designed by Mexican firm Rojkind Arquitec-tos, the 54-story tower will be equipped with 16 elevators and be con-structed on prestigious Reforma Avenue on 12 united lots of land stretch-ing to Tokio Street. The building’s first three floors will include restaurants and retail shopping, with residential apartments occupying the 35 stories above. Five floors will be dedicated to parking, with others set aside for technical operations and recreation and entertainment facilities for the inhabitants. At the summit of the tower will be the Buddha Bar Hotel, occupying nine levels. Construction is expected to begin this year, with completion slated for 2015.

North America

New Fujitec Website

In August, Fujitec North America, a division of Fujitec Co., Ltd. of Japan, announced the launch of its new corpo-rate website (www.fujitecamerica.com and www.fujitec canada.com). The site has been redesigned, and information about Fujitec’s products and services has been added. Examples of some of the company’s newest products that are now on the website include the Viridian Machine-Roomless Elevator System, Viridian Permanent-Magnet Gearless Global Product and IONFUL® air-cleaning elevator cab technology.

Functionality and simplicity were two of the main goals in building the new website. Product information accessibility was given priority, including a JavaScript in-troduction on the homepage. K.C. DeBra, Fujitec America’s marketing manager, remarked, “Months of hard work have gone into creating this new site to make it as user friendly as possible for our existing customers and prospects.”

Panama

Trump Ocean Club Opens

The 70-story Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower opened in Panama City on July 6, becoming one of the re-gion’s tallest buildings. The US$430-million mixed-use development boasts 37 elevators, 369 hotel condominium units, 700 condominium units, retail shops, a casino, a marina and an island with a pri-vate beach. Colombian architecture firm Arias Serna Saravia designed the building, which is among the first real-estate investments in Central America by the Trump Organization and one of the first Trump buildings to be completed on foreign soil.

Russia

Lakhta Centre

The Gazprom Group, one of the world’s largest energy companies, has appointed U.K.-based RMJM architects to design the Lakhta Centre – Gazprom’s new headquarters and business center in St. Petersburg. The centerpiece of the project will be one of Europe’s tallest towers, once complete. One of the pro-posed options is for a 462-m tower to be combined with a 300-m-long base structure. The complex will feature commercial office, retail and residential space, and leisure developments. The design stage will be completed in 2012, with project completion expected in 2018.

Saudi Arabia

Kingdom Tower Announced

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal announced plans to build the world’s tallest building in Jeddah. Known as Kingdom Tower, the 1,000-m-tall building would surpass the height of the Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building. Designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architec-ture, Kingdom Tower will be equipped with 59 elevators (five of which will be double-deck units), as well as 12 escalators. High-speed elevators will travel to the observation deck at speeds of up to 10 mps. The skyscraper will house a Four Seasons hotel and serviced apartments, class-A office space, luxury condominiums, the world’s highest observatory and a 30-ft.-diameter outdoor balcony at level 157.

Kingdom Tower will be the centerpiece and first phase of a new US$20-billion development known as Kingdom City located north of Jeddah, overlooking the Red Sea. Financing for the US$1.23-billion skyscraper is in place, and construction, which is expected to take five years to complete, will begin later this year.

Schindler Announces Partnership With Olayan

Schindler announced in July that Olayan Financing Co. acquired a minority stake of 10% in Saudi Elevator Co., Ltd. of which Schindler became the sole owner in 2010. The company will be renamed Schindler Olayan Elevator Co. Ltd., and both partners will be represented equally on the company’s board of directors. Schindler’s acquisition of Saudi Elevator strengthened the company’s position in the Persian Gulf region’s largest market. Olayan engages in product distribution, manufacturing, services and investment, often alongside multinational and regional partners.

South Korea

Thyssenkrupp Elevator Achieves Vdi 4707 Ratings

ThyssenKrupp Elevator (Korea) has acquired the energy-efficiency Class-A rating certification, the highest rating according to the VDI guideline 4707 from TÜV SÜD. The company was recognized for three of its main products, including: GL1 (mid-low-speed gearless eleva-tor), Evolution1 (machine-room-less elevator), and Elejet (high-speed gearless elevator). The power consumption of the products is significantly reduced due to the regen-erative inverter CPIK-R, which feeds energy produced during the generative mode of elevator operation back into the power supply system, resulting in up to 60%energy savings.

Taiwan

Taipei 101 Receives Leed® Certification

Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest buildings (ELEVATOR WORLD, June 2006), has received Leadership in Energy and Environmen-tal Design (LEED) Plat-inum certification, the highest rating offered by the U.S. Green Building Council. Located in Taipei, the 508-m tower is said to be the second-tallest building in the world, fol-lowing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Over the past two years, Taipei 101’s build-ing automation and en-ergy efficiency were opti-mized to achieve a 10%savings in electricity use, water consumption and garbage production. As a result, the tower’s energy consumption is 30% lower in compari-son to that of an average building.

United Kingdom

Croydon High Rise

London-based developer Menta has been granted planning permission for its 55-story tower to be built in East Croydon, London. The building will comprise 6,600 m2 of office space, a hotel, retail outlets and nearly 500 residential units. Located near the East Croydon Railway Station, the high rise is expected to offer a “vertical com-munity.” The project will be spread across three adjacent sites and incorporate the station’s new entrance. It is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Cooper Achieves Higher Education

David Cooper, managing director of consultancy LECS (UK) Ltd., has graduated with an MPhil degree from the University of Northampton following a five-year research project. Apart from a short break, Cooper has been a student at the school for 26 years. He first joined the university in 1985 as a 21-year-old lift engineer wanting to gain more qualifications in his specific field. At the time, the university was known as Nene College.

He started out with Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) courses run by the lift department and gained

seven separate BTEC units, which qualified him for the Continuing Education Certificate, which he was awarded in 1994. He then took a short break to complete a BSc (Hons) degree from Open University and went back to Northampton in 1999 to study for a Master’s Degree in Lift Engineering, which he was awarded in 2005. Follow-ing this, Cooper identified the need for further research as a result of his dissertation, prompting him to remain and complete the MPhil.