WOW
May 5, 2023
TKE provides innovation and accessibility for historic building-turned-shopping center.
photos courtesy of TKE
The Gran Vía in Madrid is gradually recovering its pre-pandemic splendor, and it does so with an air of modernity. The remodeling of an emblematic building merged with the innovation and accessibility delivered by TK Elevator (TKE) to transform the old Hotel Roma into the unique WOW Concept Shopping Center.
The German firm has installed a total of 15 elevators and escalators in what is considered one of the best shopping centers in Madrid. Located at 18 Gran Vía, this heritage building, built in 1913, boasts an area of 5,500 m2 distributed across eight floors.
Prior to the renovation carried out by the Allende Arquitectos studio, the building housed the Justice Department of the Community of Madrid. With the extensive renovation, to which TKE contributed, the property has achieved LEED Gold certification, which implies the highest rating in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable design. The shopping complex, classified as futuristic, was inaugurated in March 2022 and offers visitors a sensory experience while shopping and enjoying the different restaurants and beauty services.
Of the 15 pieces of equipment installed, 10 are escalators of the velino XTRA 3 EK 35º 800HOR model, the installation of which was spectacular when carried out on the façade, as described by the TKE technicians. The step width is 600 mm, the height of the balustrade is 1100 mm and they are prepared for MAX technology, the pioneering predictive maintenance system for elevators. This technological solution is powered by Microsoft Azure IoT technology, which significantly increases the availability and efficiency of the equipment.
“These accessibility solutions allow customers to enjoy their shopping experience and move safely and smoothly between the different spaces dedicated to fashion, beauty, decoration, as well as the two floors for restaurants,” said TKE.
To guarantee accessibility to visitors of the shopping complex in terms of efficiency, TKE installed two passenger elevators, a freight elevator and two dumbwaiters in addition to the 10 escalators. The elevators belong to the Synergy range, models that satisfy the highest demands in comfort, flexibility and design. This equipment can support loads of up to 1000 kg with a speed of 1.75 m/s, has eight stops, double boarding at 180° and is also prepared for MAX technology.
The freight elevator is also from the Synergy range, with a capacity of 1000 kg, a speed of 1.75 m/s and six stops and also technically prepared for MAX technology. The two dumbwaiters serve the restaurant area.
The inauguration of the building had to be postponed due to COVID-19, which also affected the development of the work. “The duration of the work has taken longer than expected due to COVID and the complexity of the work to be carried out for multiple reasons,” a TKE official told ELEVATOR WORLD Europe. The assembly began on April 5, 2021, with the freight elevator, and ended on March 28, 2022, with the delivery of the European Union Declaration of Conformity for the stairs, according to TKE.
Pedro Martín, general manager of TKE for Spain, Portugal and Africa, said:
“With this new facility, we reinforce our presence in relevant buildings in the city of Madrid. It is an innovative business concept to which we contributed with our extensive experience and excellent installation service. With our teams, the WOW Shopping Center has the best quality and assistance at their facilities. Participating in projects like this is exciting and helps us in our goal of continuing to grow to offer the best to our customers.
This shopping center is causing a great furor among customers and visitors since, as expressed by those responsible for WOW, it is an “extremely ambitious project because it wants to revolutionize the world of retail, which seems to be an innovative world, but deep down it is a very conservative world.”
This unique complex exhibits a fresh and innovative design where the digital part has an important weight thanks to new technologies at the design, production and manufacturing levels. “Each floor of the building is planned to be a unique experience, which is related to the product that is sold. And, at the same time, it tells the visitor a different story.” In short, the WOW Shopping Center is a new way of buying and experiencing different sensations.
More About WOW
According to Madrid’s official tourism website,[1] WOW is a mega store designed as a multi-brand and multi-product commercial center in the heart of the Gran Via in Madrid. It offers a unique shopping experience at a digital and physical level. With 5,500 m2 divided over eight floors, “WOW will have a temporary, rotating and, at times, exclusive range of fashion, decoration, technology, design and leisure, as well as technological leisure spaces, e-gaming, a cookery school, fitness and Instagramer studios, a digital museum and even a café where the waiter is a robot with an articulated arm,” the site continues. Brands range from traditional to innovative and emerging, with some even rising from going viral on the internet and social media. Each floor is said to offer its own unique experience with brands dedicated to the floor’s theme: “Tech Garage,” “Self-Care Lab,” “Home Boulevard” and so on. The top two floors are dedicated to gastronomy.
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