Elevator World

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

KONE LANDS 108-UNIT ORDER FOR NEW CHINESE LANDMARK

KONE has won an order to supply 108 units to Nanjing Golden Eagle World, an office/hotel/retail development in Nanjing, China, that consists of 76-, 67- and 60-story towers with a base housing Asia's largest shopping center. There will also be a six-story skybridge with restaurants, landscaping and swimming pools. KONE is supplying 14 MonoSpace® and 86 MiniSpaceTM elevators, and eight TravelMasterTM escalators, along with a destination-control system. Expected to be complete in 2019, Nanjing Golden Eagle World is being developed by Golden Eagle Retail Group, built by Shanghai Construction Group and designed by East China Architectural Design Institute (ECADI) and Frederic Rolland Architects. KONE Executive Vice President of Greater China William B. Johnson called the project a “new landmark” for Nanjing.

ELEVATORS, ESCALATORS PART OF LAX EXPANSION

Elevators, escalators and moving walks linking a new, US$2.7-billion automated people mover (APM) to various floors of expanded terminals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are part of a US$336-million contract awarded by Los Angeles World Airports to Austin Commercial Inc. of Dallas to build the seven terminal extensions, the Los Angeles Business Journal reports. The centerpiece of a US$5.5-billion program to ease congestion at LAX, the APM was out for bid earlier this year. Both the APM, which will take travelers to three sites — a car rental facility about 1 mi. away, a metro station and the central terminal area — and terminal extensions are due for completion in approximately 2023.

FIRST DOWN ESCALATORS AND MORE FOR MUMBAI RAIL STATIONS

Mumbai's first escalators to descend from foot overbridge to platform at the Dadar and Thane stations are expected to operational by the end of January according to Central Railway (CR), as CR strives to prevent tragedies like the Elphinstone stampede, the Mumbai Mirror reports. Stations getting down escalators include Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Kalyan. Twenty-four escalators are set to open in February, and another 12 in March, including two more at Dadar. CR is allotting funds for escalators based on the number of passengers stations see per year, rather than revenue generated.

RESIDENTIAL TOWERS PLANNED NEAR NYC’S HIGH LINE

A new rendering reveals Related’s plan for a mostly residential project at 555 West 22nd Street in New York City’s (NYC) West Chelsea neighborhood, only 12 blocks from the rapidly rising Hudson Yards and one block from the High Line, New York YIMBY reports. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern with SLCE as the architect of record, the development is set to include two towers — one at least 26 stories, and the other of an undetermined, shorter height housing large condominiums and retail within 109,950 sq. ft. The plan includes extensive amenities such as a business center, gym, basement pool and dog spa. Completion is anticipated in 2020.

Image courtesy labusinessjournal.com:

http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2018/jan/19/airport-authority-authorizes-336-million-contract-/

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

KONE LANDS 108-UNIT ORDER FOR NEW CHINESE LANDMARK

KONE has won an order to supply 108 units to Nanjing Golden Eagle World, an office/hotel/retail development in Nanjing, China, that consists of 76-, 67- and 60-story towers with a base housing Asia's largest shopping center. There will also be a six-story skybridge with restaurants, landscaping and swimming pools. KONE is supplying 14 MonoSpace® and 86 MiniSpaceTM elevators, and eight TravelMasterTM escalators, along with a destination-control system. Expected to be complete in 2019, Nanjing Golden Eagle World is being developed by Golden Eagle Retail Group, built by Shanghai Construction Group and designed by East China Architectural Design Institute (ECADI) and Frederic Rolland Architects. KONE Executive Vice President of Greater China William B. Johnson called the project a “new landmark” for Nanjing.

ELEVATORS, ESCALATORS PART OF LAX EXPANSION

Elevators, escalators and moving walks linking a new, US$2.7-billion automated people mover (APM) to various floors of expanded terminals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are part of a US$336-million contract awarded by Los Angeles World Airports to Austin Commercial Inc. of Dallas to build the seven terminal extensions, the Los Angeles Business Journal reports. The centerpiece of a US$5.5-billion program to ease congestion at LAX, the APM was out for bid earlier this year. Both the APM, which will take travelers to three sites — a car rental facility about 1 mi. away, a metro station and the central terminal area — and terminal extensions are due for completion in approximately 2023.

FIRST DOWN ESCALATORS AND MORE FOR MUMBAI RAIL STATIONS

Mumbai's first escalators to descend from foot overbridge to platform at the Dadar and Thane stations are expected to operational by the end of January according to Central Railway (CR), as CR strives to prevent tragedies like the Elphinstone stampede, the Mumbai Mirror reports. Stations getting down escalators include Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Kalyan. Twenty-four escalators are set to open in February, and another 12 in March, including two more at Dadar. CR is allotting funds for escalators based on the number of passengers stations see per year, rather than revenue generated.

RESIDENTIAL TOWERS PLANNED NEAR NYC’S HIGH LINE

A new rendering reveals Related’s plan for a mostly residential project at 555 West 22nd Street in New York City’s (NYC) West Chelsea neighborhood, only 12 blocks from the rapidly rising Hudson Yards and one block from the High Line, New York YIMBY reports. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern with SLCE as the architect of record, the development is set to include two towers — one at least 26 stories, and the other of an undetermined, shorter height housing large condominiums and retail within 109,950 sq. ft. The plan includes extensive amenities such as a business center, gym, basement pool and dog spa. Completion is anticipated in 2020.

Image courtesy labusinessjournal.com:

http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2018/jan/19/airport-authority-authorizes-336-million-contract-/

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

SCHMERSAL FOUNDS JAPANESE SUBSIDIARY, NAMES MD

The Schmersal Group has founded Japanese independent subsidiary Schmersal Japan KK, based at the same Tokyo location as the parent company’s former sales office. Tetsuya Horimoto has been named its managing director (MD), taking over from Dr. Tekashi Kabe, who retired at the end of 2017 after many years as manager of the sales office. Horimoto is a TÜV safety-certified engineer with many years of management experience in the automation sector. Horimoto said Schmersal Japan KK plans to hire engineers and grow physically, adding a warehouse that will facilitate faster deliveries.

EHC GLOBAL OPENS LAS VEGAS QUICK SERVICE DEPOT

EHC Global has opened a Quick Service Depot (QSD) in Las Vegas to supply customers throughout the Southwest with handrail replacement parts. Offering EHC's S.O.S. service that includes same-day delivery, the QSD is fully stocked with NT handrail parts for most brands and models of escalators and moving walks. Observing the QSD is strategically located to serve customers in Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah and Idaho, EHC Vice President of Sales Patrick Bothwell said the expansion of the QSD network to Las Vegas reflects EHC's "ongoing commitment to meeting the challenging and growing demands of the escalator maintenance market in the U.S."

“ICONIC” CHICAGO SKYSCRAPER DEVELOPMENT CLEARS HURDLE

One Chicago Square, a 76- and 49-story tower project in Chicago's River North, described by developer JDL as "iconic," cleared a major hurdle on January 18 with the Chicago Planning Commission unanimously voting in favor of a needed zoning change, Crain's Chicago Business reports. JDL hopes to break ground before the end of the year. Designed by Goettsch Partners and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, the 740 N. State Street development is to include approximately 870 apartments and condominiums, as well as office and retail space. JDL has agreed to pay for improvements along Chicago Avenue in response to concerns about traffic congestion.

33-, 26-STORY TOWERS ON PRIVATE ISLAND IN DUBAI

Emaar Development plans to bring "Miami Beach-style" living to Dubai in the form of the 10-million-sq.-ft. Emaar Beachfront, 33- and 26-story apartment towers on a private, gated island off the coast, Arabian Business reports. Residents will have access to a 1.5-km beach, beachside play areas, swimming pools, gyms and podium parking. Describing Emaar Beachfront as one of a kind, Emaar Properties Managing Director Ahmad Al Matrooshi said the project offers people the "opportunity to experience a new lifestyle." Sales launched in January.

Image courtesy chicago.curbed.com:

https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/1/18/16905376/one-chicago-square-supertall-development

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

SCHMERSAL FOUNDS JAPANESE SUBSIDIARY, NAMES MD

The Schmersal Group has founded Japanese independent subsidiary Schmersal Japan KK, based at the same Tokyo location as the parent company’s former sales office. Tetsuya Horimoto has been named its managing director (MD), taking over from Dr. Tekashi Kabe, who retired at the end of 2017 after many years as manager of the sales office. Horimoto is a TÜV safety-certified engineer with many years of management experience in the automation sector. Horimoto said Schmersal Japan KK plans to hire engineers and grow physically, adding a warehouse that will facilitate faster deliveries.

EHC GLOBAL OPENS LAS VEGAS QUICK SERVICE DEPOT

EHC Global has opened a Quick Service Depot (QSD) in Las Vegas to supply customers throughout the Southwest with handrail replacement parts. Offering EHC's S.O.S. service that includes same-day delivery, the QSD is fully stocked with NT handrail parts for most brands and models of escalators and moving walks. Observing the QSD is strategically located to serve customers in Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah and Idaho, EHC Vice President of Sales Patrick Bothwell said the expansion of the QSD network to Las Vegas reflects EHC's "ongoing commitment to meeting the challenging and growing demands of the escalator maintenance market in the U.S."

“ICONIC” CHICAGO SKYSCRAPER DEVELOPMENT CLEARS HURDLE

One Chicago Square, a 76- and 49-story tower project in Chicago's River North, described by developer JDL as "iconic," cleared a major hurdle on January 18 with the Chicago Planning Commission unanimously voting in favor of a needed zoning change, Crain's Chicago Business reports. JDL hopes to break ground before the end of the year. Designed by Goettsch Partners and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, the 740 N. State Street development is to include approximately 870 apartments and condominiums, as well as office and retail space. JDL has agreed to pay for improvements along Chicago Avenue in response to concerns about traffic congestion.

33-, 26-STORY TOWERS ON PRIVATE ISLAND IN DUBAI

Emaar Development plans to bring "Miami Beach-style" living to Dubai in the form of the 10-million-sq.-ft. Emaar Beachfront, 33- and 26-story apartment towers on a private, gated island off the coast, Arabian Business reports. Residents will have access to a 1.5-km beach, beachside play areas, swimming pools, gyms and podium parking. Describing Emaar Beachfront as one of a kind, Emaar Properties Managing Director Ahmad Al Matrooshi said the project offers people the "opportunity to experience a new lifestyle." Sales launched in January.

Image courtesy chicago.curbed.com:

https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/1/18/16905376/one-chicago-square-supertall-development

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

KONE WINS ORDER FOR LONDON RESIDENTIAL HIGH RISE

KONE will supply South Quay Plaza, a residential high rise planned for London's Isle of Dogs, with UltraRope®-equipped elevators, the first use of the lightweight elevator rope in Europe. South Quay Plaza will be the first of three towers in a development overlooking the Canary Wharf financial district. With its height of 220 m, the 68-story tower will be one of the tallest residential buildings in Europe. KONE will deliver six MiniSpace™ and two MonoSpace® 700 elevators, and a KONE Destination Control System to the development. South Quay Plaza, scheduled for completion in 2022, is being developed by Berkeley Homes and designed by architect firm Foster + Partners.

 

IN MEMORIAM: FRANK REGALADO

Frank Regalado, 66, a former business representative of the Portland, Oregon-based Elevator Constructors Local 23, passed away on January 10 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, NW Labor Press reports. Regalado was a native of Morenci, Arizona, and joined Elevator Constructors Local 18 in Los Angeles in 1972, completing its apprenticeship program. He moved to Portland in 1982 and joined Local 23. He was elected business representative — a full-time position — serving from 1997 to 2003 then was appointed interim business representative in 2007 and elected to a three-year term, from 2008-2011. He retired in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Darlene; four children; and six grandchildren.

 

CTBUH PREDICTS TALL BUILDINGS

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has released its 2018 Tall Building Predictions. Notable predicted building completions are: Comcast Technology Center (Philadelphia) in February, China Zun Tower (Beijing) in May and Lakhta Center (St. Petersburg, Russia) in November. Other trends mentioned are wood towers exceeding 80 m tall and all-residential high-rise construction recovering to the point it will be the plurality of 200-m-plus-tall construction for the first time.

 

NAEC SPRING EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPEN

Registration is now open for the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) Spring Educational Conference, planned on April 15-18 at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. The annual event includes educational sessions, as well as plenty of opportunities to relax and network. For more information, visit the NAEC event website.

Image: CTBUH:

http://www.ctbuh.org/News/GlobalTallNews/2018TopMonthlyTallBuildingPredictions/tabid/7762/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

KONE WINS ORDER FOR LONDON RESIDENTIAL HIGH RISE

KONE will supply South Quay Plaza, a residential high rise planned for London's Isle of Dogs, with UltraRope®-equipped elevators, the first use of the lightweight elevator rope in Europe. South Quay Plaza will be the first of three towers in a development overlooking the Canary Wharf financial district. With its height of 220 m, the 68-story tower will be one of the tallest residential buildings in Europe. KONE will deliver six MiniSpace™ and two MonoSpace® 700 elevators, and a KONE Destination Control System to the development. South Quay Plaza, scheduled for completion in 2022, is being developed by Berkeley Homes and designed by architect firm Foster + Partners.

 

IN MEMORIAM: FRANK REGALADO

Frank Regalado, 66, a former business representative of the Portland, Oregon-based Elevator Constructors Local 23, passed away on January 10 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, NW Labor Press reports. Regalado was a native of Morenci, Arizona, and joined Elevator Constructors Local 18 in Los Angeles in 1972, completing its apprenticeship program. He moved to Portland in 1982 and joined Local 23. He was elected business representative — a full-time position — serving from 1997 to 2003 then was appointed interim business representative in 2007 and elected to a three-year term, from 2008-2011. He retired in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Darlene; four children; and six grandchildren.

 

CTBUH PREDICTS TALL BUILDINGS

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has released its 2018 Tall Building Predictions. Notable predicted building completions are: Comcast Technology Center (Philadelphia) in February, China Zun Tower (Beijing) in May and Lakhta Center (St. Petersburg, Russia) in November. Other trends mentioned are wood towers exceeding 80 m tall and all-residential high-rise construction recovering to the point it will be the plurality of 200-m-plus-tall construction for the first time.

 

NAEC SPRING EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPEN

Registration is now open for the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) Spring Educational Conference, planned on April 15-18 at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. The annual event includes educational sessions, as well as plenty of opportunities to relax and network. For more information, visit the NAEC event website.

Image: CTBUH:

http://www.ctbuh.org/News/GlobalTallNews/2018TopMonthlyTallBuildingPredictions/tabid/7762/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

IAEC FORUM REGISTRATION OPEN

Registration is open for the International Association of Elevator Consultants (IAEC) Forum, being held in Chicago on April 23-26 at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza atop the Chicago Sun-Times building in the middle of downtown Chicago's bustling River North area. QEIs can get a complete continuing-education unit (1.0) when taking advantage of the full agenda. For more information, contact IAEC Executive Director Sheila Swett or visit website.

 

IN MEMORIAM: KENNETH “KEN” DOWELL

Kenneth "Ken" Dowell passed away on January 7 in Bowmanville, Canada, at the age of 54. An employee of Atlantic Lifts and a Canadian Elevator Contractors Association member, Dowell was an avid fisherman and accomplished guitarist. He was devoted to his music, playing in many bands over the years, and even building his own 12-string acoustic guitar last year. Dowell is survived by sons, Quinn and Logan; step-daughter, Sarah Davey; and their mother, Beth Dowell. Donations can be made to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada or Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre.

 

NEW RENDERING AS 43-STORY LIC TOWER NEARS COMPLETION

A 43-story apartment tower developed by Simon Baron Development and Quadrum Global at 29-22 Northern Boulevard in Long Island City, New York (ELENET 667), is nearing completion, yielding the release of a new rendering and an official name: ALTA LIC, New York YIMBY reports. Located across from Dutch Kills Green Park and Queens Boulevard, the development will have 467 units, ground-level retail and an array of amenities within its 382,000 sq. ft. It was designed by Stephen B. Jacobs Architects with a porcelain façade. Leasing will start in March, and full completion is expected by the end of the year.

 

ZHA DEFENDS TWO-TOWER LONDON PLAN

Zaha Hadid Architects' (ZHA) plan for a two-tower, mixed-use scheme in Vauxhall, London, has been met with criticism since its proposal in December 2017. Calling the buildings "too big" and "investment opportunities for those based overseas," critics also knock the plan for being too dense, too expensive and overshadowing, The Architects' Journal reports. The two towers of 53 stories (185 m tall) and 42 stories (151 m tall) would be joined with a connecting podium of 10 or 11 stories. The development would include a 618-room hotel, 257 apartments and 20,000 m2 of office space. ZHA Director Jim Heverin explained the company's project "fits within a masterplan that has been looked at by Transport for London.”

 

INDIA INVESTING BIG IN RAIL STATION VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION

With the aim of providing better amenities, the Indian Railway Ministry will make a budget provision of INR34 billion (US$532.4 million) to install about 3,000 escalators and 1,000 elevators at all major urban and suburban rail stations in the country, The Economic Times reports. According to the report, 372 escalators will be installed at stations in Mumbai, with 2,589 more planned for stations across the national rail network.

Image: Economic Times:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/railway-budget-to-provide-for-installation-of-escalators-and-lifts-at-all-major-stations/articleshow/62540341.cms

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

IAEC FORUM REGISTRATION OPEN

Registration is open for the International Association of Elevator Consultants (IAEC) Forum, being held in Chicago on April 23-26 at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza atop the Chicago Sun-Times building in the middle of downtown Chicago's bustling River North area. QEIs can get a complete continuing-education unit (1.0) when taking advantage of the full agenda. For more information, contact IAEC Executive Director Sheila Swett or visit website.

 

IN MEMORIAM: KENNETH “KEN” DOWELL

Kenneth "Ken" Dowell passed away on January 7 in Bowmanville, Canada, at the age of 54. An employee of Atlantic Lifts and a Canadian Elevator Contractors Association member, Dowell was an avid fisherman and accomplished guitarist. He was devoted to his music, playing in many bands over the years, and even building his own 12-string acoustic guitar last year. Dowell is survived by sons, Quinn and Logan; step-daughter, Sarah Davey; and their mother, Beth Dowell. Donations can be made to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada or Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre.

 

NEW RENDERING AS 43-STORY LIC TOWER NEARS COMPLETION

A 43-story apartment tower developed by Simon Baron Development and Quadrum Global at 29-22 Northern Boulevard in Long Island City, New York (ELENET 667), is nearing completion, yielding the release of a new rendering and an official name: ALTA LIC, New York YIMBY reports. Located across from Dutch Kills Green Park and Queens Boulevard, the development will have 467 units, ground-level retail and an array of amenities within its 382,000 sq. ft. It was designed by Stephen B. Jacobs Architects with a porcelain façade. Leasing will start in March, and full completion is expected by the end of the year.

 

ZHA DEFENDS TWO-TOWER LONDON PLAN

Zaha Hadid Architects' (ZHA) plan for a two-tower, mixed-use scheme in Vauxhall, London, has been met with criticism since its proposal in December 2017. Calling the buildings "too big" and "investment opportunities for those based overseas," critics also knock the plan for being too dense, too expensive and overshadowing, The Architects' Journal reports. The two towers of 53 stories (185 m tall) and 42 stories (151 m tall) would be joined with a connecting podium of 10 or 11 stories. The development would include a 618-room hotel, 257 apartments and 20,000 m2 of office space. ZHA Director Jim Heverin explained the company's project "fits within a masterplan that has been looked at by Transport for London.”

 

INDIA INVESTING BIG IN RAIL STATION VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION

With the aim of providing better amenities, the Indian Railway Ministry will make a budget provision of INR34 billion (US$532.4 million) to install about 3,000 escalators and 1,000 elevators at all major urban and suburban rail stations in the country, The Economic Times reports. According to the report, 372 escalators will be installed at stations in Mumbai, with 2,589 more planned for stations across the national rail network.

Image: Economic Times:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/railway-budget-to-provide-for-installation-of-escalators-and-lifts-at-all-major-stations/articleshow/62540341.cms

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

ALIMAK WINS CONTRACT FOR BATTERSEA REDEVELOPMENT

Battersea Project Phase 2 Development Co. Ltd. has selected Alimak Group's CoxGomyl building maintenance units (BMUs) for the second phase of redeveloping the decommissioned power station, which will be home to Apple's new London campus on the south bank of the Thames River. Worth approximately US$2.6 million, the contract includes several short-reach, roof-mounted BMUs, as well as gantry and monorail systems, support and maintenance. Following successful installation of CoxGomyl BMUs for phase 1, Alimak will install and supply the equipment from the end of this year through early 2020. In addition to Apple, the project includes 253 residences and a 6-acre park.

 

THYSSENKRUPP MARKS 125-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ESCALATOR

On January 16, thyssenkrupp celebrated the 125th anniversary of when the world’s first escalator went into operation in 1893 at Coney Island’s Old Iron Pier in New York City (NYC). Then known as an incline elevator and conceived by Jesse Reno while attempting to create NYC’s first double-decker subway, the unit ran for two weeks and carried passengers only 7 ft. at a 25˚ angle. The technology has come a long way since then, with escalators more than 53 m long traveling at up to 0.9 mps. With Germany’s only escalator factory, thyssenkrupp notes it maintains approximately 25,000 of the 136,000 escalators in Europe. In honor of the anniversary, the company released an impressive picture gallery of its escalator installations worldwide.

 

IN MEMORIAM: JOHN HENRY MAIDA

John Henry Maida, founder, chief engineer and former owner of Virginia Controls, Inc. (VCI), of Richmond, Virginia, passed away on January 7 in Richmond. He was 80 years old. Maida began his career as an engineer at Otis in the late 1950s, going on to found and lead VCI, which designs and manufactures automatic elevator controllers, in 1967. He retired from VCI in 1996. Survivors include sisters, Linda and Diane; son, Chris; daughters, Valerie, Susanna, Janice and Marjorie; and numerous grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jehovah's Witnesses.

 

RENDERINGS SHOW BROOKLYN MEGAPROJECT HIGH RISE

New renderings from developer L&L MAG's website show Pacific Park, a megaproject in downtown Brooklyn, New York, surrounding the Barclays Center that will eventually have 14 buildings, including a high rise that appears to be approximately 800 ft. tall, New York YIMBY reports. COOKFOX and SHoP Architects are the designers for the site, which is 95% owned by Greenland Forest City, with L&L MAG owning the remainder. By the time of full buildout around 2025-2030, there will be Brooklyn buildings taller than both the Pacific Park tower and the borough’s current tallest, the 610-ft.-tall 333 Schermerhorn.

Image: thyssenkrupp:

https://transfer.thyssenkrupp.info/public/q55299r_262200622744b99693c779

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com

ALIMAK WINS CONTRACT FOR BATTERSEA REDEVELOPMENT

Battersea Project Phase 2 Development Co. Ltd. has selected Alimak Group's CoxGomyl building maintenance units (BMUs) for the second phase of redeveloping the decommissioned power station, which will be home to Apple's new London campus on the south bank of the Thames River. Worth approximately US$2.6 million, the contract includes several short-reach, roof-mounted BMUs, as well as gantry and monorail systems, support and maintenance. Following successful installation of CoxGomyl BMUs for phase 1, Alimak will install and supply the equipment from the end of this year through early 2020. In addition to Apple, the project includes 253 residences and a 6-acre park.

 

THYSSENKRUPP MARKS 125-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ESCALATOR

On January 16, thyssenkrupp celebrated the 125th anniversary of when the world’s first escalator went into operation in 1893 at Coney Island’s Old Iron Pier in New York City (NYC). Then known as an incline elevator and conceived by Jesse Reno while attempting to create NYC’s first double-decker subway, the unit ran for two weeks and carried passengers only 7 ft. at a 25˚ angle. The technology has come a long way since then, with escalators more than 53 m long traveling at up to 0.9 mps. With Germany’s only escalator factory, thyssenkrupp notes it maintains approximately 25,000 of the 136,000 escalators in Europe. In honor of the anniversary, the company released an impressive picture gallery of its escalator installations worldwide.

 

IN MEMORIAM: JOHN HENRY MAIDA

John Henry Maida, founder, chief engineer and former owner of Virginia Controls, Inc. (VCI), of Richmond, Virginia, passed away on January 7 in Richmond. He was 80 years old. Maida began his career as an engineer at Otis in the late 1950s, going on to found and lead VCI, which designs and manufactures automatic elevator controllers, in 1967. He retired from VCI in 1996. Survivors include sisters, Linda and Diane; son, Chris; daughters, Valerie, Susanna, Janice and Marjorie; and numerous grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jehovah's Witnesses.

 

RENDERINGS SHOW BROOKLYN MEGAPROJECT HIGH RISE

New renderings from developer L&L MAG's website show Pacific Park, a megaproject in downtown Brooklyn, New York, surrounding the Barclays Center that will eventually have 14 buildings, including a high rise that appears to be approximately 800 ft. tall, New York YIMBY reports. COOKFOX and SHoP Architects are the designers for the site, which is 95% owned by Greenland Forest City, with L&L MAG owning the remainder. By the time of full buildout around 2025-2030, there will be Brooklyn buildings taller than both the Pacific Park tower and the borough’s current tallest, the 610-ft.-tall 333 Schermerhorn.

Image: thyssenkrupp:

https://transfer.thyssenkrupp.info/public/q55299r_262200622744b99693c779

Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn