Elevator World

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

HYUNDAI ELEVATOR REFLECTS ON 2017 GROWTH, ACHIEVEMENTS

South Korea’s Hyundai Elevator reflected on its 2017 growth & achievements in its December newsletter, including that it installed more than 2,000 elevators in a single month, in June, for the first time in company history, launched its new human-resources automatic processing system, Elis, at corporate HQ early this month & became the first elevator business to win the Gold iF Design Award for ANYVATER. Hyundai Elevator noted its first-half revenue increased more than 20% and its profit nearly 17% over the same time period in the previous year.

ROSEMOR BREAKING INTO NEW MARKETS

U.K.-based Rosemor International reported it is breaking into new markets including China, India, Iran and Romania. Rosemor has been directly supplying escalator-cleaning machines to U.S. customers for more than 17 years, and uses dealers to supply to customers worldwide. The machines are mainly used in department stores, malls, metro stations, airports and stadiums. The company stated it is “very excited for 2018 and what new business it may entail."

1865 BROADWAY TOWER TOPS OUT

A residential tower at 1865 Broadway on New York City's (NYC) Upper West Side has topped out, New York YIMBY reports. The 33-story, 416-ft.-tall building designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill will offer 236,532 sq. ft. of residential space spread across 160 units, for an average of 1,500 sq. ft. each. Lower floors will house 34,000 sq. ft. of retail space. The source noted that developer AvalonBay normally does rentals, but said this project will probably include rental units and upper-floor condominiums. TEI Group is providing three overhead gearless passenger elevators and two hydraulic elevators for the project. Completion is expected by the end of 2018.

WORKER RESCUED FROM ELEVATOR HOISTWAY

The Wilmington, Delaware, Fire Department was called to rescue a worker who was trapped in an elevator hoistway at the DuPont Building on December 19, First State Update reported. Fire crews found the worker on the 1st floor inside the hoistway with “a hand trapped by steel weights.” He was freed within about 15 min. and taken to a nearby hospital. Neither the cause of the accident nor the extent of the worker's injuries were immediately released.

CONTRACTOR CHOSEN FOR MALAYSIA'S SKYWHEEL PROJECT

Developer M101 Holdings has named China Railway Construction Corp. Malaysia (CRCC) as the main contractor for the M101 Skywheel project, a mixed-use high-rise building in Kuala Lumpur that will include a Ferris wheel mounted on its 53rd-floor rooftop, multiple outlets, including the Straits Times, are reporting. According to property management company KLCC Properties, the MYR2.2-billion (US$540-million) building, designed by Studio FA Porsche, will include residences and a hotel. A shopping mall will be situated on the 48th floor, making it the highest retail complex in Malaysia. The Ferris wheel sits between 2 towers that rise to a full height of 78 stories. Construction is targeted for completion in 2022.

DEVELOPER PLANS MIXED-USE TOWER IN TORONTO

QuadReal has filed a zoning application in hopes of building a 64-story, mixed-use tower in Toronto, the website UrbanToronto.ca reports. The structure would be 298 m tall and cover a gross floor area of 180,259 m2. It would be built on the existing Commerce Court site, and require the demolition of the Commerce Court South and East buildings. The project would include parking spaces for 600 cars, plus 722 bicycle spaces. Includes addition to the Hotel Victoria, constructed in 1909.

Image via firststateupdate.com:

http://firststateupdate.com/2017/12/wilmington-fire-department-rescues-man-from-elevator-shaft/

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

GAL NAMES WORLDWIDE VP OF ENGINEERING

James Varon has been named vice president (VP) of engineering for all GAL locations, including New York, Quincy, Toronto and Asia. He will be responsible for all aspects of engineering, such as R&D, new-product introductions and contract engineering. Beginning at GAL 37 years ago as a mechanical draftsman, he moved up to door equipment engineering manager in 1985, then engineering manager in 2000 before progressing to VP of engineering at GAL in 2014. At his last post, his scope was limited to the Bronx, New York, facility.

KONE STRENGTHENS POSITION IN MADRID WITH ACQUISITION

KONE has strengthened its position in Madrid with the acquisition of Ascensores R. Casado, S.A., a Spanish elevator company providing installation, maintenance and modernization services to more than 1,300 elevators. Welcoming Ascensores R. Casado employees and customers, KONE Executive Vice President for South Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Pierre Liautaud said the market is a key one for KONE in Spain.

INDIA'S MAHARASHTRA STATE PROPOSES NEW VT REGULATIONS

The Maharashtra state government, recognizing rapid advancements in technology and standards, has introduced a bill to regulate vertical-transportation (VT) systems, the Hindustan Times reports. The Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Bill, introduced on December 19, would replace 1939 regulations, which covered elevators but not escalators or moving walks. The new law would require VT devices to conform to regulations of the Bureau of Indian Standards or the National Building Code. Equipment owners would be required to provide annual maintenance and audits by an approved contractor. Failure to comply could bring monetary fines and the shutdown of equipment. Government regulators would be empowered to conduct surprise inspections. There are nearly 123,000 elevators in Maharashtra state, the source said.

CIBSE LIFTS GROUP AGM, MEETING AND WORKSHOP

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Lifts Group is holding its 2018 Annual General Membership (AGM) and Evening Meeting on February 6, 2018, in the CIBSE Council Chamber in Balham, U.K. Presentations include “Introduction to the Suite of BS 8486 Standards” and “Review of BS 8486-3: 2017 and Its Relationship With Annexes of BS 8486-1/2: 2007+A1: 2011 and the Future BS 8486 -4/5/6/7/8/9.” A workshop will follow the meeting. Its intention is to take the mystery out of commenting on standards. Attendees will have a chance to engage in the live creation of CIBSE Lifts Group comments (with expert assistance) and submit them to the British Standards Institute.

KICC EXPANSION IN LOUISVILLE INCLUDES VT

A 218,000-sq.-ft., US$209-million expansion of the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, is underway in earnest, with major components such as escalators arriving onsite, Louisville Business First reports. The KICC is expanding to approximately 900,000 sq. ft. and aims to welcome its first convention by August 2018. Vertical transportation (VT) is a big part of the upgrade. Paul T. Cable, architect, Commonwealth of Kentucky, told ELEVATOR WORLD that KONE is providing 16 new escalators, while thyssenkrupp is providing four new passenger, two new service and two new freight elevators, as well as refurbishment of existing elevators, including redesign of cab interiors.

Image courtesy NakNakNak via pixabay:

https://pixabay.com/en/spain-madrid-gran-via-capital-road-2709122/

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

Toshiba Elevator Middle East (TELME) has been awarded several certifications by TÜV SÜD Middle East LLC: ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems); ISO:14001:2015 (Environment); and OSHAS:18001:20007 (Safety Management). Stating the certifications are a testament to TELME's attention to quality, safety and environmental sustainability, TELME Managing Director M.J. Mohamed Iqbal joined other officials at a small function in December 2017 in Dubai to speak about the importance of maintaining TELME's high standards. Iqbal thanked parent company Toshiba for its continued support and stated, "Quality can never be compromised."

 

thyssenkrupp is rolling out a new maintenance-vehicle fleet in Portugal and Spain, with plans to have 2,300 new cars (representing approximately 95% of the maintenance fleet) in use by 2020. The vehicles boast the thyssenkrupp logo in either white on blue or blue on white. The vehicles "make thyssenkrupp's presence in these markets easily recognizable and clear, with each technician serving as an ambassador of the brand." The fleet promises to further enhance efficiency and improve customer service. It adds to recent thyssenkrupp initiatives such as equipping service technicians with Microsoft HoloLens technology, which initial trials have shown allows them to perform maintenance duties up to four times faster than previously.

 

American Testing and Inspection Services (ATIS) and Lerch Bates have entered into an agreement in which ATIS will acquire the elevator inspection portfolio of Lerch Bates Inspection Services (LBIS), the companies announced on December 18. Through the acquisition, St. Louis-based ATIS will expand its position as the largest U.S.-owned elevator-inspection company, officials said. ATIS has nearly 100 QEIs, is licensed in more than 30 states and has a portfolio of more than 50,000 elevators and escalators. By spinning off LBIS, Lerch Bates — a global consultant for the vertical-transportation industry headquartered in Denver — will focus on expanding its core business of consulting on elevator modernizations, service audits and ground-up design projects. The companies are longtime partners, and will continue to work together.

 

The Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) is accepting applications for the third annual CECA Scholarship awards. Members in good standing, as well as their children, stepchildren, grandchildren and step-grandchildren, are eligible to apply for one of four scholarships of CAD2,500 (US$1,940), applicable to post-secondary studies at a recognized educational institute in Canada. Two of the scholarships are good toward the pursuit of a career in the elevator industry, and the other two may be applied toward the pursuit of a career in any field. Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. EST on April 20, 2018. Further information and downloadable entry forms, in both English and French, are available at website.

 

New York YIMBY has fresh renderings of 200 Amsterdam Avenue, a 55-story tower that is among numerous residential projects taking shape on the Upper West Side. Renderings reveal an Art Deco-inspired design with a glazed aluminum curtain wall, metal panels and composite masonry including vertical piers that frame windows on the north and south elevations. The first two floors will have a light gray limestone façade with black granite and stainless-steel accents to complement the look of the upper floors. Elkus Manfredi is the design architect, with CetraRuddy handling the interiors. 200 Amsterdam will have 112 condominiums, and is scheduled for completion by 2020.

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

APEX ADDS SERVICE CONTRACT MANAGER

Apex Lifts of London has hired Jordan Byrne as service contract manager. Byrne brings almost 20 years’ experience to the role, which involves the management of engineers in and around London, day-to-day operational running, contract management, and monitoring and reporting. He began his career in 1998 as an apprentice, while completing engineering and electrical qualifications. He later moved to another firm, where he carried out services and breakdowns. Most recently, he spent nine years working for Mitsubishi Elevators, being responsible for its flagship London site and managing 14 lift engineers across the capital.

CONSTRUCTION FINISHED ON NYC FINANCIAL DISTRICT HOTEL

Construction on 6 Water Street, a 29-story, Gene Kaufman-designed hotel tower in New York City (NYC), has completed, New York YIMBY reports. The 250-key hotel, with its blue-and-white façade, overlooks NYC's South Ferry Terminal, Battery Park and New York Harbor in the downtown Financial District. It houses a Hilton Garden Inn with a restaurant, bar, 24-hr. fitness center and business space for guests. The 298-ft.-tall tower has 125,680 sq. ft. of space, averaging 502 sq. ft. per room. The developer is Magna Hospitality.

TELME RECOGNIZES CSR BY CLEANING UP DUBAI STREET

Approximately 50 Toshiba Elevator Middle East (TELME) employees recognized annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) month through participation in a cleanup of Al Rigga Street in Dubai with the Dubai Municipality on December 4. The Government of Dubai presented TELME with a certificate for the effort. It was part of an overall initiative ordered by Toshiba Corp. CEO Satoshi Tsunakawa for Toshiba companies worldwide to promote a wider awareness of CSR. In addition to the cleanup, TELME's CSR efforts will include blood drives and vertical-transportation safety education. TELME Managing Director M.J. Mohamed Iqbal thanked the Government of Dubai, the Dubai Municipality, Shinichi Akiba, director, president and CEO of Toshiba Infrastructure Systems and Solutions, and Kazunori Matsubara, president and CEO of Toshiba Elevator Building Systems.

SOARING PLATFORM RISES IN CHONGQING, CHINA

A large platform connecting four, 250-m-tall towers at the Raffles City Chongqing complex in Chongqing, China, was undergoing a weeklong process of being lifted into place, China Daily reported on December 15. The glass-enclosed platform will cover more than 10,000 m2 of space, and will include an observation deck, a fine-dining restaurant and a club. Raffles City, a US$4-billion project developed by Capita-Land Group and Ascendas-Singbridge of Singapore, covers 1.12 million m2 and has eight towers. The buildings house residences, a shopping mall, office space and a five-star hotel. The project will open in phases, a process expected to begin in 2019.

MITSUBISHI HOLDS “SAFE RIDER” PROGRAM IN QATAR

Mitsubishi Elevators & Escalators and its Qatar representative, ETA MELCO, recently held a “Safe Rider” awareness program for pupils at the Vision International School in Doha, Qatar, to help the children understand and follow basic safety rules while using elevators and escalators, The Peninsula reports. The report noted that more people than ever are using vertical transportation in Qatar, with a proliferation of apartment and office buildings, schools, hospitals, airports and shopping malls. The program included a series of video presentations, interactive sessions and illustrative handouts, and was well received by the children. Mitsubishi Elevators and ETA MELCO plan to offer the program in other schools.

Image Courtesy:

http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/hilton-garden-inn-nyc-financial-center-manhattan-downtown-NYCFCGI/index.html

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Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast.

Saudi Arabian developer Dar Al Arkan has big plans for Dubai and beyond, including Morocco, various news outlets, including Khaleej Times, report. Elevators opening directly into apartments will be among features of the 34-story I Love Florence tower on the Dubai Canal. Designed by VX Experts, the tower will feature interiors by luxury Italian brand Roberto Cavalli. Construction could start in early 2018. Dar Al Arkan intends I Love Florence to serve as a launching pad into global markets that include Morocco and European cities such as London and Berlin.

 

Dr. Gero Gschwendtner has been appointed chair of the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee (ISO/TC) 178, which covers elevators, escalators and moving walks. An active participant in several ISO/TC 178 Working Groups (WGs), as well as the European Committee for Standardization Technical Committee (CEN/TC) 10 and its WGs, Gschwendtner succeeds Christian De Mas Latrie. He is also convener of CEN/TC 10 WG 2, which is responsible for the EN 115 series of standards for the safety of escalators and moving walks. He obtained an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Vienna and has more than 20 years of experience in the elevator and escalator industry, working at Schindler and Otis.

 

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), in an annual report, says 2017 was a record year for construction of buildings standing at least 200 m tall. In an online, interactive report, “CTBUH Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2017,” the organization notes that 144 buildings of at least 200 m were completed, up from 2016’s record 127. In addition, 2017 tied for the number of buildings at least 300 m tall (15). The trend doesn’t appear likely to slow down anytime soon: the forecast for 2018 says as many as 160 buildings of at least 200 m could be completed. The online report offers a wide range of information for anyone fascinated by tall-building construction.

 

Richard L. Justis, of Bloomington, Indiana, passed away on December 7 at the age of 84. He retired from Otis, where he worked for more than 25 years. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Justis enjoyed church, golf, Indiana University sports and, above all, his family. Survivors include children, Rick and Janell; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sisters, Lois, Phyllis and Jane. Services were held in December in Ellisville, Indiana. An obituary stated Justis' "positive, contagious spirit was loved by all who knew him, and his wonderful outlook on life will be missed."

 

Shanghai Tower, which at 632 m (2,073 ft.) is the world's second-tallest building, has finally opened after more than two years of delays, Bloomberg reports. The tower, which cost US$2.4 billion, is the most expensive building ever built in China and boasts the world's fastest elevator. With little fanfare, companies recently began moving into the 128-story tower originally targeted for a 2015 opening. The delays were caused by complex designs for which no building codes existed. The new codes included the use of elevators for evacuation during a fire, a first for a high-rise building in China.

 

New York YIMBY reports that demolition is complete on the low-rise buildings at 66 Hudson Boulevard in the quickly growing Hudson Yards development on New York City’s (NYC) far West Side, paving the way for a 64-story office tower developed by Tishman Speyer and designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. With an anticipated completion in 2020, what is being called The Spiral has a striking design, with a “ribbon” of trees spiraling around its façade. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has signed on as anchor tenant.

Image courtesy CTBUH

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

GAL/HOLLISTER-WHITNEY NAMES TWO VICE PRESIDENTS

GAL Manufacturing/Hollister-Whitney has named two vice presidents. Ken Harmon has been named vice president of product support and development, and Daniel Baltzegar has been named regional vice president for the southeastern U.S. Harmon is an industry veteran with 38 years of experience. He was previously owner and president of Harmon Elevator Co., until the company was purchased by Oracle Elevator Co. He also has worked with Montgomery and Otis. Baltzegar has nearly 20 years of elevator-industry experience. He previously served with Oracle as vice president of sales and marketing and also worked with Miami Elevator Co., which has since been acquired by thyssenkrupp Elevator.

LIFTECH EXPO CAIRO COMING UP

LIFTECH EXPO Cairo is taking place in Cairo on February 1-3, 2018. Preregistration is open for this fifth iteration of the exhibition. Organized by Lead Trade Fairs and supported by ELEVATOR WORLD Middle East, the Egyptian Federation for Construction & Building Contractors and the Export Council for Building, Refractory & Metallurgy Industries and others, it looks to offer the latest innovative products and services of around 100 exhibitors. Thousands of professional visitors from many countries look to make the event, again, truly international.

TIANJIN CTF TOWER TOPS OUT

Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, a new landmark tower in Tianjin, China, has topped out and is on pace for completion in 2018, according to architects SOM. The 530-m, 96-story skyscraper will bring office space, serviced apartments and a five-star hotel to the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. The project is targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification. The building design uses curved corners, a tapering form, and an open top and porous crown to cut wind loads, while maximizing structural efficiency. The high-performance façade system was designed to significantly reduce heating and cooling costs, while maximizing use of daylight and offering spectacular views.​

EW 2018 PHOTO CONTEST KICKS OFF

Entries for the 2018 ELEVATOR WORLD Photo Contest are being accepted through April 13, 2018. Both companies and amateur photo enthusiasts are invited to participate. EW judges will first choose up to 20 finalists from each category. Those finalists will then be presented online during May 2018, when readers will vote to decide the best of the best. Winners of each category will receive US$250 cash or the equivalent in Elevator World, Inc. educational products or advertising. Winners and runners-up from each category will be featured in the August issue of EW and highlighted. More information is available here, and the entry form is available at elevatorworld.com/2018photocontest.

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

KENCOR EXPANDS MID-ATLANTIC REACH WITH ACQUISITION

Kencor Inc. Elevator Systems, headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, has acquired certain assets of ResCom Elevators LLC, a residential and commercial provider of a variety of lifts. Representing Kencor's fourth acquisition in as many years, the move promises to enhance Kencor's operations and ability to serve customers. John Dodds, Kencor chief operating officer, said the company is excited about the new talents and products the acquisition brings to Kencor and represents “an important strategic decision to offer our services to new geographical areas such as Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; and northern Virginia."

 

AVIRE APPOINTS BRIGHAM TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Avire has appointed Peter Brigham technical director, responsible for the company's global engineering activity. He will be primarily based at the U.K. office. Most recently chief technology officer and founder at Dacfon Ltd., specializing in anti-counterfeiting and secure manufacturing systems, Brigham has an MSc in Electronics and Information Technology from Birmingham University and a background in growing companies through technology. Prior to Dacfon, he was technical director at domestic fire-detector company Sprue Aegis for seven years. Brigham said he is "looking forward to assisting the team in creating more industry-leading products."

 

ECS SUPPORTS WOMEN IN VT THROUGH GIRL SCOUTS DONATION

ECS Corp. donated 150 Montgomery-style release cams to the Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) that will be used in hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities by two Girl Scout troops during the annual STEMapalooza events in the Chicagoland area. The effort was coordinated through the Women in TMA Committee that advocates for women in manufacturing through education, networking and career advancement. During STEMapalooza, a Women in TMA representative will explain the manufacturing process, while the Girl Scouts make necklaces from the parts. ECS President Rick Milefchik said the incoming talent in the vertical-transportation (VT) industry “need to share our knowledge and experience."

 

EECO MOVES TO LARGER FACILITY

Elevator Equipment Corp. (EECO) is moving its Pennsylvania operation from Landsale to Telford, where it has built a new and larger manufacturing facility. The move is “to meet the immediate business demand and increased volume of business,” EECO stated. Effective January 1, 2018, contact information for the company’s East Coast operations is: 810 Tech Drive, Telford, Pennsylvania 18969; phone: (215) 710-0566; and fax: (215) 799-4614.

 

MARYLAND'S TALLEST RESIDENTIAL TOWER TOPS OUT

Baltimore's 44-story 414 Light Street has topped out, making it Maryland's tallest residential tower, Skyrise Cities reports. The Solomon Cordwell Buenz-designed tower should be ready for occupancy sometime in 2018. When it opens, it will have 394 luxury apartments, parking for 469 cars and rooftop amenity space, including gardens, pools and lounge areas. Other amenities include a games room, entertainment kitchen and dining bar, resident salon and theater, fireside retreat room, a private fitness club and a pet spa, plus about 12,300 sq. ft. of retail space. The building is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certified.

Image courtesy ECS.

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

KONE STRENGTHENS MARKET POSITION IN HONG KONG

KONE has strengthened its regional market position with the acquisition of Shan On Engineering Co. of Hong Kong, founded in 1973 and specializing in elevator maintenance, modernization and installation. Shan On has approximately 1,000 elevators in its maintenance portfolio. KONE owned 35.3% of Shan On before buying the remaining shares. William B. Johnson, executive vice president for KONE, Greater China welcomed Shan On employees, noting the company has “an excellent reputation and a wide client base."

32-STORY RESIDENTIAL TOWER MOVES FORWARD IN L.A.

A 32-story, 346-ft.-tall tower with approximately 240 residences, 5,700 sq. ft. of retail and parking for nearly 300 vehicles is planned on a site at 920 S. Hill Street behind the popular Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, Urbanize LA reports. The L.A. City Planning Commission is poised to approve the project, along with a sister property at 6th and Main streets, after approving another tower at Broadway and Olympic earlier this year. The latest project is one of four being developed by Barry Shy and designed by architect David Takacs. The rather basic, rectangular structure will have studio to three-bedroom units, along with communal amenities such as a gym and rooftop deck.

NEW VT FOR RAIL STATIONS IN MUMBAI

Stations along Central Railway in Mumbai, India’s most populous city, are set to get 25 lifts and 52 escalators by March 2018, United News of India reports. There are six stations along the Main Line set to receive new vertical-transportation (VT) equipment and five on the Harbour Line. A railway official said busy stations, such as Dadar and Thane, will be given priority.

25-STORY RESIDENTIAL TOWER TOPS OUT IN LOWER MANHATTAN

A 25-story residential tower developed by Murat Agirnasli and Partners at 570 Broome Street in the Hudson Square neighborhood of Lower Manhattan has topped out, with residents expected to move in by fall 2018, New York YIMBY reports. Inspired by the neighborhood’s printing-district heritage, the property boasts large, framed windows and tall ceilings. Skidmore Owings & Merrill designed the interiors and lobby, with Builtd designing the rest. The units do not come cheap, averaging US$2.7 million and starting at US$1.35 million.

Image source SOM and Builtd via newyorkyimby.com:

https://newyorkyimby.com/2017/12/570-broome-street-tops-out-in-hudson-square-opening-slated-for-late-2018.html

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

ZIEHL-ABEGG SAYS 2017 RECORD YEAR FOR SALES

Ziehl-Abegg, a Künzelsau, Germany-based manufacturer of electric motors and fans for elevators and other applications, announced on December 7 that the company had already surpassed its annual sales record, fueled by demand for its energy-saving devices. CEO Peter Fenkl said that by the end of the year, the company was expecting to reach EUR530 million (US$624 million) in sales, a 10% increase over 2016. Ziehl-Abegg employs 2,000 people at its production plants in Germany and has a global workforce of 3,550 spread across 16 production plants, 27 companies and 97 sales locations. Its products are sold in more than 100 countries.

CRUISE SHIP TESTING DESTINATION DISPATCHING

Royal Caribbean International is testing a destination-dispatching system on the KONE elevators aboard the world's largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, Travel Pulse reports. If the tests go well, the system may be installed in the Symphony of the Seas, set for launch in April 2018, and could be retrofitted to other Royal Caribbean vessels, the source said. The KONE Polaris touchscreen system will operate similarly to land-based destination-control systems, in that it allows riders to choose their destination from the lobby panel, then directs them to the elevator that gives the quickest transit to that destination. It will be more complicated on the ship, however, because some of the elevators have multiple entrances. If Royal Caribbean adopts the system, it would be the first cruise line equipped with destination dispatching, the source said.

GOLD COAST RESIDENTIAL TOWER DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND WIND

The Gold Coast City Council in Australia has approved a 165-m-tall beachfront residential tower on Wharf Road in Broadbeach being developed by Golden Gate Property Group and designed by Rothelowman, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat reports. It includes 35 full-floor residences, a two-story sub-penthouse and a three-story penthouse. Its slender, 12-m-wide parametric design is a response to wind and structural requirements. Rothelowman Associate Principal Jonothan Cowle stated: "The exoskeleton design meant we could cross-brace the building externally via a diagrid, which enabled us to open up the façade and create a truly 3D building with windows on all sides and enough asymmetries to mitigate prevailing winds."

PLAN FOR 51-STORY CHICAGO OFFICE TOWER HITS SNAG

Chicago’s Riverside Investment & Development and Dallas-based Howard Hughes Corp. have hit an unexpected, “highly unusual” snag in their plan to build a 51-story office tower at 110 N. Wacker Drive in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune reports. At issue is a notice to developers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that a five-story, midcentury modern office building on the site is “architecturally significant,” and that demolishing it could have an adverse effect on its surroundings. The Corps is seeking public input through December 14 and plan to meet again the next day with developers to craft a mitigation agreement.

Image Courtesy royalportfolio.com:

http://royalportfolio.com/harmony-of-the-seas-2/

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

INDIAN LIFT ASSOCIATION PUSHES FOR GREATER SAFETY, OVERSIGHT

Observing there are more than 800,000 lifts and roughly 200,000 elevator-industry employees in the southern Indian state of Telangana, members of the Telangana Elevator Association (TEA) are pushing for an elevator safety grading system and more inspections, the Deccan Chronicle reports. TEA President Avinash Challa said the association is working to educate both residents and technicians, and has launched a new program that provides insurance for technicians, contractors and users in case of an emergency. Most accidents, he said, are due to negligence such as failing to keep a close eye on children. The TEA urged that old, potentially unsafe elevators be replaced.

 

ZIEHL-ABEGG JOINS N.C. GAP PROGRAM

To help facilitate rapid growth at its U.S. headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, German fan and motor manufacturer Ziehl-Abegg has joined the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) program. Geared toward high school juniors and seniors, as well as military veterans, the four-year program provides the opportunity for participants to earn an associate’s degree in Manufacturing from Guilford Technical Community College while bringing home an hourly salary. Glenn Sellmer, Ziehl-Abegg's production manager in Greensboro, said: "Finding skilled employees is a priority for every employer. With this program, we can train the next generation to become the workforce of the future."

 

CTBUH ANNOUNCES DUBAI, JEDDAH AS 2018 CONFERENCE HOSTS

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s (CTBUH) 2018 conference, Polycentric Cities: The Future of Vertical Urbanism, will be held in Dubai and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, cities that, like New York and London, illustrate the polycentric, “cities within cities” approach to urbanism. The event is planned on October 20-25, 2018, and will kick off at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. It is expected to draw approximately 1,000 delegates from more than 45 countries.

 

EU ANNUAL CONFERENCE DETAILS ANNOUNCED

The next Elevator U (EU) Annual Conference will be held at the University of Alabama’s Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on June 18-21, 2018. A call for papers to be presented has been made: download, complete and email the form to EU for a chance to participate. A golf outing will be held on June 18. Registration for the conference, which includes a vendor expo and educational sessions, will be open sometime next month.

 

ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION UNDERWAY AT CARLSBAD CAVERNS

California-based elevator contractor Tutor Perini Corp. has begun work on modernizing the primary elevators at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico, the Odessa American reported on December 6. The US$4.7-million modernization will include new motors and cars, plus the repair and installation of guide rails. The primary elevator system, installed in 1955, went out of service in November 2015 when a motor shaft sheared off. Access to the caverns has been accommodated ever since by use of secondary elevators and a nature trail. The National Park Service said the project is on schedule for completion by the end of May 2018.

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