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http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/july-1-2016/

CTBUH UNVEILS 2016 BEST TALL BUILDING AWARD WINNERS

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has announced the 2016 Best Tall Building Award recipients. Culled from 132 of "the most forward-looking entries yet," they are, for the Americas, VIA 57 West in New York City; Asia & Australia, Shanghai Tower; Europe, The White Walls, Nicosia, Cyprus; and the Middle East and Africa, The Cube, Beirut, Lebanon. The Urban Habitat Award winner is Wuhan Tiandi Site A, Hankou, China, the 10-year award winner is Hearst Tower in NYC, and the Performance Award winner is Taipei 101 in Taipei.

MAGNETEK MARKS SCHINDLER QUATTRO MILESTONE

On June 28, Magnetek, Inc., of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, presented Schindler representatives with the Quattro® 1000 Club award for installing more than 1,000 energy-efficient Quattro drives in elevator modernization projects around the world. Magnetek states its Quattro drives, including the Quattro DC, Quattro AC Enclosed, and the new Quattro AC Cube, “offer proven energy savings, lower installation costs and superior ride quality.”

STRIKING APARTMENT TOWER FOR AUCKLAND SKYLINE

Officials in Auckland, New Zealand, have greenlighted a 52-story apartment tower designed by Peddle Thorp that features a sharp, striking angle at the top and approximately 220 apartments boasting views of the Waitemata Harbour, Stuff reports. Part of a redevelopment of a block of Customs Street East that includes historic properties, the project is expected to take shape over the next three to four years. Ground-level retail and a smaller tower housing a hotel are also planned.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/june-30-2016/

FRITZ KÜBLER WINS INNOVATION AWARD

Fritz Kübler GmbH recently announced it was recognized in The TOP 100 Top-Innovator 2016 awards at the German Medium-Sized Enterprises Summit on June 24 in Essen, Germany. The award honored the most innovative companies (out of more than 4,000) in the segment following what Fritz Kübler called "a demanding scientific selection process." The Villingen-Schwenningen-based company is a position and motion sensor specialist, and is also involved in counting, process and transmission technology. It notes that its innovation marketing, both in Germany and abroad, were crucial in the decision.

INTERLIFT 2017 DATES ANNOUNCED

Organizer AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH has announced that the next Interlift will take place on October 17-20, again at the Augsburg Trade Fair in Augsburg, Germany. VFA stated that never before have so many lift companies registered so quickly for the event. Also, a call for papers for the associated VFA-Forum will be made in September. In addition to the usual themes of "Standards," "International Markets," and new products and services, papers will be requested on the topics "Safety at the Work Place," "Qualification," "Industry 4.0 – Digital Applications for Elevators," mega-cities and architecture.

HANOI PLAN INCLUDES 108-STORY TOWER

A plan to develop 1,810 ha along both sides of the Nhat Tan-Noi Bai Highway in Hanoi, Vietnam, includes the 108-story Phuong Trach Financial Tower, Dantri International News reports. The Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture announced the plan in June. Buildings would be spread over 11.1 km along the highway, with those nearest the airport topping out at seven stories, a second section having buildings up to 20 stories and a third with the 108-story tower. The city plans to select investors for the US$1.55-billion project through a bidding system, and anticipates infrastructure and land clearance to wrap up in 2025.

Photo via Dantri International News

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/018/45805/-108-storey-tower-for-hanoi-s-north.html

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/june-29-2016/

SCHMERSAL PROMOTES HUNSCHER TO MD

Dr. Andreas Hunscher was promoted to managing director (MD) of Schmersal Böhnke + Partner GmbH on June 1. In his new role, he will continue to lead Schmersal’s Wettenberg, Germany, factory and be responsible for its "safe signal analysis" and "control elements" business units. Hunscher completed his doctorate in Electrical Engineering at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, then spent approximately 15 years working in various management positions at a leading international automotive supplier. Before joining Schmersal in 2014, he was managing director of Langmatz GmbH, an infrastructure company.

EHC APPOINTS SOUTH AFRICA DISTRIBUTOR

Oshawa, Canada-based EHC Global has appointed Mofasa Lifts as its authorized handrail distributor and service provider in South Africa. Based in Pretoria, Mofasa will service the growing need for new and replacement escalator and moving-walk handrail solutions within the transportation, retail, commercial and other key market segments. Mofasa will also offer specialized and custom EHC-manufactured and -licensed escalator components, including rollers, guides, chains, plates and safety brushes. EHC sees the move as an expansion of its local presence in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

NYC’S ONE VANDERBILT PROGRESSES

Business Online has reported on the One Vanderbilt development slated for East Midtown. In a construction deal worth approximately US$1 billion, SL Green Realty Corp. chose Tishman Construction to manage the construction of the 58-story office development located adjacent to Grand Central Terminal. Additionally, New York YIMBY recently noted that demolition at the site had begun. The high rise will contain 1.6 million sq. ft. of class-A commercial space, a public transit hall and a 14,000-sq.-ft. public plaza. The development will also include US$220 million worth of public transit improvements to the Grand Central transit hub. When complete in 2020, the building is expected to be the second-tallest office tower in the city at 1,401 sq. ft.

One Vanderbilt, image from SL Green via NYYIMBY

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/june-28-2016/

KONE TO BUILD NEW INDIAN PRODUCTION FACILITY

KONE plans to build a new production facility in India, shifting operations from Ambattur to Tamil Nadu and more than doubling its property from 8.8 to 18.8 acres, the Business Standard reports. KONE CEO Henrik Ehrnrooth said the new facility will open in 2018. He noted India is the world's second-largest elevator market, behind China, and, unlike China, is growing. Urbanization, real-estate reforms and the India Smart Cities Challenge are among factors driving elevator demand. Producing freight, panoramic and residential elevators, KONE's India market accounts for approximately 5% of its global business.

AVIRE BRINGS MORE DISPLAYS TO CHINA

Avire has provided 37 C1 E-Motive displays for the China Resources MixC Shopping Mall in Shenyang’s Golden Corridor Plaza, the company recently announced. The 7-in. displays are installed in both the landing areas and elevator cars. The 250,000-m2, seven-story structure features more than 200 shops, as well as catering and entertainment facilities. The company also supplied six 15-in. C2 multimedia displays from E-Motive for the landing stations in China Resources Land Mansion, a 70,000-m2, 36-story office building on Shenyang’s Golden Corridor. The news follows the recent supply of 177 C2 displays at Tianjin Airport.

CECA GOLF OUTING A SUCCESS

The Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) held its annual golf classic on June 9 at Lora Bay, Canada. Event co-chairs Michael J. Ryan of The Peelle Co. and Steve Husband of GAL Manufacturing Corp. reported record attendance of 71 golfers, who raised CAD1,805 (US$1,393) for the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation of Canada. Marcus Vanmanson won the 50-50 draw, and George Vlastakis, guest of The Insurance Market, won a GoPro for the “marshmallow drive” contest. The “closest to the fridge/longest drive” winner was Patrick Bothwell. Beth Staite had the longest drive for women.

Photo by Zarex via Wikimedia Commons

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/june-27-2016/

3 WTC TOPS OUT

Three World Trade Center (3 WTC) topped out on June 23. Located at 175 Greenwich Street, 3 WTC reached its final height of 1,079 ft (80 stories). New York YIMBY reported that other construction and glass installation still need to be completed prior to the building's anticipated 2018 opening. It will join 7 World Trade Center, which opened in 2006; 4 World Trade Center, which opened in 2013; One World Trade Center, which opened in 2014; and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, the main concourse of which opened in March.

SHANGHAI STREAMLINES RESIDENTIAL APPROVALS

Authorities in Shanghai have streamlined approval procedures to reduce the time needed to get an elevator installed in old residential buildings by half, according to Shanghai Daily. The process has been called "a bureaucratic headache," involving more than 60 procedures and 46 approvals from multiple departments that could take up to a year. Now, only 15 approvals are needed, and forms do not have to be submitted repeatedly. Authorization from the civil defense, health, greenery and environmental protection authorities are no longer required. The source calls the change " greatly welcomed by a growing number of elderly residents in the city who find stairs a challenge."

SEATTLE “BUILDING FRENZY” FEATURES 65 PROJECTS

A Seattle building boom broken down by the Seattle Times reports there are 65 major buildings under construction across downtown, South Lake Union and surrounding neighborhoods, including: The Mark office and hotel, US$400 million; 8th and Howell hotel, US$400 million; Troy Block Amazon office, US$285 million; 2202 8th Ave Apartments, US$284 million; The Park Amazon office, US$250 million; and Madison Centre office, US$157 million. More than one-third of the office space under construction is for online retailer Amazon, on pace to occupy 12 million sq. ft. of office space by the time the current projects are finished; most will not be complete until next year. However, two-thirds of the projects are residential. The source reports "dozens more in the pipeline set to start in the next year and a half."

Photo by Joe Woolhead

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/industry-news-june-24-2016/

THYSSENKRUPP FINISHES BRAZIL AIRPORT JOB AHEAD OF OLYMPICS

thyssenkrupp has completed a massive job at the Rio Galeão airport in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games that includes 25 elevators, 21 escalators, 14 moving walks and 58 passenger boarding bridges in the new Terminal 3. Delivery and installation was completed in 13 months with no disruption to regular airport operations. The job included the longest moving walk in Latin America at 100 m. Rio Galeão anticipates passenger traffic to increase by 500,000, to 6.5 million per year, and several new airlines have added the airport to their schedules.

44-STORY MILANESE BUILDING TOPS OUT

designboom reports that a 170-m-tall twisting skyscraper in Milan, Italy, has topped out. Designed by Zaha Hadid, it is part of the large CityLife development. The 44-story Generali Tower’s base will contain a commercial shopping area that connects to Milan’s underground metro and an underground parking lot. Above, 39 stories will accommodate approximately 3,200 people. The concrete structure contains a central core able to withstand lateral loads, with a radial set of columns allowing the structure to twist as it rises. Temperature control is aided by sun-shading louvers and a double glazing system with integrated ventilation. It is to be completed next year.

TORONTO WESTON VILLAGE TOWER TO START SOON

A 30-story apartment tower, new public space and local hub for the Artscape arts festival are planned for a parking lot north of Toronto's Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue intersection. The John Street site will be developed through a partnership of the Rockport Group, City of Toronto, Toronto Parking Authority and Artscape. Ground is to be broken on the project by the end of the month. Urban Toronto reports the Graziani + Corazza-designed tower will bring 370 rental units and join a loose cluster of mid-to-late 20th-century high rises. Completion is slated for 2018.

Image by FRED via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rio_de_Janeiro-Gale%C3%A3o_International_Airport.December.01.2011.JPG)

Photo by Isabelle Lomholt

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/istanbul/and-office-tower-in-istanbul/attachment/and-office-tower-h140616-o9#main

http://www.elevatorworld.com/industry-news/june-23-2016/

KONE MODERNIZATION IN LONDON INCLUDES POLARIS

KONE has been awarded a contract to modernize the elevators of global law firm Clifford Chance at its Canary Wharf offices on 10 Upper Bank Street in London. The deal includes the integration of the KONE Polaris® elevator destination-control system to the 27 elevators in the 33-story building. In addition to reducing elevator travel times and eliminating overcrowding and unnecessary stops, it addresses the building's requirement to move 25% more people as its population increases. Work is to begin this month, with completion expected by December 2017.

MIAMI’S MONARC AT MET 3 OPENS

The 32-story Monarc at Met 3 apartment tower in downtown Miami recently opened. MDM Development and ZOM completed the mixed-use tower approximately four years after beginning construction, The Real Deal reports. The building is split into two portions: an 11-story podium with 1,442 parking spots and retail space and an apartment portion with 462 rental units. MDM has other large mixed-use projects underway in the area, including the Met 1 condo tower; Met 2, composed of the Wells Fargo Financial Center and the JW Marriott Marquis Miami; and Met Square, the final phase, including a 43-story apartment tower.

ISTANBUL OFFICE TOWER COMPLETED

AND Office Tower in Istanbul was recently completed. Featuring a split design, the 110-m-tall building is located in the Kozyatağı financial district. According to e-architect, it is named “AND” after the client, the multinational AEH Anadolu Real Estate Investments Group. Its 26 stories also include three stories of retail space, a large garage and a conference center. HPP Architects divided the 73,320 m2 tower to emphasize its vertical character. This is the first major project in Turkey completed by HPP, which has now operated in the country since 2012, when it won the international competition for the building. It obtained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum certification upon completion.