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
