Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com
GERMANY’S HIGHEST VIEWING PLATFORM OPENS AT TK TEST TOWER
The viewing platform at thyssenkrupp's now fully operational elevator test tower in Rottweil, Germany, opened on October 7 amid much fanfare. At a height of 232 m, the platform affords guests 360˚ views over the Black Forest and Swabian Alps and is a "landmark of engineering, progress and innovation," according to thyssenkrupp. It is the highest viewing platform in Germany. thyssenkrupp AG CEO Dr. Heinrich Hiesinger, thyssenkrupp Elevator CEO Andreas Schierenbeck and architect Helmut Jahn were among those who attended the unveiling ceremony, exactly three years after ground was broken on the 244-m-tall tower, which is being used to test high-speed elevators, including the new-generation MULTI system.
IN MEMORIAM: DOUGLAS THOMAS BELL
Douglas Thomas "Doug" Bell of Winnipeg, Canada, passed away on September 22. Bell started his career in the elevator industry in his early 20s with Otis as a mechanic. He started Winnipeg Elevator Group Inc. with his partner Harry Neufeld at the age of 35. In 1978, he became the company's sole owner and eventually saw 50 years of its success. Bell was a longtime member of the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association and a member of its board of directors. He hosted the association's only Winnipeg convention, in 1983. Bell is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kathleen; children, John, Brenda, Dianne and Greg; siblings, Ruth, Bruce, Bill, Brian, Laureen, Donny and Ralph; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Winnipeg Humane Society. Condolences may be sent to Klassen Funeral Home.
JERSEY CITY TOWER RAPIDLY CLIMBING SKYWARD
Jersey City's 99 Hudson Street, a residential tower that will soon be the city's tallest building, is rising rapidly, with façade installation now beginning, New York YIMBY says. The 79-story, 900-ft.-tall tower, which broke ground in January 2016, will house 1.5 million sq. ft. of space, including about 14,000 sq. ft. of public space and 15,000 sq. ft. set aside for retail; the rest will go mainly to the 781 condominium units. The source says the latest photos show the tower's skeleton has risen to the 12th floor. The developer for 99 Hudson Street is China Overseas America, Inc., and the architect is Perkins Eastman.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN INCLUDES NEW TALLEST TOWER FOR LEEDS
Leeds, U.K., would have a new tallest tower if a new, hybrid planning application filed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) is approved, The Architects' Journal reports. The GBP350-million (US$457-million) project, being developed by Commercial Estates Group (CEG), would cover a 3.52-ha. plot that includes four sites south of the Leeds city center. The plans call for two office blocks with 26,100 m² for commercial use, plus 103,900 m² of office, retail, hotel and other uses; parking; and up to 750 residences in buildings ranging from five to 40 stories. The city's current tallest, Bridgewater Place Tower, stands 32 stories.
Image courtesy of dailymail.co.uk:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3179853/The-bizarre-tower-built-test-elevator-future-Willy-Wonka-style-lift-use-magnets-pull-cabins-SIDEWAYS.html
Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes│Google Play | SoundCloud│Stitcher│TuneIn
