Supertall buildings call for creative vertical transportation strategies. Hitachi Ltd. and its Hitachi Elevator Co. Ltd. division have annouced that they will build and install 95 elevators—including two that the manufacturer labels as the "world's fastest"—for the Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed Guangzhou CTF Finance Center, which will be 530 meters (1,738 feet) tall.
The two super-speedy units are designed to ascend at rates of up to 1,200 meters per minute, or about 45 mph, with a rated descent speed of 600 meters per minute. The contract also calls for 23 double-deck models running at up to 540 meters per minute, 13 ultra-high-speed units running at up to 600 meters per minute, and an assortment of medium- and low-speed elevators.)
The fastest elevators will travel a shaft height of 440 meters (from the first to the 95th floor) in about 43 seconds. The design includes a permanent magnet synchronous motor, a compact traction machine (achieved through reducing rope diameters, presumably with the aid of advanced materials), high-capacity inverters, braking materials with high heat resistance (withstanding temperatures exceeding 550°F), and a governor that is designed to control various rated speeds during ascent and descent. Active guide rollers will detect warping in the guide rails and lateral vibration caused by wind pressure, helping to ensure a smoother ride. Hitachi has also devised proprietary air pressure adjustment technology intended to help prevent the common sensation of ear blockage caused by pressure changes.
The upscale mixed-use skyscraper will encompass office, hotel, and residential space, and will be the tallest structure in Guangzhou. A 2016 completion date is planned.
Hitachi's experience with vertical transport for tall buildings includes a unit installed in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki Building in 1968—the world's fastest elevator at the time, at 300 meters per minute. The firm operates a 213-meter-tall research tower specifically for elevator development and testing.
For more, see Hitachi's original release.
Related Stories
| Dec 8, 2014
How brick and mortar enables online retail
According to a shopping preferences study conducted by A.T. Kearney, as many as two-thirds of shoppers go to a physical store before or after making an online purchase, writes Gensler's Jill Nickels.
| Dec 8, 2014
The year’s boldest BIM/VDC themes
High-speed rendering software, custom APIs, virtual reality tools, and BIM workflow tips were among the hottest BIM/VDC topics in 2014.
| Dec 8, 2014
AEC firms upbeat about financial results, 2015 looking rosier [exclusive BD+C survey]
The market outlook is brighter for U.S. architecture, engineering, and construction companies, with a majority of AEC firms reporting higher revenues, strong forecasts, and sound financial health, according to BD+C's annual Market Forecast Survey.
| Dec 8, 2014
The global sanitation crisis leads to 2.5 million deaths every year
When we see the incredible technology being produced by global plumbing manufacturers, it’s hard to conceive why no viable technical solution to the global sanitation issue has come forth, writes BD+C's Robert Cassidy.
| Dec 8, 2014
Moshe Safdie wants to reinvent airports with Jewel Changi Airport addition
A new addition to Singapore's Changi Airport, designed by Moshe Safdie, will feature a waterfall and extensive indoor gardens.
| Dec 6, 2014
Future workplace designs shouldn’t need to favor one generation over another, says CBRE report
A new CBRE survey finds that what Millennials expect and need from offices doesn’t vary drastically from tenured employees.
| Dec 5, 2014
Plotting on the go: 3D-printed mechanical compass can print CAD drawings with high precision
Design student Ken Nakagaki has adapted a device to work with CAD software to replicate digital files on paper.
Sponsored | | Dec 5, 2014
New construction outlook report projects growth in 2015
A new 2015 construction outlook report predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2015 will rise 9% to $612 billion. SPONSORED CONTENT
Sponsored | | Dec 5, 2014
Best practices for force transfer around openings
As wood-frame construction is continuously evolving, designers in many parts of the U.S. are optimizing design solutions that require the understanding of force transfer between elements in the lateral load-resisting system.
