The Shanghai Tower is already known around the world for currently being the tallest twisting tower in the world and the second tallest building in the world overall. Now, it also has the distinction of adding three newly awarded Guinness World Records to its resume. Shanghai Tower officially has the world’s fastest elevator, the tallest elevator in a building, and the fastest double-deck elevator.
Shanghai Tower’s elevators were designed by Mitsubishi Electric and just barely outpaced elevators designed by Hitachi in the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, which can reach speeds of 20 meters per second, or 44.7 mph.
The fastest elevator in Shanghai Tower can reach speeds of 20.5 meters per second, or 45.8 mph. However, in order to achieve these speeds, a Mitsubishi technician needs to be on hand to press the proverbial red button and send the elevator into hyperdrive. Without the technician, what most people experience in Shanghai Tower is an elevator ride that only reaches 40 mph.
While elevators may be able to continue to reach higher and higher speeds, at least one elevator engineer believes a speed of about 24 meters per second, or 53.6 mph, is the limit. According to CNN, this is because the people in an elevator traveling faster than 24 meters per second would not have time to adjust to the air pressure on the top floor. The entire building would need to be pressurized like an airplane to be able to achieve higher speeds.
For now, Shanghai Tower’s 45.8 mph represents the pinnacle of elevator speed, though, with the sheer volume of supertall buildings being constructed around the world, don’t be surprised if that record is soon broken.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Sep 19, 2019
Two residential towers break ground in Chicago’s Lakeshore East
bKL Architecture designed the towers.
High-rise Construction | Sep 18, 2019
Central Park Tower tops out in New York City
The building will be the tallest residential skyscraper in the world.
AEC Innovators | Aug 27, 2019
7 AEC industry disruptors and their groundbreaking achievements
From building prefab factories in the sky to incubating the next generation of AEC tech startups, our 2019 class of AEC Innovators demonstrates that the industry is poised for a shakeup. Meet BD+C’s 2019 AEC Innovators.
Museums | Jul 29, 2019
A new museum debuts inside the Empire State Building
A $165 million, 10,000-sf museum opened on the second floor of the Empire State Building in New York City, completing the second of a four-phase “reimagining” of that building’s observatory experience, which draws four million visitors annually.
High-rise Construction | Jul 25, 2019
Could this 500 foot, Bjarke Ingels-designed observation tower rise in San Diego?
The tower would be part of the $2.4 billion Seaport San Diego project.
Building Tech | Jun 26, 2019
Modular construction can deliver projects 50% faster
Modular construction can deliver projects 20% to 50% faster than traditional methods and drastically reshape how buildings are delivered, according to a new report from McKinsey & Co.
High-rise Construction | Apr 11, 2019
Top new skyscrapers for 2019: Salesforce Tower named best worldwide
The San Francisco tower was recognized for its innovations in seismic engineering and a design that "gives back" to the community.
High-rise Construction | Apr 10, 2019
*Updated* A Tulip is ready to bloom in London
Designed by Foster + Partners, the Tulip will rise 1,001 feet and be a new cultural and tourist attraction.
High-rise Construction | Mar 4, 2019
Goettsch Partners' tallest tower ever tops out in China
The tower will become the tallest in Nanning, China upon completion.
High-rise Construction | Feb 8, 2019
Dubai’s newest supertall will be covered in digital displays
SOM designed the tower.
