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
| Sep 19, 2013
What we can learn from the world’s greenest buildings
Renowned green building author, Jerry Yudelson, offers five valuable lessons for designers, contractors, and building owners, based on a study of 55 high-performance projects from around the world.
| Sep 19, 2013
6 emerging energy-management glazing technologies
Phase-change materials, electrochromic glass, and building-integrated PVs are among the breakthrough glazing technologies that are taking energy performance to a new level.
| Sep 18, 2013
Annual SteelDay to include 125 free events around the U.S.
Hosted by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), its members and partners, SteelDay invites the AEC community and the public to see the contributions the industry has made in the design and construction of steel buildings and bridges.
| Sep 18, 2013
WHR Architects opens first European office, in Copenhagen
WHR Architects has opened its first European office in Copenhagen, Denmark. The decision to locate in the Danish capital was spurred by the Danish healthcare system’s initiative to renew and expand their facilities across the country.
| Sep 17, 2013
NCARB convenes special task force to explore additional pathways to architectural licensure
Potential new pathways to architectural licensure are being explored through the work of a new Licensure Task Force launched by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Led by NCARB Immediate Past President Ronald B. Blitch, FAIA, FACHA, NCARB, the group held its first meeting at NCARB offices on September 6-7 in Washington, DC.
| Sep 17, 2013
SMPS Foundation announces new business development research book
The SMPS Foundation has released its latest research book, A/E/C BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – The Decade Ahead.
| Sep 17, 2013
Healthcare project will merge outpatient clinic with YMCA to promote wellness and prevention
Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region announce collaboration, along with developer The Boldt Company, to create next-generation wellness facility.
| Sep 17, 2013
AIA sees uptick in architecture billings for August
AIA's Architecture Billings Index was 53.8 in August, up from 52.7 the previous month, signaling increased demand for design services nationwide. The West and Northeast regions saw the biggest ABI gains last month.
| Sep 16, 2013
Does brainstorming work?
The idea-generating process known as brainstorming has come under some intense fire recently. Critics contend that it suspends much-needed criticism and conflict while suppressing the creative ideas of introverts.
| Sep 16, 2013
Forty-three percent of energy leaders will invest more in efficiency next year (infographic)
Forty-three percent of energy leaders say their investment in energy efficiency next year is projected to be more than it was last year, according to survey results released today by Schneider Electric. Twenty-two percent said their projected investment would stay the same, and 10 percent reported their investment would be less than last year.
