The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) released an original “Tall Buildings in Numbers” (TBIN) research study entitled Vertical Transportation: Ascent & Acceleration. The study began as a collaboration with Guinness World Records to identify the commercial building with the fastest elevator speeds and longest vertical runs, which turned out to be Shanghai Tower, China. Expanding on this research, the Council determined the top buildings in each category and uncovered a number of other intriguing vertical transportation superlatives along the way.
When it comes to the tallest skyscrapers in the world, the vertical commute in the building becomes just as important as the horizontal commute through the city. Innovations in vertical transportation systems allow passengers to get to their destinations more quickly, and with less stops along the way. It is no surprise then that the world record-holder for fastest elevators also happens to be the second tallest building in the world at 632 meters.
With elevators speeds topping out at 20.5 meters per second (m/s), Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China) narrowly surpasses CTF Finance Center (Guangzhou, China), which boasts speeds of up to 20 m/s. Meanwhile, Taipei 101 (Taipei, Taiwan) trails at 16.83 m/s, following by Landmark Tower (Yokohama, Japan) at 12.5 m/s and Two International Finance Center (Hong Kong, China) at 10.6 m/s.
Shanghai Tower also features the tallest continuous elevator run at 578.55 meters. These elevators whisk visitors all the way from the basement, to the observation deck near the top of the 632-meter building. Following closely is Ping An Finance Center (Shenzhen, China), with elevators running a continuous 573.5 meters, just meters short of the building’s 599-meter pinnacle.
Looking to the future, Saudi Arabia’s under-construction Jeddah Tower, with a projected height exceeding 1,000 meters, is poised to challenge these records. The tower will reportedly feature an elevator run of 660 meters and double-decker elevators that exceed the current record of 10 m/s for such systems.
An interactive version of this study is available online, exploring details on the collected project data. Additionally, the study is included within the 2017 Issue III of the CTBUH Journal. Purchase a copy of the journal here.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Jul 15, 2015
Pelli Clarke Pelli's Wolf Point tower would be Chicago's fifth-tallest
Updated renderings from César Pelli's firm show a taller, slimmer design, possibly exceeding 1,000 feet.
High-rise Construction | Jul 15, 2015
Landmark status could delay Hancock Center renovations
Chicago officials have started to marshal documents to protect the tower against planned architectural changes.
High-rise Construction | Jul 13, 2015
Herzog & de Meuron’s triangle tower stirs controversy in Paris
The 590-foot glass pyramid building will include a 120-room hotel, 754,000 sf of office space, and cultural facilities.
High-rise Construction | Jul 13, 2015
CTBUH honors top innovations in skyscraper design
The Holedeck coffer slab system is among the breakthrough technologies and projects recognized by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat with Performance and Innovation Awards.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 9, 2015
Melbourne approves Beyoncé inspired skyscraper
The bootylicious tower is composed of 660 apartments and a 160-room hotel at the west end of Melbourne's business district.
High-rise Construction | Jul 7, 2015
Bjarke Ingels designs Frankfurt skyscraper with a surprise in the middle
Several levels in the center of the 185-meter tower are shifted outward to allow for terraces with city views.
High-rise Construction | Jul 5, 2015
ASHRAE releases design guide for skyscrapers
Tall buildings present unique and formidable challenges to architects and engineers because of their size, location in major urban areas, and multiple, complex occupancies, says Peter Simmonds, author of the guide.
High-rise Construction | Jun 23, 2015
The world's best new skyscrapers for 2015
One World Trade Center and Abu Dhabi's Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid Tower are among the four towers named Best Tall Buildings by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
Office Buildings | Jun 17, 2015
Daniel Libeskind unveils 'talking towers' design for Rome development
The scheme will drastically change the Eternal City’s skyline: three angular towers that look like they’re “in conversation with one another.”
High-rise Construction | Jun 15, 2015
Cornell Tech breaks ground on world's first Passive House residential high-rise
To achieve Passive House standards, Cornell Tech Residential will incorporate a number of sustainability-focused design elements. The façade, constructed of a prefabricated metal panel system, acts as a thermally insulated blanket wrapping the building structure.
