The conveyance industry has come a long way since the country’s first passenger elevator was installed in a New York City store, back in 1856, by Elisha Otis. Today, we ride up and down an estimated 900,000 elevators in the United States, collectively making 18 billion passenger trips per year, according to the National Elevator Industry.
Growth in escalators and moving walkways, which debuted at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, can double that figure in certain markets, such as airports. But that is not the only new development in the world of vertical transport.
After reading this article, you should be able to:
? Describe the benefits of new technology solutions for building vertical transportation systems in terms of energy efficiency, safety, and spatial flexibility.
? Discuss the applications of such energy-saving systems as machine-roomless elevators, double-decker and twin elevators, and destination-based controls.
? List several green building techniques and initiatives related to vertical conveyance systems.
? Explain how new codes affect elevator and escalator designs, and cite two or more examples of specific codes affecting their application, particularly with regard to sustainability.
To earn 1.0 AIA/CES Discovery HSW/SD learning units, complete the reading and take the 10-question exam.
Related Stories
| Aug 1, 2016
K-12 SCHOOL GIANTS: In a new era of K-12 education, flexibility is crucial to design
Space flexibility is critical to classroom design. Spaces have to be adaptable, even allowing for drastic changes such as a doubling of classroom size.
| Jul 29, 2016
AIRPORT FACILITIES GIANTS: Airports binge on construction during busy year for travel
Terminal construction will grow by nearly $1 billion this year, and it will keep increasing. Airports are expanding and modernizing their facilities to keep passengers moving.
| Jul 29, 2016
Top 35 Airport Terminal Architecture and A/E Firms
Corgan, HOK, and Gensler top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest airport terminal architecture and A/E firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
Architects | Jul 28, 2016
Connecting the dots: Architecture and design in a changing world
What do Tesla, Airbnb and Amazon have in common? They’re all shifting the paradigm for quality of life and the built environment, as CallisonRTKL senior associate VP Jayson Lee explains.
| Jul 26, 2016
ENGINEERING GIANTS: Firms continue to push innovation
Trends include 3D printing, modular hospitals, and fluid dampers.
| Jul 26, 2016
Top 80 Architecture/Engineering firms
Stantec, HOK, and Callison RTKL once again top Building Design+Construction's 2016 ranking of the largest architecture/engineering firms in the United States.
| Jul 25, 2016
Top 35 Engineering/Architecture Firms
AECOM, Jacobs, and Thornton Tomasetti head Building Design+Construction's 2016 ranking of the largest engineering/architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 25, 2016
Top 100 Architecture Firms
Gensler surpasses $1.1 billion in revenue, topping Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest architecture firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
Healthcare Facilities | Jul 25, 2016
AIA selects seven winners of healthcare building design award
The National Healthcare Design Awards recognizes functional hospital projects that solve aesthetic, civic, urban, and social concerns. Recipients were selected in three categories this year.
Industrial Facilities | Jul 25, 2016
Snøhetta, Bjarke Ingels among four finalists for S.Pellegrino bottling plant design
A committee will evaluate proposals in September.