by Brianna Crandall — April 11, 2016—Otis Elevator, manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products and a unit of United Technologies Corp., announced several contracts for its elevators and escalators in recent weeks, including for Melbourne’s soon-to-be tallest residential building, two sets of high-rise twin towers in China, a prominent Seattle high-rise, and one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the USA. The projects are highlighted below.
Aurora Melbourne Central, Melbourne, Australia
Otis Australia will provide 22 elevators and escalators to the Aurora Melbourne Central, which when completed will be, at approximately 270 meters in height, the tallest residential building in Melbourne’s central business district. Aurora Melbourne Central is being developed by Malaysia-based UEM Sunrise and designed by Elenberg Fraser. Construction will be undertaken by Probuild.
Otis Australia will install nine high-speed, high-rise passenger elevators including four Elevonic elevators and five Skyrise elevators, as well as 11 Gen2 Premier units and two heavy-duty escalators. Three of the Gen2 Premier elevators will come equipped with the CompassPlus destination management system, which acts as a virtual concierge, directing passengers to the best elevator to reach their desired floor, reducing wait and travel time.
Otis Australia will provide 22 elevators and escalators to the Aurora Melbourne Central, which at 270 meters will be Melbourne’s tallest residential building.
Xiamen International Trade Financial Center (Xiamen ITFC)
Otis China will provide 48 elevators for Xiamen ITFC, a world-class financial services complex now under development in Fujian province in southeastern China. Upon completion in 2016, Xiamen ITFC’s twin towers reaching 137 meters will be a new city landmark that serves as a base for major financial companies.
Xiamen ITFC will use 48 Otis elevators, including 14 Skyrise high-rise elevators, 18 Gen2 elevators and 16 Otis Sky elevators. The Otis Skyrise elevator is especially designed for high-rise buildings and skyscrapers, offering a rise of up to 600 meters with single-deck, double-deck and super double-deck configurations.
Xinchu Qingtian Plaza, Changsha, China
Otis China was also selected to supply 56 elevators and escalators for Xinchu Qingtian Plaza, a 319-meter mixed-use high-rise building now under construction in Changsha in central China. Xinchu Qingtian Plaza will consist of twin towers with an area of 370,000 square meters when completed in 2017. The project will include a five-star hotel, high-end office space and retail as an important new landmark in the city.
The project includes 19 energy-efficient Gen2 elevators and 18 high-speed Skyrise elevators for the buildings. A number of China’s new urban landmarks, including Shenzhen Ping’an Financial Center, Tianjin 117 Goldin Finance Center and Chengdu Yintai Center, have installed Otis Skyrise elevators.
Madison Centre, Seattle, WA, USA
Otis Elevator has entered into a multimillion-dollar agreement with Schnitzer West to supply elevators and escalators for Madison Centre, a prestigious 37-story high-rise development in Seattle. This high-tech, LEED Gold-certified tower is located at one of Seattle’s best known intersections and will incorporate the latest innovations in workplace effectiveness and smart design for an optimum business environment.
Otis will provide 22 units for the 754,000-square-foot office tower. This includes 13 gearless elevators, seven Gen2 elevators, and two NCE escalators. The elevators will include Otis’ CompassPlus advanced destination management system. Otis’ EMS Panorama, an interactive elevator management system that allows building managers to easily monitor, control and manage their elevator portfolio, will also be included.
The building, a vertical corporate campus, will also include a three-story Grand Rotunda with a living wall, alternative workspaces, a large conference center and a best-in-class fitness center, with views of the city and Puget Sound.
Schnitzer West also selected Otis for its second- and third-largest projects that are under development in the Seattle metropolitan area: Urban Union and Centre 425. Schnitzer West is working with BAMO, Sellen Construction Company, NBBJ, HKS Hill Glazier Studio and DCI Engineers to complete the project. Otis will begin on-site work this spring and the project is scheduled to be complete by spring 2017.
Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor, TX, USA
Otis Elevator has entered into a multimillion-dollar agreement with W.S. Bellows Construction Corporation to supply elevator units for Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the United States.
The 19-story expansion will be built on top of the existing six-story structure. At 640,000 square feet, it will be the tallest building on the hospital’s campus. Otis will provide 18 elevators for the new pediatric tower. This includes six Skyrise elevators, six Gen2 elevators, three gearless service elevators, two gearless patient elevators and one trauma elevator with helicopter-level access.
The expansion also includes diagnostic and treatment services; offices and clinics; and new pediatric intensive care beds to aid patients and their families. Otis currently maintains the service on its nearly 100 elevators at the hospital, and worked with W.S. Bellows on an earlier expansion in 2011.
W.S. Bellows Construction is building the project, with design work provided by FKP Architects. On-site work has begun on the campus, and the project is scheduled to be completed by 2018.
