by Shane Henson — June 28, 2013—An iconic high-rise in Houston, Texas, has become the first building in the city to install Schindler’s innovative destination-dispatch elevator system, the global elevator and escalator provider announced this month. Once the tallest point of the Houston skyline, 712 Main Street has recently been upgraded with key services and technology to complement its classic 1920s Art Deco style to attract new business, increase marketability and tenants, save energy, and help revitalize downtown Houston.
According to Schindler, the company installed its PORT (Personal Occupant Requirement Terminal) Technology for destination and dispatch on nine passenger elevators in the historic 36-story multi-tenant office building’s east tower, helping to move building occupants faster and more efficiently. New custom-designed elevator cabs accentuate the building.
Although the elevators are moving faster, they are also saving energy, says Schindler. The system’s energy-efficient Power Factor 1 drives reduce the building’s energy consumption by up to 40 percent compared to standard drives and regenerate power back to the building’s electrical system, which can be used for other demands such as lighting and air conditioning. In addition, Power Factor 1 drives generate less heat, providing additional savings through reduced cooling requirements for the machine room.
PORT destination-dispatch technology functions as a two-way communication interface between the occupants and the building’s environment. Tenants and visitors enter their destination into one of the system’s sleek, touch screen interfaces positioned at access points and elevators around the building. Then, the powerful software system calculates the shortest possible route to their destination and directs the passenger to the appropriate car.
The system is also capable of “learning” how its occupants typically move throughout the building, allowing PORT to prime the elevators to direct and transport people quickly and safely to their individual destinations. By calculating the best possible route for passengers, reducing the number of trips and saving energy, Schindler’s PORT destination-dispatch technology can improve overall system efficiency up to 30 percent or more, says Schindler.
