Schindler Lifts feature at the Beijing Olympic games

Being appointed host city of the 2008 Olympic Games has been the catalyst for Beijing's accelerated economic growth.

Beijing has plans to develop all areas of new and high technology, tertiary and service industries. Accelerating the development of key functional districts such as the Beijing Central Business District (CBD) is also a major part of the plan.

The China World Trade Centre III, a joint venture between Kerry Properties and Ministry of Commerce - China, is the most recent addition to Beijing's burgeoning CBD of Chaoyang and at 330 metre's high is set to become Beijing's tallest building. Schindler is equipping the World Trade Centre Tower III with 63 elevators, 50 of which are the top-range Schindler 7000, and 30 escalators.

Four of the Schindler 7000 systems will act as shuttles between the main entrance and the hotel lobby on the 72nd floor. The cars will be traveling at their top speed of 10 metre's per second for some 200 metre's. They reach full velocity in 11 seconds, over 55 metre's with braking taking the same amount of time. These will be the fastest elevators ever installed by Schindler in China.

Designed by Wong & Tung International Ltd. Hong Kong, the building is set to become the showpiece of Beijing's developing business district. Described as looking like a giant square telescope, the glass-and-steel structure very gradually steps back as it rises. Its facade is layered with a series of faceted vertical glass-and-metal fins, creating a texture that the firm says will look like a waterfall.

Structural work on Tower III, including the facade is due to be complete by the end of 2007. By the time the Olympic flame arrives in the city, it is expected that the podium area with shops and some offices will be occupied.Once completed in spring 2009, the Centre will contain more than 759,000 square metre's of hotel, retail, residential and office space.

Schindler was awarded the project after three years of negotiations. The project is a major source of pride for the company's Top Range Division.

Schindler Account Manager, Andreas Ryser says, "The challenges faced along the way have been formidable and we are working with extremely short deadlines. With the Olympics just around the corner the team is racing ahead and this project is one we are delighted to be involved with."