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“Dubai is continuously building attention-grabbing structures,”
says
Daniel Abraham
, KONE Project Manager. “Standing at
414 meters, the Princess Tower is destined to be a prominent
icon in the real estate sector.”
KONE has a long-standing relationship with both the
developer and contractor. “After yet another landmark project
together, our relationship continues to be outstanding,”
says
Srinivas Pidugu
, KONE Installation Manager.
This project, started in 2008, saw a lot of firsts for KONE.
New methods and procedures, and even new solutions were
developed and tested to meet customer requirements.
Five-star custom solution
Tenants will be awed by the elegance of this building. The
passenger elevator cabs were custom finished with veneer and
stainless steel panels matching the lobby design. “The interiors
really provide that luxury feeling,” says Pidugu.
Building facilities at 350 meters above ground required
a custom elevator. Using both standard and tailored
components, KONE installed its first high-capacity elevator
to access the full height of such a tall building.
“The design, engineering and installation of the elevator were
of course challenging,” recalls Abraham. “We took special
measures to ensure the elevator operates during excessive
building sway.”
“We also had to develop solutions on site, such as new mega
high-rise roping methods, to get this 4,800 kilogram capacity
elevator to work just right,” adds Pidugu.
Right from the jump
The people flow pattern at Princess Tower is similar to that
of any residential building, with peak traffic in the mornings
and evenings. This is an established scenario for KONE. The
more challenging scenario came during construction.
Because some elevators were needed as the building was
erected, KONE’s JumpLift solutions, a first for the Middle East
region, were critical to the project’s vertical transportation
strategy.
KONE’s temporary machine rooms, which move (jump)
upwards in the hoistway as a floor is added, enabled a faster
and safer construction process. The construction time elevators
were the nucleus of the emerging building, operating 24 hours
a day throughout the project.
“KONE executed their work with extreme professionalism,
very good technical control and superb management,” affirms
Asaad Abbas
, Project Manager for Arabian Construction
Company. “On many occasions, they went beyond what was
required.”
With handover complete, KONE looks forward to maintaining
the elevators.
After its completion in 2012, the Princess Tower was recognized by Guinness World Records and the Council
on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) as the tallest residential building in the world.