Empire State Building selects Otis for major modernisation project

Iconic Landmark to install advanced elevator systems with improved speed, energy-efficiency, and passenger experience
Otis Elevator Company, a unit of United Technologies Corp., and Empire State Building Company, LLC, owner of the Empire State Building, the world’s most famous office building, announced the awarding of a major contract to Otis to fully refurbish and modernise the building’s 68 elevators. As part of this contract, Otis was also awarded a ten year maintenance contract. The elevator upgrade is the final component of the US $ 550 million dollar Empire State Re- building renovation and modernisation programme. Completion of the elevator upgrade and ongoing maintenance by Otis will deliver improved speed, energy efficiency, and passenger experience. “Otis designed and installed the original elevator system for the Empire State Building and we are thrilled, on the building’s 80th anniversary, to have been chosen to help make it one of the most modern and energy efficient office buildings in the world,” said Didier Michaud-Daniel, president of Otis Elevator Company. “At the Empire State Building, we look forward to applying our expertise to upgrade all 68 elevators in the building and replace existing machines, weighing as much as 26,000 pounds. Otis is proud to be undertaking this modernisation project – the largest in our history – in one of the world’s most iconic buildings.”The 68 modernised elevators will transport close to 10 million tenants, office and observatory visitors each year in state-of-the-art, modern equipment. Through the use of Otis’ Compass Destination Management system and during peak operating periods, the elevators will transport passengers to their destinations up to 20-40 per cent faster than conventional elevators in other modern commercial buildings. Using Otis ReGen drives, the modernised elevators will dramatically improve efficiency and the return of regenerated energy back into the building grid, reducing elevator energy usage by as much as 30 per cent.“The bidding for our project was challenging and rigorous. Otis won as the clear choice through its technological solutions, innovative scheduling, performance guarantee, commitment of executives and personnel, and pricing,” said Anthony Malkin, of owner Empire State Building Company. “While we have concluded very significant leasing at our repurposed building, the vast bulk of our new leases are not yet in occupancy. Now is the time to take on this project without disruption to our tenants. Otis’ creative approach to minimise disruption through staffing, implementation and scheduling created an impressive and winning result. We are delighted to welcome Otis back to the building and consider them best equipped to deliver the highest level of service to our tenants over the next ten years.”The Empire State Building has achieved worldwide attention for its groundbreaking progress in developing a replicable model for energy efficiency retrofits in existing, built environment in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls, Jones Lang LaSalle, and the Rocky Mountain Institute

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