Member Article

City of London to get Europe’s fastest lifts after contract award

Occupants at the new 22 Bishopsgate development in the City of London will soon be hurtling towards the clouds at upwards of 30 km per hour when the building opens in 2019, after lift manufacturer Otis was contracted to deliver the lift system at the building.

The global firm, which describes itself as the ‘world-leading’ manufacturer and maintainer of moving-people products, will deliver 57 lifts and ten escalators at the 59-storey tower after it was awarded the contract by AXA Real Estate.

Earmarked for an Autumn 2019 completion, the £1bn PLP Architecture-designed scheme will become one of the tallest buildings in the Square Mile, totalling 912 ft once finished, and will encompass 947,200 sq ft of office space.

The development will include Otis’ SkyRise double decker lifts and support speeds of up to 30km per hour, which the firm is claiming will the fastest of any lift system in Europe.

Commenting on the new building, Hemant Jolly, vice president and general manager, Otis UK & Ireland, said: “With pressure on London’s infrastructure, combined with population growth, this new building is an intelligent response to the city’s evolving needs.

“Otis is proud to support this evolution with our industry-leading technology, products and service.”

The lifts will still lag behind the current fastest lift in the world at China’s Shanghai Tower, which can reach speeds of around 75km per hour.