Sixteen Schindler escalators will transport spectators within the National Stadium itself, while a further 29 elevators and escalators will serve the Olympic Subway which links the various stadiums and facilities. Schindler is also supplying 71 installations for the enormous underground car park.
The National Stadium, designed by Swiss star architects, Herzog & de Meuron, breaks new ground in architectural terms: its nickname derives from the fact that the façade is made up entirely of intertwined steel «branches», which also support the massive structure. The Stadium's dimensions are impressive indeed: at 330 meters long, 220 meters wide and 69 tall, it contains 11,000 tons of steel and weighs a staggering 45,000 tons.
67 escalators and some 33 elevators
The Schindler installations were chosen for their reliability, and because they are able to cope with huge volumes of traffic. As the main venue for the track and field competitions, the National Stadium alone can hold up to 100,000 spectators. Schindler is also a key mobility provider for the subway and underground parking of the Olympic Park, where 67 escalators and some 33 elevators will keep guests moving smoothly around the facilities. This 12 km2 area to the north of Beijing houses 14 stadiums, the Olympic Village (where the athletes stay), the media and radio/TV centers, as well as several sports and exhibition centers and many green spaces.
After the Games, the Park will become a major conference and exhibition area, centered around the National Stadium, which is already a Beijing landmark.
Schindler provides mobility for the ICC Tower
Schindler provides mobility in a growing number of China's newest landmarks, including the ICC Tower, Hong Kong's tallest building (490m); the World Trade Center 3, Beijing's tallest (330m); the new American Embassy in Beijing; and Nanjing's Greenland Tower Phase II (450m).
Image caption:
Hong Kong's tallest building, the International Commerce Centre, will provide living space and offices for around 20,000 people once completed in 2010. At 490m, its 118 floors will be served by 81 Schindler elevators and 38 escalators.
CONTEXT
The Schindler Group is the world number one escalator manufacturer and the second largest elevator supplier.
The group is the leading European company in both sectors and hopes to expand its business considerably in Asia over the coming years, in particular in China.
The group continues to manufacture certain spare parts in Switzerland for its highly sophisticated elevators.
It recently inaugurated the largest elevator factory in the world close to Shanghai.
KEY FACTS
The Schindler Group was established in Lucerne in 1874.
As of 2006, the group employed over 43,000 people on five continents.
In 2006, the group had a turnover of SFr 11.106 billion and earned SFr 511 million in profit – its best-ever result.
Swiss lifts for chinese skyscrapers and the Olympic stadium
Companies
The Schindler Group is the world number one escalator manufacturer and the second largest elevator supplier. Schindler is to provide upwards of 100 escalators and elevators for Beijing's Olympic Park and the «Bird’s Nest» National Stadium, for the 2008 Summer Games.