Apr 20 2006
Otis Elevator Company, a unit of United Technologies Corp., was selected to design and install one-of-a-kind glass elevators for Washington D.C.'s Newseum, the world's first interactive museum of news. As part of the 21-unit contract, Otis will also provide six flat-belt machine-roomless Gen2(R) elevators.
"I am proud of the Otis engineers who designed this first-in-kind solution to meet the unique aesthetic, capacity and performance
requirements of this project," said Ari Bousbib, Otis president. "Otis is also delighted to showcase our patented, environment-friendly Gen2 technology for this landmark in our nation's capital."
Installed side by side along the east wall of its 90-foot atrium, Newseum's three floor-to-ceiling glass-walled hydraulic elevators will create a bay window effect and offer visitors panoramic views of sights along Washington D.C.'s Pennsylvania Avenue. Each will travel 100 feet, nearly double the rise of conventional hydraulic elevators, and be capable of carrying 100 passengers. With cars 8 feet wide by 17 feet deep, the 18,000-pound elevators will be among the largest of their kind in the world.
"Otis is the only elevator manufacturer capable of stepping up to the challenge of this complex task," said Nick Good, project manager for the general contractor, Turner Construction. "The hydraulic lift option was necessary to allow for the aesthetic advantage the architect had envisioned for the Newseum's atrium elevators, and Otis has designed the best solution."