Thyssenkrupp’s ropeless and sideways-moving elevator, Multi, has won the 2018 Innovation Award at CTBUH’s first annual Tall + Urban Innovation Conference, which was held 30-31 May at the Aqua Tower in Chicago.
The judging panel looked for technology that would have the greatest positive impact on high-rise buildings as well as the people who use them.
In the Multi system, cabins circulate around a tall building like a metro system, resulting in up to 50% more transport capacity, the company says.
It also requires up to 60% less power compared to conventional elevator systems, and increases the amount of space in the building available for human occupation, it claims.
Multi beat seven other contestants (see finalists here) to the prize, including a printed building in Dubai, a tall timber tower in Vancouver, prefabrication systems and others.
"To be recognized by the world’s premier authority on tall buildings is not only a great honor, but also reinforces the powerful impact Multi is poised to make as urbanization demands continue to increase," said Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Elevator.
See the Multi system in action below:
Photograph: Render shows how the Multi system circulates around a building (Thyssenkrupp)
