Construction Informer

Schindler technology takes you directly to your floor. (Courtesy Schindler)

For those of you building high rises some pretty smart elevator technology is emerging that will anticipate occupants’ needs. One example is Schindler Elevator Corporation’s PORT (Personal Occupant Requirement Terminal) being installed at 516 Lakeshore Drive in Chicago. The 45-story, 500-unit luxury rental apartment tower is the first building in Chicago to get Schindler’s award-winning destination dispatch elevator technology.  Related Midwest in Partnership with AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust awarded a multi-million dollar contract to Schindler for the installation.

Best understood as the central nervous system of a building, the PORT Technology functions as a two-way communication interface between the occupants and the building’s environment. The system’s visible aspect is a sleek, futuristic device positioned at access points and elevators around the building. Behind the stylish touch screen is a patented access control software system, capable not only of calculating the optimum route to any destination within the building, but also of “learning” how its occupants typically move around. With this information, PORT Technology primes the elevators to direct and transport people quickly and safely to their individual destinations. The system uses card readers or other media equipped with RFID technology to identify passengers and automatically call elevators to take them most efficiently to their desired floors, customizing and personalizing each trip to the specific needs of the individuals.

Michael Landis, vice president of marketing for Schindler says:

The PORT Technology recognizes occupants and responds to their individual needs. What makes the system special is the ease with which the building’s manager can design applications to accommodate a wide range of needs in real time. Whether it’s helping to meet new energy-efficiency goals, updating security, scheduling maintenance or adapting to people with special needs, unprecedented levels of customization can be achieved.

PORT Technology Energy-Saving Features

• Each PORT terminal’s proximity sensor tells it when to be active and at all other times puts it into low energy consumption mode.
• When the terminal screen illuminates, an ambient light sensor determines only the brightness level required, again optimizing energy usage.
• The PORT Technology helps ensure elevator trips are as efficient as possible. This produces a very resourceful use of energy even during heavy traffic.
• During light traffic the PORT Energy Control Option places nonessential elevators into an energy-conserving standby mode.

About Schindler Elevator Corporation  - Schindler Elevator Corporation is the North American operation of the Switzerland-based Schindler Group, a leading global mobility provider with approximately 43,000 employees operating in more than 100 countries. Schindler supports sustainable urban development with safe, reliable and ecologically sound mobility solutions and its equipment moves one billion people every day all over the world. In 2011, Schindler was named one of Forbes Magazine’s 100 Most Innovative Companies, and two of the company’s products received the 2011 Architectural Products’ Product Innovation Award. For additional information about Schindler Elevator Corporation, visit the company’s Web site at www.us.schindler.com.