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One of the most important public buildings to rise in
Beijing since the 2008 Olympic Games, the Phoenix
Media Center has an unusual shape that posed
challenges in the installation of KONE elevators and
escalators. KONE was chosen for the project based on
its reputation in working with steel constructions, having
successfully supplied equipment for key projects in China
including the world-famed Beijing National Stadium, also
known as the Bird’s Nest.
Living Mobius strip
The irregular hilly shape of the Phoenix Center is based
on the mathematical model of a Mobius strip.
The complex steel structure comprises thousands
of components of varying radians and lengths, which
presented huge difficulties in both the design and
installation of the equipment. Accurate calculations
were required during the design phase in order for
the equipment to fit into the complicated steel structure
and layout. The bending and curving shapes necessitated
resourceful shaft design, and the dense, net-like steel
structure was a major obstacle to the smooth delivery
of equipment to the site.
KONE overcame these challenges through close
cooperation with the customer, starting from the early
design phase through to the prompt delivery of the
project with professional installation.
Soaring dragons
Among the most eye-catching elements in the building are
two KONE escalators with a vertical height of 20.3 meters,
which are the longest commercial escalators delivered by
KONE in China. Phoenix is also the first construction in
China to connect two separate buildings with escalators,
linking the 9
th
floor south building and the 5
th
floor north
building.
Hoisting and fitting the huge escalators through the steel
jungle was difficult and complex. KONE used a crane to
solve this problem. Custom-made trusses were installed
to support the two customized escalators, which look like
a pair of dragons soaring into the sky.
Noise control pilot
To keep the overall shape of the building smoothly
intact, KONE provided customized machine-room-less
elevators with a car height of 2.8 meters. They travel
at 2.5 meters per second, a speed that only KONE can
provide in China. To satisfy the customer’s special noise
control requirements, KONE added noise insulation
materials to the cars and piloted special motor noise
control technology.
Designed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design, the Phoenix International Media Center lies in Chaoyang
Park, part of East Beijing’s central business district hosting the city’s leading media organizations. Phoenix is an open,
multifunctional building providing 65,000 square meters of space for television production, media communication
and commercial exhibitions.