If you have been driving around KL these days, you may catch a glimpse of the latest skyscraper in the KL skyline – the Merdeka 118. Owned by Permodalan Nasional Berhad or PNB, the building is set to open sometime in 2024 with 118 floors open to business.
At 679 meters, it will be the second tallest building in the world, just behind Burj Khalifa in UAE. As stated in the name, it will have 118 floors, which is expected to be split into three zones – retail, office and hotel. At the top of the building, there will be an observation deck.
Of course, moving people up and down all 118 floors will be a task. However, the elevator supplier, KONE Elevators, ahead of the opening, has been working with PNB to deliver the latest tech in elevators and escalators for the new building.
Based on a recent video by the Wall Street Journal, the building will see multiple elevator shafts serving all floors. The building’s three zones will be served by its own bank of elevators, with one high-speed unit servicing the observation deck directly from the ground floor.
What makes the elevators at Merdeka 118 stand out is the use of double-deck instead of single-car elevators. While the technology is not new, the building will see over 35 pairs used to cater for passengers going up and down the floors. For comparison, Petronas KLCC only has 29 double-deck elevators in total.
The dual elevator can carry up to 4000 kg, or about 52 people in total.
For direct access to the observation deck, the elevators can clock up to 10m/s, or about 36 km/h. This means the 600+ meters distance to level 115 from ground level will be completed in about 1 minute, which is blazing fast.
Fun fact: The observation deck elevator will be attached to the side of the building and is glass-panelled, so there will be some impressive and breathtaking views as the car heads up to level 115.
To control the passenger traffic, KONE and Merdeka 118 will be rolling out a Destination Control System (DCS). Already running at multiple buildings in Kuala Lumpur, the DCS will automatically direct and assign passengers to elevators to reduce congestion – especially during rush hour.
The adoption of new motor technology such as the MX100 motor is helping KONE to deliver a high-speed elevator experience to the upcoming Merdeka 118. [UPDATE: KONE confirms that the elevators in Merdeka 118 are not using the Ultrarope technology]
[IMAGE SOUCE: Kuala Lumpur City]
