“We enable builders deliver what developers and owners are demanding today and tomorrow, increasing the operational efficiency and partner from proactive and supportive cooperation. KONE DX Class revolutionizes the role of elevators in future smart buildings”, Catalina Dragomir, Managing Director KONE.
Buildings around the world have also an iconic role in their cities. From this perspective, what type of enhancements can be determined by KONE advanced people flow solutions?
Building owners and developers today face changed realities. Buildings should be designed and built to be flexible and adaptable to serve multiple and changing uses. If the internal people flow is slow or clumsy, building operations are hampered. For decades, KONE has developed and fine-tuned methods to plan and analyze the flows of people in buildings with an eye to ensuring a smooth user experience. It was the first elevator company to offer such a service to architects, builders, consultants and developers. And as a response to the increasing complexities in both new building projects and those to modernize existing buildings, KONE has expanded on its approach to people flow optimization, upgrading its tools and adding, for example, interior architects and data scientists to its own team of people flow experts. The work involves forming a deep understanding of the points of interaction between the various groups of people using a building and the building itself to find the best design and technological solutions to support a great user experience. KONE’s new and improved design and analysis tools and methods for helping customer optimize the people flow in their buildings are unique in the industry and allow building owners, tenants and managers to anticipate the future better than ever before.
Published in an exclusive, investment destination – oriented, market tour: “Bucharest – the skyline transformation by 2025” – Read: here
Which are the most provocative challenges that the market, clients, developers and investors should take into account when integrating mobility solutions in their projects, which are the main benefits of choosing KONE?
The most provocative challenge for example for the developers is to create smarter, greener buildings, minimize risk and make the planning processes as smooth as possible and to be compliant to the governmental regulations.
KONE DX Class elevators help developers differentiate and increase the value of their building with connected people flow solutions. The new solutions help them optimize the return on investment by increasing the attractiveness of the building, which in turn facilitates faster property sales and maximizes the value of every single square meter. We do this by building in connectivity to our market-leading volume elevator solution in order to future-proof it, enabling smart services that redefine the elevator user experience and make people’s everyday lives easier throughout the building life cycle. We enable builders deliver what developers and owners are demanding today and tomorrow, increasing the operational efficiency and partner from proactive and supportive cooperation. Being a partner for our customer is our main goal and we can cooperate on every level of the building life cycle with the right solutions for people flow planning, energy calculations, green building certification or making the building smart and user friendly and attractive.
What type of solutions can also help the public sectors, what initiatives – programs, support ideas are available for public hospitals, institutions, airports, stadiums, etc.?
People around the world are again experiencing unprecedented restrictions on movement as governments and health authorities try to find ways to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. As elevators are essential for enabling movement around any multi-story building it is extremely important for us to support our partners and the society in keeping the cities safe with the people flow solutions we have. KONE has a variety of solutions like health and wellbeing solutions which were developed this year. For example, solutions like KONE Air purifier, KONE Handrail sanitizer suitable for hospitals, retails with tendency of big people flow and airports are the best way for keeping the environment as clean and safe as possible in areas where we have many end users passing every day.
One of the best solutions we have, especially during this year challenges is the KONE 24/7 Connected services. Regular equipment maintenance – and intelligent, preventive maintenance in particular – can help minimize and even eliminate equipment downtime. This is what the revolutionary solution is all about: it is a cloud-based solution using sensors which collect data on a range of parameters on equipment performance and powerful analytics to identify deviations. For patients, their families and medical staff, this means less waiting time and disruption, a smoother journey to where they need to go, and quicker access to the supplies they need. The service can improve people’s safety, in some cases reducing the number of stoppages and other major incidents by up to 60 per cent.
Facing the challenges raised by new regulations, technologies, patterns of work, economic models, what role can we assign to mobility solutions?
Our cities will undergo enormous change, with the UN predicting that 6.7 billion people will be living in cities by 2050. Around 200,000 people move into cities across the globe each and every day. It is by understanding urbanization and focusing on improvements for people that we can create better buildings, better low-carbon cities and a better world. Rapid technological advancements in connectivity, mobility, and computing power are changing many aspects of our lives. Technological disruption drives change and means a faster pace of business and new expectations for ways of working. New technologies give us a great opportunity to serve our customers in smarter and more exciting ways.
The next generation of residential buildings will have a goal of improving our physical, mental and social health. A building can contribute to wellbeing in a variety of ways, like limiting indoor air pollution and increasing natural lighting. Improved soundproofing or even noise dampening technology can help you sleep better, while properly designed dining rooms encourage mindful eating and family interactions. Government regulations and the demand from corporate tenants are key drivers in increasing eco-efficiency and sustainability in buildings.
How is the ideal city envisioned by KONE?
Companies want developers to provide green offices, and they often mean this literally. We see that buildings will generate more power through solar panels, cool through thermal chimneys, use rainwater to flush toilets and be constructed with extremely efficient materials. Smart technology allows buildings to react in real time to microclimatic events or the body heat of people gathering in different spaces. Sustainability shall be considered for the entire lifecycle of an office building, not just for its operation. A connection with nature improves workplace productivity.
Taller buildings leave a smaller footprint, allowing for more green space at ground level. But even those working on the 100th floor will find nature just a short walk away, thanks to parks with spaces for trees and mini-waterfalls incorporated into the building itself. Older buildings will be renovated to be more sustainable and include green places. Green walls and plants proliferate, while renovations seek more energy efficient methods to move people around the building. This is how the ideal city is envisioned by KONE and all our developments and enhancements of the people flow solutions are connected to that idea.
What defines the new generation – KONE DX, which are the main benefits and the targeted sector, how do you estimate the adoption in Romania? How is the market potential perceived in the KONE group?
The biggest benefit of the DX elevator is the increasing of the value of the building – creating more value with connected people flow solutions and differentiating with a redefined user experience. With built-in connectivity as standard, KONE DX Class elevators bring a new user experience to life through a combination of design, technology, new materials, apps and services.
KONE DX Class revolutionizes the role of elevators in future smart buildings: the elevator is no longer merely a way to travel between floors, but an integral and integrated platform that offers intuitive, ambient and connected experiences that extend from the lobby throughout the building. For KONE customers such as developers and building owners, a key advantage is the ability to adapt and upgrade the elevator experience according to needs now and in the future. KONE sees big potential in the market, not only in Romania.
As the population is growing and people are more focusing living in the cities, the needs for new smart solutions are crucial. The market in Romania is ready and interested in innovations and effective ways for keeping the cities grow in an eco – efficient way. Our partners are looking for new solutions, so they provide the best experience in the building which is sustainable and gives a vision of the building, making the users happy for their investments. We are working together with lots of architects and developers and we are proud that we have a big role in making cities a better place to live.
Published in an exclusive, investment destination – oriented, market tour: “Bucharest – the skyline transformation by 2025” – Read: here
Content partners:
Concept Structure | KONE | Rustler | Atenor
With the support of:
SkyTower | Immofinanz | Speedwell | Brisk
