UOB Plaza – Sky-high modernization Singapore
Our team modernized not one but two iconic tall buildings in the downtown central business district of Singapore, delivering a sophisticated state-of-the-art vertical mobility system that lives up to the iconic building's standards.
Key facts
Project stakeholders
- Developer: UOB
- Main contractor: Arup
- Design Institute: Kenzo Tange Associates; Architects 61; Architects Team 3
Challenges and client brief
- The building would remain fully operational throughout the project
- All the machinery had to be transported through the existing elevator system
- Two escalators connecting floors high up in the building required replacing
Schindler solutions
- With careful planning and the use of Schindler PORT Overlay our team maintained minimal disruption throughout the project
- Old machinery was dismantled in the machine room and removed, piece by piece
- Schindler INTRUSS® was used to minimize inconvenience while replacing escalators
Project highlights
Sitting on the banks of the Singapore River in the city’s central business district, it’s hard to miss the two iconic towers that make up the UOB Plaza – instantly recognizable by their post-modern design, rising up and transforming into an octagonal star shape towards the top.
The first tower of the complex was built in 1974, but it wasn’t until 14 years later, when UOB hired Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, that the complex took on its now iconic form. A new 66-floor skyscraper was built next to the original tower, which was retrofitted with new floors and a matching design. The two skyscrapers are linked by a lobby block that houses the banking hall. And UOB Plaza 1, at a height of 280 meters, is still one of the tallest buildings in the country.
Now, 30 years on from when the complex was fully reopened in 1995, its vertical mobility system has been upgraded by our modernization team, who replaced 33 elevators, including 13 double-deckers, and 11 escalators.
"Singapore’s buildings have played a huge role in the history of our country and helped to position it as one of the world’s leading financial centers," says Michael Li, Managing Director of Schindler Lifts Singapore. "The UOB Plaza is an iconic part of the city’s skyline. The work our modernization team has done in upgrading the vertical mobility system will keep the complex running smoothly and ensure excellent access throughout for decades to come."
Business as usual
Throughout the entire project, the building continued to operate at full capacity – a remarkable feat. Schedules had to be kept, and meetings had to be made – which meant people had to get to where they needed to be quickly and efficiently.
With this in mind, before replacing any of the elevators, our team installed a Schindler PORT Overlay. This is where they deploy our state-of-the-art destination control system to optimize the existing elevators. As Schindler PORT works with almost any elevator – whether it’s one of ours or originally from a third-party – it’s the best way to start any modernization.
"With Schindler PORT in place, there was a noticeable improvement in the performance of the old elevators immediately," says Kumaraguru Sekar, our Senior Project Manager who oversaw the project. "It meant that when we started work on the first elevator, the remaining ones could cope with the increased traffic, so passenger impact was greatly reduced."
Guru’s team then replaced one elevator at a time – to ensure there were always enough available to cater for the flow of traffic and make sure it was business as usual for the people working in the towers. All the units have now been replaced with our high-performance Schindler 7000 elevators, providing a faster, smoother, and more comfortable ride throughout the UOB Plaza complex.
Tight timelines and precision planning
This is something that’s far easier said than done. No external hoists were used, meaning all the machinery had to be transported through the existing elevator system – and double-deck machines are huge.
"The old machines weighed up to 14 or 15 tons," explains Guru. They had to be dismantled in the machine room and removed, piece by piece, down through the building. Then, once one of the old machines had been removed, a new one could be transported up in pieces and assembled in its place.
"We had to be flexible – the game was to not be noticed as much as possible," says Guru. That’s why he and his team worked irregular hours and over weekends – to keep disruption to a minimum.
There were other challenges to overcome too. All equipment and material had to be delivered during approved times scheduled with Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA). To avoid causing any disruption to the city’s traffic, the time window our team had was always during the night, and always over weekends.
In addition to the 33 elevators, our team also modernized 11 escalators, nine of which are in the entrance lobbies of the complex – five in UOB Plaza 1 and four in UOB Plaza 2. They play a key role in the building’s split lobbies that service the double-deck elevators.
"All of the work was completed at night after working hours," says Guru. It was completed quickly – the team replaced all nine one-by-one with brand new Schindler 9300 escalators within a six-week timeframe. "The work rate and dedication of everyone involved really was remarkable."
Innovative escalators
The sky lobby, located high up in UOB Plaza 1, provides access to the skyscraper’s highest floors. Due to the structural design of the building, passengers have to change elevators at either the 37th or 38th floor – and it’s between these two floors where the final two escalators are located.
Modernizing escalators 37 and 38 floors up poses a series of unique challenges. Unlike the escalators lower down, a full replacement wasn’t an option. The escalators are structurally integrated in the building, and – like with the elevator machines – all the parts would have to be transported via the elevator shafts and assembled on-site. Weight and size constraints had to be taken into consideration as well.
To minimize the level of disruption and inconvenience during the project, our teams used an innovative solution – Schindler INTRUSS®. This is where the existing escalator is extracted from its truss – which is cleaned and treated with a specialized de-rusting coating to prevent corrosion – and then a brand-new Schindler escalator is fitted back in its place.
Split lobbies and smart operation management
In buildings with double-deck elevators, you need double-deck lobbies as well. Like the elevators, split lobbies are comprised of two lobbies stacked on top of each other. Depending on whether you’re going to an even or an odd numbered floor, you’ll use either the upper lobby or the lower one.
When the system detects low passenger volumes, our ECO Mode can reduce energy consumption by automatically reducing speed. Extra energy is generated from downward travel.
"This reduces downtime, as there’s no need for a complete redesign," explains Guru. To ensure that the new escalator system would integrate seamlessly into the existing structure, a 3D scanning process was employed to take precise measurements. This allowed for the design and manufacturing of materials tailored to the specific conditions of the site. As a result, on-site modifications were kept to a minimum, reducing installation time and returning the escalators back to service sooner.
Seamless access
To help provide quick and convenient access throughout the complex, our team integrated facial recognition (FR) cameras in the complex’s turnstiles as well as adding them above the entrance doors on each floor. The FR cameras are integrated directly with Schindler PORT. Access is granted only after the FR cameras identify a registered profile, allowing authorized tenants to enter designated areas without the need to swipe access cards – ensuring excellent security and access management.
Sustainable and monitored
A core focus of the modernization at UOB Plaza was energy efficiency. With Schindler PORT and energy-saving features like regenerative drives and LED lighting, the elevators and escalators in the complex now require less power to run. They are also maintained more effectively too.
"Connected units play a big role in keeping everything running efficiently," says Paul Boo, our Director of Modernization Sales. As part of the modernization, sensors were installed on all 44 elevators and escalators. This means they can all be monitored in several ways.
First, we linked our Schinder Lobby Vision – our supervisory monitoring system for elevators and escalators – with UOB’s in-house monitoring system. This provides on-site staff with real-time information and transparency on how the units are performing.
Additionally, all the equipment is remotely monitored, around the clock, via our Technical Operations Center (TOC) in Singapore. When needed, the data allows us to provide customized adaptive maintenance so that potential issues can be dealt with before they become a problem.
"We always aim to provide the best service possible," says Paul. "Our modernizations enhance reliability, durability, and safety, while increasing energy efficiency and the overall experience – which all helps to keep Singapore up-to-date, modern, and ready for the future."
So, while from the banks of the Singapore River the UOB Plaza looks much the same as it has done for the past 30 years, inside its vertical mobility system has been completely overhauled – and is running better than ever.