You may be surprised to learn that elevators now have game plans, too.
Thanks to the increasing adaptation of the “internet of things” (IoT), elevators can now accurately predict when they need maintenance on their many parts, among other calculations.
Brandon Sullivan
“Building IoT-enabled elevators allow connection to a range of digital options,” says Brandon Sullivan, Schindler Elevator Corp. general manager, Hawai‘i. “This connectivity provides building owners and managers with the comprehensive tools needed to enhance operational efficiency and reduce equipment downtime, keeping tenants and visitors moving seamlessly.”
IoT digital options include improved traffic flow, secure access control, personalized service, energy efficiency, updated security, a wide range of customization choices, adaptive systems for passengers with special needs and maintenance scheduling.
And while IoT-enabled elevators are only beginning to show up in the islands, related technology is already streamlining less advanced models. Meanwhile, more builds are going up in Hawai‘i and elevator sales are rising with them.
Moving Up in Hawai‘i
General contractor Nordic PCL Construction Inc. is typically very active in Hawai‘i’s elevator-dense building sectors — hospitality, commercial and high- and mid-rise residential.
Nordic PCL’s latest high-rise projects that are currently installing new elevators include Hokuala Hotel, Ka Haku and Hālawa View Apartments.
The general contractor also installs elevators at its mid-rise projects — that is, buildings with four to twelve stories.
These include King Kalakaua Plaza, Maui Bay Villas Phases 2 and 3, the Hawaii Electricians Pension Fund (HEPF) headquarters and the landmark renovation of Hawaii State Federal Credit Union (Hawaii State FCU) headquarters in downtown Honolulu.
“Otis was the subtrade for the elevator work at Hawaii State Federal Credit Union,” says Eric Ballew, Nordic PCL Hawaii State FCU project manager.
“The new Hawaii State FCU headquarters is home to over 240 employees, formerly spread across multiple locations,” Ballew says. “The 10-story renovation is designed to prioritize health, wellness, collaboration and innovation by elevating the banking experience. It features 70,000 square feet of offices, an 80,000-square-foot garage, eight employee work floors, fitness center and a rooftop deck.”
The state-of-the-art 4,300-square-foot branch office on the first floor “focuses on a customer-centric program with an open floor plan, specialist stations, private offices, conference rooms, touch tables for virtual access and interactive teller machines,” Ballew adds.
The concept of “elevating the banking experience” extended to everything — ceiling height, view planes, building materials, HVAC, lighting, décor and the elevators, which were supplied by Otis, the world’s leading elevator manufacturer,
“While Otis did all the work based on the specifications, the upgraded elevators did have secured floors, improved finishes for the elevator cabs and a smoother ride/transition between floors,” Ballew notes.
These upgrades were in keeping with the building’s serene and welcoming atmosphere.
“We build to the specifications of the contract which has several factors for determining if an advanced elevator system is necessary,” Ballew explains. “The luxury and higher-end residential towers typically include premium elevator systems that feature keycard access for security, touchscreen controls and/or upgraded interior finishes.”
Ballew says building height and traffic volume also play a significant role in selecting elevator transport systems. “Premium systems that have higher capacity and speed can reduce wait times during peak hours,” he says. “Additionally, buildings seeking to reach LEED certification may opt for more sophisticated vertical transports with destination dispatch systems.”
The Hawaii State FCU project wrapped in April 2023, just as Nordic PCL was closing in on another Honolulu mid-rise renovation — the Hawaii Electrician’s Pension Fund (HEPF) building, which wrapped in September that year.
“The Hawaii Electrician’s Pension Fund was completed in two phases,” recalls Casey Tollman, Nordic PCL HEPF project manager.
“Phase 1 is a new 3.5-level parking structure with two floors of office space located above and topped off with an expansive outdoor roof terrace,” she says. Once the new offices were completed, staff moved there so the expansive Phase 2 renovation of HEPF’s existing four-story office could proceed.
Schindler Elevator Corp. “improved upon the HEPF’s original hydraulic system,” Tollman recalls.
“In order to upgrade the existing elevator, a permanent sump pump was required to be installed to mitigate water from the elevator pit,” she says. “Per ASME A17.1–201, Requirement 2.2.2.5: ‘In elevators provided with Firefighters’ Emergency Operation, a drain or sump pump shall be provided. The sump pump/ drain shall have the capacity to remove a minimum of 3000 gallons per hour per elevator.’
“This can be a challenge when dealing with existing elevators with limited space,” she observes.
For the 3.5-level parking garage, Nordic PCL installed brand-new Schindler elevators which expanded the structure’s vertical transportation. For the renovated four-story building, Nordic PCL only modernized the existing elevators with a refresh of the interior cabs and updated the call system for smoother operations.
AHL selected all the interior finishes for the cab and hallway frames. Schindler provided the cabs and equipment and performed the installation.
Mid-rise and Beyond
Nordic PCL did not disclose the mid-rise elevator system Schindler installed at the HEPF project, but the manufacturer has a few.
At new Hawai‘i mid-rise projects, says Schindler’s Sullivan, there is currently high demand for the Schindler 3300 machine-room-less (MRL) elevator coupled with the Schindler Port system.
This option “allows for more usable building space,” Sullivan explains. “Additionally, it is equipped with energy-efficient components, making it up to 60 percent more efficient than hydraulic elevators.”
This year and into 2026, he says, the new Schindler 5000 is available for Hawai‘i projects.
“The Schindler 5000 advances Schindler’s MRL offering with taller cars, larger entrances, load capacities up to 5,000 pounds, and travel speeds up to 350 feet per minute, all while requiring less building space,” Sullivan says.
Designed for low- to mid-rise buildings, the Schindler 5000 is a leader in energy-efficient MRL elevators in North America.
The elevator is also “readily IoT-enabled” — an option which may gain in importance this year.
Sullivan provides a recent example.
“An apartment building for seniors was equipped with Schindler Ahead, [an IoT program],” he says.
“The remote monitoring data from the apartment building’s elevators identified a possible equipment issue before it occurred, and dispatched a technician who resolved it before the elevator ever went out of service.
“This IoT connectivity improved the reliability and uptime of the building’s elevators, while eliminating a potential shutdown, keeping senior residents and visitors moving.”
As Hawai‘i supply chains again face new challenges with tariffs and other uncertainties, IoT-enabled elevators like Schindler’s that accurately predict and prevent performance issues may prove to be especially valuable.
