Otis gains $36-m contract for Burj Dubai—world's tallest building

By Liz White, UT staffFarmington, Connecticut-Elevator company Otis will supply and install 66 elevators and escalators-including 20 of its Gen2 machine-roomless elevators which use polyurethane-coated flat-belts-at Burj Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. This will be the world's tallest building when completed in 2008."Dubai is experiencing unprecedented growth and is fast becoming one of the most vibrant metropolises in the world," commented Ari Bousbib, president of Otis Elevator Co., in a company statement. When completed, the tower will change the skyline of Dubai, Otis' statement commented. At more than 700 metres, the 160 plus-storey Burj Dubai, being built by Emaar Properties, will become the tallest building in the world, surpassing the 101-story Taipei Financial Center by more than 200 metres, said the statement. As part of the $36-million contract, Otis-a unit of United Technologies Corp.-will supply and install 58 elevators and eight escalators. Some 20 of the elevators will be the Gen2 machine-roomless units, featuring Otis' unique flat PU-coated-steel belt technology. In addition, two double-decker units will service Burj's observation deck, and can take 23 people per deck. They will have the world's highest and one of its fastest rises, at 10 meters per second. Otis says the unique design is "derived from the geometries of the desert flower and the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture."