Vertical Transportation

Vertical transportation engineering encompasses the planning and design of lifts, escalators, and moving walkways to enable safe, efficient, and equitable movement of people within buildings. Our services also extend to specialist systems including vehicle lifts, goods hoists, service lifts, dumbwaiters, docking and transfer products, and pneumatic tube systems.

From concept, we begin with traffic analysis to assess peak demand periods, occupant profiles, and circulation patterns. This analysis informs key system parameters such as lift quantity, capacity, speed, grouping, and control strategy. We assess appropriate technologies, including machine-room-less and conventional traction lifts, destination control systems, and the integration of access control and security requirements.

For projects with significant people movement, we evaluate escalator and moving walk configurations, alignments, and floor-to-floor connectivity, with consideration given to passenger comfort, visibility, and wayfinding. Close coordination with architectural, structural, fire, and electrical disciplines is essential to resolve shaft layouts, pit and overhead requirements, fire and smoke control interfaces, and emergency egress provisions. We also ensure that maintenance access, safe working clearances, and compliant refuge and emergency operation requirements are incorporated into the design.

The outcome is a vertical transportation system that delivers reliable performance, minimises waiting and travel times, supports universal accessibility, and can be safely and efficiently maintained throughout its lifecycle. Building owners and operators benefit from robust equipment selection, energy-efficient solutions, and clear maintenance and asset management strategies that protect long-term operational value.