Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

The Marina Bay Sands integrated resort in Singapore is adding a new dimension to the concept of skyscraper. With it’s three cascading towers crowned by a connecting Sands Skypark, the multi-use resort is already defining the city skyline. Opened since 2010, the complex offers an extraordinary experience for leisure and business travelers from all over the world.

Unique architecture, flexible elevator solutions
The 55-story towers are inclined in the lower sections, which presented a hurdle to the accommodation of the elevator shafts. There are 146 elevators serving both the hotels and podium, and 10 escalators throughout the hotels.

“For KONE, the Marina Bay Sands project is a showcase of both flexibility and exactness. The elevators range from luxurious high-end solutions to sturdy freight elevators,” says Pekka Kemppainen, KONE executive vice president and area director for the Asia-Pacific region.

As the roof architecture prevented the use of standard elevator machine rooms, KONE resolved the problem by using machine room-less technology. The elevators are powered by the KONE EcoDisc® hoisting machine, the leading eco-efficient technology on the market.

Innovative construction-time solutions, world-class project management
As a huge amount of workers need to move around smoothly in such a massive building project, the KONE JumpLift construction-time elevator rose to the challenge. When new floors are added to the building, the elevator machine room is moved upwards in the hoistway, making it possible to transport workers and building equipment to the next levels. 

When the building structure is finished, the construction-time elevator is quickly transformed into
the permanent elevator by installing the final machinery, signalization, interior materials and landing doors.“KONE JumpLift transports workers efficiently to the workface, which otherwise becomes increasingly time consuming the higher the towers go,” comments Dale Chadwick, Marina Bay Sands’ executive director for building services. “Our construction schedules were aggressive,
and this solution was both safe and flexible.”

Ensuring quality across such an innovative project presented an opportunity. According to Vincent Teng, KONE’s director for the hotels section of this project, KONE implemented a defined process which included handover and check points plus a quality assurance plan with clear roles for all project teams involved.

“Each of the six sections of the complex has its own architect and design teams and keeping track of the work has, therefore, been demanding,” says Teng’s colleague, Peter Eagling, KONE’s director for the convention and exhibition center and retail area.

SUMMARY

Challenge
• To develop an entertainment complex with three cascading towers topped by a unique sky park in cooperation with six different architects and design teams

Solution
• Equipment serving various needs – from luxurious passenger elevators to high-capacity freight
elevators
• Unique construction-time elevators, providing safe and fast transportation for construction workers
• Systematic project management and quality check points, ensuring that the tight project schedule
and quality standards were met

FAST FACTS
Marina Bay Sands
Contractor: Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
Architects: Moshe Safdie and Associates; Aedas Ltd.
3 hotel (55-story) towers linked by a 1 hectare Sands SkyPark
2,560 luxury hotel rooms
26 restaurants, 2 theaters
1 convention and exhibition center

KONE Solutions
13 KONE JumpLift elevators during construction
53 MonoSpace® elevators
42 service elevators
9 glass elevators
39 KONE MiniSpace™ elevators
3 vehicle elevators
4 KONE TransitMaster™ escalators
6 KONE EcoMaster™ escalators
KONE E-Link™ system