Begovaya Tower, Moscow

Moscow's Begovaya Tower is the first high-rise in Russia to boast Schindler double-deck elevators. The company's success in winning the contract was a direct result of its ability to produce innovative mobility solutions.

Completed in 2008, the 230-metre office tower in Begovaya Street permits impressive views across the Russian capital, including one of Europe's tallest building – the Federation Tower in the Moscow City area - which Schindler is also supplying.

Schindler got involved in the planning stages of the Begovaya project, when it was realized that there would not be enough elevator shafts to cope with the building's mobility requirements.

"We analyzed the mobility needs of the tower, and came up with solutions involving changes to the structure of the building," said Alexey Mikhailov, who is responsible for the high-rise Top Range Division at Schindler Russia. "We also provided the double-deck elevator solution, which meant fewer shafts and elevators would be needed."

The Begovaya Tower is a development of the DS Development Company, which is part of Don Stroy Holding. The firm has built numerous residential towers in Moscow over the past decade, and Begovaya is its first office building. The architects, Tromos Bureau, are also part of Don Stroy Holding.

The tower has 41 floors above ground level, with the longest elevator run being 158.7 metres. In total, Schindler supplied 12 Schindler 7000 passenger elevators, six of which are double decks. They travel at speeds of up to six metres per second, and are controlled by Schindler's state-of-the-art traffic management systems.

All elevators are equipped with user-recognition software and access control, and monitored by Schindler Lobby Vision system, which provides a complete overview of the entire network at all times.

The elevator cars are equipped with 15" color monitors, fed by Schindler's E-Vision which allows the customer to determine the content. The elevator interiors are specially designed by the customer and supplied by Schindler craftspeople in Switzerland.

Mobility in the tower is assisted by two Schindler 9300AE escalators, which deliver passengers to the upper or lower car of the double-decks, depending on their destination.

Making up the complement of mobility solutions are three Schindler 5400 car park lifts and two Schindler 5300 service lifts.