Before and After: Schindler PORT Elevator Modernization

[Featuring Streetcar1743] Welcome to the Hilton Ballpark East Tower in St. Louis! This will be a bit of a long background, but it is worth reading.

When this tower was originally constructed, 3 Westinghouse elevators were installed. These elevators were quite small, very slow, and extremely overcrowded. Many years later, when Hilton bought the property in the mid 2000's, they decided to modernize the elevators. Hilton called in Schindler, who replaced the fixtures and controller, but pretty much just left it at that. The overcrowding problems didn't get much better. In 2009, the decision was made to construct a rooftop restaurant on the top of the tower. This meant adding another floor on top of the building and putting even more strain on the already overburdened elevator system. So, since the elevators had to go up another floor, Hilton decided it was time for a real overhaul. Hilton made a wise move by upgrading the controller to a Schindler PORT system, basically a new version of Miconic 10, which allows users to select their floor outside of the elevator and assigns them to a cab. This is the best way to get the most out of a bad elevator system. They also installed new motors to speed up the elevators a bit (although I didn't notice at first during the video since I hadn't ridden them in quite a while). The first modernization was pretty crappy, but this new one is fantastic! My only question: Why did they get rid of the LCD displays?

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• schindler
• port
• p.o.r.t.
• elevator
• lift
• modernization
• awesome
• traction
• elevators
• lifts
• westinghouse
• hilton
• ballpark
• east
• tower
• st.
• louis
• mo
• missouri

[ElevatingBoston]

Those interiors are horrific. They look like they belong in a cheap ski-lodge.

Thanks for introducing me to the PORT system. I had never heard of it. That sign in the lobby is really cool. Maybe Hilton has partnered with Schindler to get PORT into their hotels. It seems like that marketing they created for the lobby can/will be mass-produced.

[TheElevatorChannel]

@ElevatingBoston If they had just left the interiors alone (maybe just placed a cabinet over the buttons or something), they would have been much better off in my opinion. The old floor indicators and old cabs were much nicer. Not to mention, the last modernization where those cabs and indicators were added was only about 5 years ago!

[dontwalkhand]

I would have kept the color LCD indicator!

They did put the classic Schindler voice on these, you either love it or hate it. For me, I prefer the Otis woman :)

[TheElevatorChannel]

@dontwalkhand Exactly what I thought! They just put those in a few years before this, too. And for what, to showcase the world's first ACME indicator?

[dontwalkhand]

Schindler Voice

[stevethemeave45]

I miss the LCD display. Glad I got it in time.

[dea41396returns]

I must say this is QUITE an improvement. I don't hate the new interior but I like Tim said it belongs in a Ski Lodge or a Great Wolf Lodge or something. Overall I think this was a fantastic mod!

[mmonicque]

The door has door disease with a touch of phantom of the opera thing going on

[an65001]

The doors on Car B need to be repaired.

[an65001]

@Theminecraftplayerdd There is no 13th floor due to suspicions.

[TheDaniel500]

Me: I need help counting backwards!

Mom: Go to the Schindler Port's at Hilton Ballpark East Tower in St. Louis and use the disabled option!

Me: Ok!

[georgef551]

@Balarick

The mod was complete, it's the software that actually isn't, and it's considered a "finished product".

We'd never expect any more from Schindler anyway. :)

[Balarick]

@georgef551 then replacing the controller will finish the mod. strange for the elevator to vary like that.

[ElevatingBoston]

@cannycart Thanks for the info. =)