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January 2013 Reprinted from ELEVATOR WORLD
Category
Project
Year
of
the
2013
Accessibility Systems
7
B
etween September 1, 2010, and December 20, 2011, Elevert Co. Ltd. installed a cus-
tom-built platform lift in the ground-floor lobby of the Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace
for use by VIPs and visiting dignitaries. The circular drum platform lift’s open-through
door arrangement operates between the ground and first floors with seemingly no visible
support or guiding system. The platform surround is glass topped with a wooden balus-
trade. A stainless-steel tubular frame provides protection to the one-piece glass wall and
acts as a handrail, kick rail and support for the centrally mounted platform operating pan-
els. The curved-glass, center-opening doors are independently driven.
The need for a landing entrance at the ground floor is eliminated by the solid drum upon
which the platform lift sits. As the platform rises, the drum provides a solid barrier. At the
first-floor landing, center-opening, flat glass gates protect the entrance. As the lift ap-
proaches the first floor, the landing entrance floor, with gates and support posts, moves out
to meet the lift. The entrance docks with the lift platform, closing the safe running clear-
ance. The lift’s doors begin to open as it levels. The car door panels slide open, and the
landing gates swing 90°. In the fully open position, the glass gates create a barrier at the
sides of the entrance defining the exit path between the platform and landing. The landing
remains in the extended position until the gates have closed and the platform lift has de-
Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace
submitted by Richard Draper, Elevert Co. Ltd.
The external drum painting, gold leaf around the platform, stone floors and
landings were designed and installed by the client and its finishing contractors.
