The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage in Doha preserves the nation’s rich heritage while fostering a vibrant cultural environment in Qatar. Before the upgrade, their building was in dire need of modernization. Ministry staff and visitors – such as cultural professionals and members of the public – had to contend with elevators that were older than the Ministry itself, which was established in its current form in 2008.
“In Doha’s West Bay, the Ministry of Culture sought a futuristic upgrade for the 18-year-old elevators in their 24-story building,” explains Emad Gawwad, electrical engineer for FD Consult, representing the client. “The aim was to integrate the latest advancements, safety, sustainability and efficiency, propelling the building to a new era of smart and sustainable technology.”
Need for smoother and more sustainable daily flow
Marwan Rahje, head of service operations and modernization sales for KONE in Qatar and Bahrain, says age was catching up to the old third-party elevators.
“They were having breakdowns and the downtime was too high,” he says. “Also, the old units were inefficient by contemporary standards. Energy efficiency and sustainability are major priorities for people in the Middle East, partly due to the predominantly hot climate. Everyone is striving to reduce their carbon footprint, and decreasing energy consumption in high-rise buildings is one solution to achieving that goal.
The benefits of updating the elevators were clear, and the decision was made to carry out the renovations while the building remained in use. KONE’s proven track record in successfully completing tricky modernizations of existing buildings helped in winning the contract.
“This is why KONE was chosen: for their customer-centric approach, round-the-clock support, suitable project installation, delivery plan and transparency,” Gawwad says. “We embarked on a full modernization by replacing six aging elevators, upgrading machines, drives, controllers and more to enhance functionality and aesthetics for the daily flow of over 500 users.”
The user interface was also improved with new signalization. KONE’s signalization range is modular, so elements such as the faceplate, buttons and display can be changed for a new look and functionality.
Installing new elevators with minimal disruption
“Modernization is a big project and takes a lot of work,” Rahje emphasizes. “We want to minimize the disturbance as much as possible. We plan carefully in advance, so every stage is executed smoothly and efficiently.”
The partners worked together to come up with a schedule and plan of action for a three-month period. It was decided that two elevators would be under renovation at a time, so the building staff and visitors could still use the other four while the project was ongoing.
“We did a lot after business hours – for instance, the work on the guide rails in the shafts was completed when the building was empty, so people wouldn’t be disturbed by the noise,” Rahje says. “We also kept any existing components that met our high standards.”
Reusing items and adopting circular solutions is necessary for the sustainable future of cities, but Rahje points out the technique also reduces disruptions which would otherwise have occurred during the installation of completely new equipment. This helps make the whole modernization experience better for the tenants of the building.
Smart solutions can be updated with new features
“One of the trends we see in modernization is the increasing demand for smart and connected solutions. They optimize efficiency and make for a better people flow experience,” Rahje says.
“We installed our innovative ReGenerate™ 800 solution, complete with a state-of-the-art DX Controller, an eco-efficient machine, and a regenerative drive system. This combination ensures enhanced control and precision. It can also be upgraded later when new eco-efficient solutions are developed, future-proofing the building.”
KONE 24/7 Connect allows for continuous performance monitoring and predictive maintenance. For instance, if the intelligent system suggests an issue to be addressed, disruptions and downtime can be avoided by carrying out maintenance before the component fails.
Massive increase in energy efficiency
The regenerative drive can recover 20-40% of the elevator system’s energy consumption by capturing and reusing the energy from braking. This is no mean feat, and Rahje goes on to say that KONE leads the industry in sustainable solutions.
“We tested the results of this project and estimated a 57% decrease in energy consumption with the new elevator system, compared to the old one,” he says. “This improvement was made possible thanks to features such as the regenerative drive that produces power for the rest of the building when braking, more efficient hoisting machines, LED lights, and optimization functionalities like standby modes.”
The modernization project at the Ministry of Culture in Doha also allowed the team to ensure the system was up to date with the latest safety standards.
“We are very pleased with the end result,” Rahje says. “We received positive feedback from the customer for the smooth execution of the project and for following the agreed schedule. Now the ministry building has reduced equipment downtime and energy consumption, while employees and visitors enjoy an improved experience and people flow.”
In the coming years, more and more old buildings will be modernized in Qatar and the Middle East to meet the contemporary and sustainability needs of today. Upgrading old elevators is an impactful step towards greener, resilient cities where future generations can thrive.