Press release

11.12.2019

thyssenkrupp Elevator sustainability experts to discuss vertical transportation alternatives for sustainable cities at Greenbuild 2019 in Atlanta

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Monica Miller Brown and Liz Minne, two highly respected green building leaders, will examine the latest vertical transportation trends impacting sustainable urbanization

thyssenkrupp Elevator North America has established a strong eco-footprint in its new hometown of Atlanta, including leading LEED and LBC projects in the area

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ATLANTA (November 12, 2019) – thyssenkrupp Elevator North America’s Monica Miller Brown, Sustainability Design Manager, and Liz Minne, Environmental Program Manager, will lead a course on “Transportation Alternatives for Sustainable Cities” at Greenbuild 2019, which is being held November 19-22, 2019, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Greenbuild is the largest annual event for green building professionals worldwide, helping attendees improve resilience, sustainability and quality of life in buildings, cities and communities.

Widely regarded as two of the preeminent leaders in green building transportation, Miller Brown and Minne will examine how recent innovations in vertical and horizontal transportation can help solve the toughest urban mobility challenges.

“As we consider the cities we build, we are looking at vertical and horizontal transportation options that are sustainable, transparent, safe and healthy,” said Miller Brown. “Elevators are a critical part of urban mobility and must be prioritized as part of any green building.”

In Atlanta, thyssenkrupp Elevator has established a strong sustainability footprint in some of the most energy-efficient buildings in the region. This includes Georgia Tech’s Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, which thyssenkrupp has helped meet the

International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification. The 37,000-square-foot, two-story academic building is poised to become the first LBC certified facility in Georgia as well as the first LBC certified education and research facility in the Southeast.

Meanwhile, thyssenkrupp’s groundbreaking TWIN elevator system is operating in the 21story Coda building. The TWIN elevator system features two cars operating independently in one shaft, making efficient use of available space while transporting up to 40 percent more passengers than conventional elevators. Each TWIN elevator has its own major in a single elevator shaft. By reducing the number of shafts necessary, additional floor space is given back to the building, creating additional leasing opportunities.

TWIN elevator systems will also be tested in Atlanta at thyssenkrupp Elevator North America’s new headquarters next to The Battery Atlanta. Construction on the Innovation and Qualification Center (IQC), which includes the tallest elevator test tower in the Western Hemisphere, is set for completion by 2021. Over the summer, thyssenkrupp Elevator announced it will pursue LEED v4 certification for its IQC, which will be Cobb County’s tallest building at 420 feet.

“thyssenkrupp Elevator is proud to be one of the leaders in green building transportation, and we will continue to invest in eco-friendly and energy-efficient vertical transportation solutions that help create a safer, healthier environment for future generations,” said Kevin Lavallee, CEO of thyssenkrupp Elevator North America.

thyssenkrupp has firmly distinguished itself in the world of elevator sustainability by becoming the first elevator company to retrofit existing elevators to achieve net-zero energy. thyssenkrupp was also the first elevator company to prioritize material transparency, publishing a Health Product Declaration as well as meeting or exceeding the most stringent industry standards, including Cradle to Cradle, the Living Building Challenge, and LEED.

thyssenkrupp is also the first and only elevator company with Declare labels as well as Bronze and Platinum Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificates. On top of that, thyssenkrupp Elevator also discloses ingredients in its cabs and entrances down to 1,000 ppm per its Health Product Declaration, all manufactured in a LEED Gold certified facility in Middleton, Tennessee.