KONE INAUGURATES TRAINING CENTER IN MALAYSIA
KONE INAUGURATES TRAINING CENTER IN MALAYSIA
KONE inaugurated KONE Academy in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, on March 23, describing it as the latest KONE training center to open exclusively for the Malaysian market. KONE CEO Henrik Ehrnrooth and Executive Vice President of Asia Pacific Axel Berkling were joined by Malaysia's Deputy Director General of Occupational Safety Haji Omar bin Mat Piah for the occasion. Spanning 9,400 sq. ft., the training center will have a classroom for soft skills and lecture-based training, two mock-up elevator shafts for hands-on training, an e-learning center, motor simulators and a product showroom. KONE told ELEVATOR WORLD approximately 2,000 people are expected to visit either the academy or showroom each year.
IN MEMORIAM: ECRÜMENT HIZAL
Ecrüment Hızal, founder and former managing director of Wittur Turkey, passed away on March 26. His colleagues at Wittur had this to say:
"In addition to his family, those of us who had the opportunity to work with him will also feel a tremendous loss. He was an extraordinarily smart and accomplished entrepreneur. His exceptional work ethic, long-term commitment to the lift industry, unwavering desire to always do the right thing and belief that his colleagues were integral to both his personal and the company's success made him truly one of a kind. He will be deeply missed, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family."
PLAN FOR PORTLAND’S BRIDGE-CONNECTED TOWERS OUT
A plan by William Kaven Architecture for a pair of skyscrapers connected by a skybridge in Portland, Oregon, is not on the table, with the city’s economic redevelopment agency Prosper Portland choosing three finalists to formally submit their proposals, The Architect’s Newspaper reports. William Kaven had responded to a request for qualifications with the “grandiose scheme” that was pitched as an iconic tourist attraction. The finalists are McWhinney and Continuum Partners, both of Denver, and Related Cos. of San Francisco. Their plans for the 32-acre site in Portland’s Pearl District will likely be more “subdued” than William Kaven’s 5-million-sq.-ft. plan.
SOUTHEAST ASIA ENTERTAINMENT HUB IN SURFERS PARADISE
A project in Australia billed as a new "entertainment hub for Southeast Asia" featuring 56- and 72-story towers with 700 apartments and 400 hotel suites has been approved by the Gold Coast City Council in Surfers Paradise, The Urban Developer reports. Sydney-based EG Funds Development is behind "Wanderlust," designed by Elenberg Fraser and including a 4,325-m2 pool club with bookable cabanas geared toward international acts such as deejays. The location is in the heart of the Surfers Paradise entertainment and nightclub district between Orchid Avenue and Surfers Paradise Boulevard. The apartments will start on level three of the 72-story tower.
40-STORY RESIDENTIAL TOWER IN DUBAI FORGES AHEAD
Shoring, piling and excavation have been completed for the 40-story MB Residence in Dubai's Jumeirah Lakes Towers waterfront community, putting the project on track for completion in late 2019, ConstructionWeekOnline.com and Arabian Business report. MAG Lifestyle Development, the development arm of MAG Group, in a deal with Ali Mousa & Sons Contracting, has completed 20% of construction since July 2017. MAG CEO Talal Moafaq Al Gaddah said that MAG's "meticulous approach to timely project delivery" resulted in completion of the enabling works. MB Residence will have 472 apartments, as well as amenities such as a gym, sauna and outdoor swimming pool.
