Emporium Suites by Chatrium & Emporium Tower – Upgrading an urban icon
Emporium Suites by Chatrium & Emporium Tower, an emblem of luxury in the Thai capital, is modernizing on all fronts – making sure to maintain its spot as one of the city’s iconic buildings.
Set back slightly from the frenetic Sukhumvit Road, where street vendors, pedestrians, mopeds, buses, and cars compete for space, stands the Emporium Suites by Chatrium & Emporium Tower.
Step beneath its gold-adorned awning, and the rush and heat give way to cool air and quiet refinement – a sleek oasis of luxury, home to a 5-star hotel, long stay residences, upmarket retail outlets, eateries, and an office tower.
It’s one of the city’s iconic buildings – everyone knows the Emporium Suites by Chatrium & Emporium Tower,” says Gregory Pesce, Modernization Sales Director at Jardin Schindler Thailand.
But even icons need to evolve. In Bangkok, mixed-use buildings catering to everything the city’s citizens need are now an integral part of the urban landscape. As new buildings emerge, they’re redefining what residents expect when it comes to convenience, comfort, and design.
Leveraging our long-term partnership
The Emporium Suites by Chatrium & Emporium Tower team isn’t one to sit on the sidelines. “We initiated a comprehensive modernization program to help maintain the Emporium Tower’s position as one of Bangkok’s most established and recognizable destinations,” explains Theraphat Owlarn, Vice President of Project Planning & Development at City Realty Co. Ltd.
This program included building mobility. And so the team turned to us – their long-term partner in vertical transportation. Improving user experience, energy efficiency, and equipment performance became the focus. “We’ve had such a long and successful partnership with Schindler, we knew they could deliver,” explains Theraphat. “Upgrading our elevators played a critical role in improving the building’s energy efficiency and enhancing tenant comfort.”
Making people flow a priority
In a complex that caters for a wide variety of visitors and experiences high levels of foot traffic, managing the flow of people is essential.
A total of 22 Schindler 7000 and Schindler 5000 elevators were modernized – 12 taking passengers up to suites and offices, six connecting users to the underground parking garage, and four service elevators. Our team implemented Schindler PORT for destination control and energy savings, and integrated the elevators with the building’s existing turnstiles and self-service visitor screens via a custom API solution. This setup enables QR code access for visitors – enhancing both convenience and security.
Emporium Suites by Chatrium & Emporium Tower prides itself on offering impeccable service to its guests – and our team went to great lengths to match that commitment. “Before we began, we discussed with the customer how we would minimize the impact for users of the building,” says Schindler Project Manager Songklod Warakunphinyo. “Communication and collaboration are critical on projects like this to ensure their success.”
Multiple expert teams and minimal disruption
Speed, flexibility, and creativity were just as essential. “We took a multi-team approach to the projects. One team worked on the office tower at night, and during the day, another team focused on the hotel, so we didn’t disturb guests while they slept at night,” he continues. To avoid the need for scaffolding or external cranes, the teams removed the old elevator machines by dismantling them on-site and extracting them piece by piece via the service elevators. “I don’t think anyone realized the amount of machinery that was quietly being removed,” Songklod concludes with a smile.
This level of modernization expertise doesn’t happen by accident. As Gregory Pesce, our Modernization sales director, explains, upgrading existing equipment requires a different skill set than traditional new installations. “We’re training our workforce on competencies specific to modernization. Our teams working on-site need to be able to understand the needs of building owners and managers, communicate well with them, know how to work with third party equipment, and, as always, prioritize safety. It’s a very different workplace when it’s an occupied building rather than a construction site.”
A future-proof improvement fit for an urban icon
Guests are already enjoying the smoother ride, shorter waiting times, and refreshed aesthetics of the upgraded elevators. “The design perfectly complements the new look of the whole complex, and we’ve already received great feedback,” says Theraphat Owlarn, who oversees planning and development at City Realty Co. Ltd. “And soon, we’ll be able to work with the data from the connected elevators.”
This connectivity facilitates remote monitoring and maintenance, simultaneously saving time, enabling rapid response, and slashing carbon emissions – critical considerations in a heavily congested metropolis such as Bangkok. “Increasingly customers are looking for elevators that can be connected digitally,” explains Gregory. “Our technologies and our modernization offerings support them in meeting their goals and upgrading their buildings to be future-proof.”
As Songklod Warakunphinyo puts it: “You can’t change the past, but you can do something today that will impact your future.” A fitting motto for modernization.