Dezeen promotion: Otis' Sky Build lifts, which climb up a building as it is built, are enabling the efficient construction of the 278-metre-tall Twentytwo skyscraper in London's financial district.
Designed by London-based PLP Architecture, the tower formerly known as 22 Bishopsgate will be the tallest building in the City of London when it completes in 2019.
Two of Otis' Sky Build lifts were installed at the site at the beginning of construction and have been used throughout the build. They will even remain in the building when it completes.
Twentytwo will be the City of London's tallest building when it completes
The self-climbing lifts can be installed once construction has reached the third storey within a building's lift shaft. As the lift shaft is built and rises higher, the Sky Build lift is raised within the shaft so that it can used throughout construction. "We've developed and built the safest, fastest self-climbing elevator used for construction within the industry" explained Kurt Frei, associate director in field support for global major projects at Otis, in a video explaining the lift.

The system works by using two platforms that are locked within the shaft from which the lift is hung. After construction of a floor has taken place the lift "jumps" up the shaft.
The upper platform is unlocked from the shaft and hydraulically raised. It is then locked in place at a higher level. The process is then repeated for the lower platform, to rais...