DUNBAR and Boardman, one of the UK’s top lift and escalator consultancies, has added another prestigious project to its portfolio in the Middle East, winning a contract on a five-star hotel in Dubai, UAE.

“Having been involved with the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the Burj Al Arab and the Mall of the Emirates, Dunbar and Boardman is now continuing its work in Dubai with an appointment for the Four Seasons Hotel in Festival City Dubai,” says Brian Johnson, vertical transportation consultant, Middle East, Dunbar and Boardman.
He continues: “The five-star-plus 34-storey hotel and 43-storey residential project is located on the banks of Dubai creek and will make a unique feature to complement the numerous tower blocks on the Dubai skyline. Due to open in 2010, the 360-plus rooms add to the quality of Dubai accommodation and the city’s plans to increase tourism to 15 million people by 2012.”
Since its establishment in 1981, Dunbar and Boardman has worked on several high-profile projects such as the Burj Al Arab, which is also the world’s tallest hotel, and the China World Trade Centre in Beijing, China. Such projects and a 23-year history of success has rendered it a market leader in elevator, escalator and access equipment with unique experience and expertise in developing lift solutions for the built environment including particular challenges of high-rise buildings.
“We work with the client from conception to completion. Our consultants participate in the team process and undertake every aspect including the role of construction, design and management (CDM) co-ordinators as defined in the CDM regulations. All our engineers have had specialist training in this field and all are CSCS card holders,” says Johnson.
The depth of experience from over 40 engineers within the practice is unrivalled and includes a detailed working knowledge in both the public and private sectors, for a wide and varied client base, with projects ranging in value and size from the individual to the corporate. “The practice is committed to the observance of national and international standards (BSS, EN, AMSE) and statutes (HSW, EC) and we have membership of the BSI,” he says, adding that this  knowledge and experience is used in the drafting of all specifications and the managing of projects and installations.
According to Johnson, the approach to lift system design and seamless integration into the building includes:
• High-level traffic studies and analysis to ensure the building works;
• Knowledge of the latest innovations and advances in the lift industry that make cutting-edge architecture possible;
• Finding technical solutions to deliver the designer’s vision to site, complying with all relevant codes as well as ensuring reliability and maintainability for the future;
• Ensuring environmentally sound, economical and sustainable systems are utilised;
• Maintaining the highest levels of usability with a practical approach to passenger needs and behaviour;
• Development of effective emergency evacuation and fire strategies;
• Becoming an integrated part of the professional team on and off site; and
• Testing and commissioning checks to ensure the systems on site deliver the design, quality and performance requirements specified.