Double-deck high-speed elevators at iCITY bring a new level of vertical mobility to Moscow City.

The first double-decker high-speed elevators in Russia have been launched in the Moscow-City business district, opening a new chapter in the development of vertical transport infrastructure for skyscrapers.
This technology, until recently used only in premium towers in Asia and Europe, is now available in the Russian capital – in the new iCITY business complex, developed by developer MR Group.

Engineering Breakthrough: 8 Meters Per Second and Two Levels in One Mine

Each elevator is equipped with two cabins located one above the other, which allows it to service two floors simultaneously.
This solution increases capacity by 30–40% compared to conventional high-speed elevators, and travel time from the first level to the 59th floor is less than 40 seconds —a result comparable to the best global standards.

Technical specifications:

• Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Electric
  

• Number of installed elevators: 22
  

• Travel speed: up to 8 m/s
  

• Number of stops: up to 59 floors
  

• Construction type: Double Deck
  

• Control system: intelligent, with distribution of passenger flow by zones and time of day
  

At 8 m/s (approximately 28.8 km/h), these elevators are among the fastest in Russia. By comparison, elevators in most Moscow business centers reach speeds of 3–5 m/s, and even those in the Federation Tower don't exceed 7 m/s.

Smart infrastructure and energy efficiency

Elevators have become part of the iCITY smart infrastructure: their control is integrated into the building's unified digital system. Algorithms analyze passenger flow and automatically reroute cabins to areas with peak occupancy.

Particular attention is paid to energy efficiency: a recuperation system returns excess energy during braking back to the grid, reducing the building's overall electricity costs.
In addition, ventilation, lighting and ride comfort have been optimized, which is especially important for passenger comfort at high speeds.

Design and materials: premium in detail

Each cabin is finished using natural marble, stemalite, and anodized aluminum—in the finest traditions of Moscow City's business architecture.
The interior is designed in a minimalist style, with soft lighting and a noise-absorbing system, making the ride as comfortable as possible, even at high speeds.

The two-level layout also allowed for the efficient use of shaft space, which is especially important for skyscrapers, where every square metre is of high value.

Global Context: From Tokyo to Moscow

Double Deck Elevator technology was first implemented in the 1980s by Mitsubishi Electric in the Yokohama Landmark Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center skyscrapers, and later in the One World Trade Center (New York) and Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur).

Now a similar system is being used in Russia – in iCITY, which has become a symbol of a new stage in the development of Moscow City.

iCITY — a new generation business complex

The iCITY business center consists of two towers— Time Tower and Space Tower —with a total area of over 300,000 square meters , class A+ offices, observation areas, and developed infrastructure.
The following systems are implemented here:

• intelligent climate and ventilation,
  

• automatic control of energy consumption,
  

• contactless access and facial recognition,
  

• underground robotic parking.
  

The launch of double-decker elevators was one of the project's key engineering achievements, underscoring iCITY's status as one of the country's most technologically advanced skyscrapers.