Engineering research
Vertical transport thinking, tested at height.
A landmark setting for conversations around lift technology, vertical transport, safety systems and product development for tall buildings.
A purpose-built heritage
Built for lift technology. Still shaped by the same engineering questions.
The National Lift Tower was built as the Express Lift Tower to provide a full-height environment for lift-system research and testing. Its four vertical shafts and 127.5-metre structure remain a distinctive setting for engineers working on vertical systems and tall-building technology.
Today, the tower supports research, product development and technical demonstration work. We welcome early conversations about vertical transport, component safety, instrumentation, access systems and other projects that may benefit from an exceptional vertical environment.
Explore the fit
Bring us a well-defined question.
Every programme has different safety, access, measurement and operational requirements. Tell us what you are developing or investigating, and we can assess whether the tower, its shafts or its wider engineering environment are suitable for the work.
Discuss a lift technology project
Related capabilities
Part of a broader tall-building research environment.
Projects involving vertical transport can overlap with working-at-height access, safety equipment, controlled measurement and the behaviour of services within tall buildings. The tower's current high-rise drainage installation shows how a full-scale vertical setting can make system performance visible.