Frankfurt Alumni Video's video: The Abrams Building s Iconic Open Door Elevators Frankfurt Germany

By request; The Abrams Building's Legendary Open Door Elevator! The Paternoster Lift. AKA; The Continuous Vertical Passenger Conveyor A Paternoster (/ˈpeɪtərˈnɒstər/, /ˈpɑː-/, or /ˈpæ-/) or Paternoster lift, is a passenger elevator which consists of a chain of open compartments (each usually designed for two persons) that move slowly in a loop up and down inside a building without stopping. Passengers can step on or off at any floor they like. The same technique is also used for filing cabinets to store great amounts of (paper) documents, or for small spare parts. As a result of safety issues, many such lifts have been shut down. However, a few survive around the world. The largest of these is located in the Arts Tower at the University of Sheffield, which also remains the tallest university-owned building in the UK. The much smaller Belt Manlift, which consists of an endless belt with steps and rungs but no compartments is also sometimes called a Paternoster. Another one can be found at the IG Farben building, formerly called the Abrams Building from 1975 until 1995, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Peter Ellis installed the first elevators that could be described as paternoster lifts in Oriel Chambers of Liverpool in 1868. Subsequently, built in 1884 by the Dartford, England, engineering firm of J & E Hall as the Cyclic Elevator, the name paternoster ("Our Father," the first two words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin) was originally applied to the device because the elevator is in the form of a loop and is thus similar to rosary beads used as an aid in reciting prayers. Paternosters were popular throughout the first half of the 20th century as they could carry more passengers than ordinary elevators. They were more common in continental Europe, especially in public buildings, than in the United Kingdom. They are rather slow elevators, typically traveling at about 0.3 meter per second, thus improving the chances of getting on and off successfully. The construction of new paternosters is no longer allowed in many countries because of the high risk of accidents (people tripping or falling over when trying to enter or exit). In 2012, an 81-year-old man was killed when he fell into the shaft of a Paternoster in The Hague. Elderly people, disabled people, and children are the most in danger of being crushed. In 1989, the Paternoster in Newcastle University's Claremont Tower was taken out of service after a passenger undertaking an up-and-over journey became caught in the drive chain, necessitating a rescue by the Fire Service. A conventional lift was subsequently installed in its place. Moreover, a US Soldier was also killed on a Paternoster in Frankfurt Milcom's Abrams Building in 1991. She had wet boots on causing her to slip and fall. Tragically her head and body were crushed. (R.I.P.) In April 2006, Hitachi announced plans for a modern Paternoster-style elevator with computer-controlled cars and normal elevator doors to alleviate safety concerns. A prototype has been revealed as of February 2013.