Glass observation cabin at Mall of America, Bloomington, MN. A new 10,000-lb. capacity glass elevator cab was recently added as part of a $325 million project, including a 165,000-sq. ft. retail expansion at the Mall of America’s (MOA) North Wing in Bloomington, MN. Designed by DLR Architects and installed by KONE, the cab is situated inside a glass hoistway. With a platform size of 12.5-ft. (l) x 8.5-ft. (w), the nature of its size and vertical structure presented unusual engineering and logistical challenges for the entire project team.
The view of the elevator cabin is obscured through the polka-dot pattern, making translucence of the cabin walls important because of varying levels of light throughout the day.
The structure of the vertical transportation system, enclosed in the see-through hoistway involved a rear-slung platform and offset cross-head and stiles which are located on the outside (rather than on the inside of the platform). Special consideration was given to improving the aesthetic of the unsightly (but necessary) mechanical parts and connections on the top and bottom of the elevator cab. To ensure the operating system structure coincided with the cab structure, G&R’s lead Design Engineer, Kevin Harris, worked directly with the various teams providing various parts & structures
External platform mechanical components at Mall of America's North Wing glass observation elevator cabin.
Mall of America | Bloomington, MN. © G&R Custom Elevator Cabs, 2352 Station Parkway NW Minneapolis, MN 55304.
Mall of America | Bloomington, MN. © G&R Custom Elevator Cabs, 2352 Station Parkway NW Minneapolis, MN 55304.
Inside the cab you see the floating double handrail with rounded corner
Lower elevator ceiling inside glass observation cabin at Mall of America. Engineered and manufactured by G&R Custom Cabs in Minnesota.
A double row, floating round handrail over double row flat kick plates and in-floor accent lighting. Glass floor is non-slip surface - inside the Mall of America's glass elevator. Engineered and manufactured by G&R Custom Cabs in Minnesota.
A double row, floating round handrail inside the Mall of America's glass elevator. Engineered and manufactured by G&R Custom Cabs in Minnesota.

Glass Observation Cab: Mall of America

One Oversized Glass Observation Cab

The system and structure of this glass cab, being enclosed in a glass hoistway, required special consideration to conceal unsightly but necessary mechanical parts and connections. G&R worked directly with various sub-contracting teams to ensure that the operating system coincided with the cab structure.

The floor includes two 7-ft. (l) x 4-in. (w) LED accent lights that are covered with diffusors and non-skid glass. Along the sidewalls and rearwall, double rows of continuous (flat) stainless steel bumper rails and round stainless steel handrails are affixed at the mullions with custom handrail brackets.

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