‘Levytator’ developed by Jack Levy is unlike traditional designs, where redundant steps move underneath those in use. The Levytator utilises a continuous loop of curved modules, which can follow any path upwards, flatten and straighten out, and descend once more, with passengers onboard.
The system can be arranged in any configuration, similar to a DNA-esque double helix in a science museum. It also offers several practical advantages at a cost that is similar to a conventional unit.
According to Jack Levy, since all of the steps can be accessed from above, maintenance can be carried out much more easily, with no excavation required when installing the Levytator. He also added that the new innovative system could be particularly useful in the heritage sector, where the system could be placed on top of a grand staircase in a listed stately home, providing better access for elderly and disabled visitors, without destroying the fabric of the building.
David Chan, director of City’s Centre for Information Leadership and consultant to the project stated that the Levytator opens up new possibilities for architects in hotel, airport, museum, theme park and commercial building design. It also offers attractive financial proposition, as it can carry twice as many people as a traditional escalator, but at a comparable price.
The technology has been patented in the UK, Europe, the US, and China, and City University London is currently actively seeking strategic partnerships with architects and manufacturers to take the Levytator to market. Architects will be able to create escalators in any shape they want, even freeform curves, thanks to the first significant rethink of escalator design since the ‘moving stairway’ was invented in 1897.
City University attracts over 22,000 students from around 150 countries and academic staff from around 50 countries. Founded in 1894, the college celebrates its first half century with university title in 2016.
