Simpl House is a 14-storey commercial office building located in the heart of Wellington's CBD. S&T worked alongside Otis as the main contractor and CBRE as Facilities Manager to deliver a comprehensive lift modernisation programme focused on improving performance, efficiency, and user experience through advanced vertical transport engineering.

One of the project's most visible challenges involved the installation of new lift motors. Due to the building's inner-city location and limited site access, the motors were helicoptered onto the roof, allowing the upgrade to proceed while minimising disruption to surrounding operations and neighbouring buildings.

A key aspect of the project was the upgrade of three existing passenger lifts from traditional collective control to a destination control system. This technology allows users to select their destination floor before entering the lift, enabling passengers travelling to similar floors to be grouped together more efficiently.

By optimising how lifts are allocated and managed, destination control systems can help reduce waiting times, improve traffic flow, and deliver a more efficient experience for occupants, particularly in busy commercial office environments.

For building owners and facilities managers, this type of upgrade provides a practical way to improve the performance of existing infrastructure while enhancing the day-to-day experience of tenants and visitors.

The modernisation programme at Simpl House included:

• Modernisation of three existing passenger lifts.

• Installation of new high-performance motors and control systems.

• Transition to destination control technology to improve operational efficiency.

• Refurbishment of lift car interiors to enhance user experience.

• Installation of new floor-level indicators with intuitive red and green directional lighting.

• Re-lighting of the lift shaft to improve visibility and maintenance access.

• Post-upgrade testing to ensure compliance with ride quality standards.

Lift modernisation projects can provide significant benefits beyond simply replacing ageing equipment. At Simpl House, the upgraded system delivers a smoother and quieter ride while improving operational performance and optimising energy use. Enhanced wayfinding through modern floor indicators and destination control interfaces also creates a more intuitive journey for building occupants.

The project demonstrates how existing building services infrastructure can be successfully upgraded to meet contemporary expectations without the need for wholesale replacement. Through careful planning, collaboration, and technical expertise, S&T delivered a solution that improved lift performance, enhanced user experience, and supported the long-term value of a prominent Wellington commercial building.