Above the Jungfraujoch mountain pass in the Swiss Alps sits the Sphinx Observatory. Towering at 3,571 m (11,716 ft) above mean sea level, this astronomical observatory is one of the highest of its kind. Two Schindler elevators connect the Jungfraujoch, called the “top of Europe,” to the Sphinx summit. Traveling at 6.3 m/s, the lifts can transport up to 1,200 visitors per hour to the observation deck, open 365 days a year.

In 2022, Schindler Switzerland stepped in to modernize the elevators, which were installed in 1996 to replace the original, nearly 60-year-old units. The team overcame unique logistical challenges caused by the location, altitude and requirements of the project. All materials were transported by train, and the motor was delivered to the machine room disassembled, as that was the only way it could fit into the elevator used to bring materials to the Sphinx Terrace.

The elevators required hardware adaptations to ensure reliability, and the system was equipped with lightning protection, as requested by the customer. All individual wires from the control system, cabin and shaft were routed through lightning protection elements, making the assembly process more complicated than a standard installation. The result was a one-of-akind control system for the Sphinx Observatory, a truly one-of-a-kind place.

by Kathleen Farrell