Robotic Condos: Wave of the Future?

MIAMI—For all the wild amenities in Miami condos these days, this one deserves a place on the list. Currently under construction, the 60-story Porsche Design Tower Miami in Sunny Isles Beach, FL will feature a first-of-its-kind elevator lift system when it opens next year.

It's called the Dezervator. It's the brainchild of the Tower's developer, Gil Dezer.

What makes the Dezervator so unique? For starters, it will transport residents, while still inside their vehicles, directly to their residence in a glass-enclosed elevator.

But that's just the beginning of this innovative elevator's show. The Dezervator will then slide the owner and vehicle into the owner's “sky garage” right next to their unit. The idea is blend convenience with privacy in a tech-driven world.

“The melding of these technologies is nothing short of compelling,” says Dezer, president of Dezer Development. “Porsche Design Tower's robotic parking technology will serve as a catalyst for future luxury real estate developments around the world, especially in urban cities where parking is a premium.”

Here's how it works: When residents drive into the building, their vehicle will be scanned and identified. They then will enter a turntable, which is one of three circular platforms located at the center of the building. After they shut off their engine, the turntable will align the vehicle with a car lift.  As the car lift opens, a robotic arm pulls the vehicle into one of three glass lifts, and takes the vehicle and its owner—at passenger elevator speed—to one of 284 parking spaces next to their respective residence.

Dezer gathered some of the world's top elevator experts, including Chicago-based Mid-American Elevator, to pull off this feat. The team also worked closely with universally-acclaimed UL LLC, a global independent safety science company, that certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, and advises and trains. Dezer built a full working nine-story model at a test facility in Chicago.

Alyce Robertson, executive director of the Miami DDA, tells GlobeSt.com gone are the days where a rooftop pool or fitness center will cut it. “Buyers are wanting far more in terms of luxury amenities and developers are getting creative to meet these demands—and top them,” she says. “As a result, Miami's urban core is joining the ranks of the world's elite cities with features that are collectively redefining its skyline.” To read about some other wild condo amenities, click here.