20.November
How ABB Technology Safeguards One of Switzerland’s Iconic Hotels
Perched above Zurich, the Dolder Grand Hotel is a city landmark, recognized for its neo-gothic towers and contemporary Norman Foster-designed extensions. Renowned for its world-class private art collection, Michelin-starred cuisine, and a celebrated spa, the hotel stands out as one of Switzerland’s premier destinations.
Beyond its luxurious Swarovski chandeliers and Warhol masterpieces, the Dolder Grand is equally dedicated to innovation and exceptional service. Behind the scenes, advanced robotics handle food deliveries, freeing up the front-of-house team to focus entirely on guest satisfaction.
This meticulous attention to detail extends to the hotel’s core systems, including safety and energy efficiency, underscored by an advanced power protection strategy. ABB’s uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems safeguard critical functions like emergency lighting and computer networks during power outages, ensuring seamless operations.
Pascal Louves, the hotel’s technical director, elaborates: “Each section of our five-part building is supported by two redundant UPS systems. These operate in parallel with a balanced 50% load, so if one system fails, its counterpart takes over, keeping essential areas like corridors and exits illuminated and vital computer systems functional.”
Over a carefully phased two-year upgrade program, ABB installed 20 PowerScale and PowerWave-33 UPS systems, with capacities ranging from 20 to 80 kVA. These systems replaced legacy solutions originally supplied by GE Industrial Solutions, which ABB acquired in 2018. “We’ve been extremely pleased with ABB’s service,” notes Louves. “When the GE systems reached the end of their lifecycle, switching to ABB’s latest technology was the obvious choice.”
The upgrades have also significantly improved energy efficiency. Fabio di Biase, from ABB Power Protection, highlights the benefits: “At a 50% load, the new systems are about 5% more efficient than their predecessors, with reduced cooling requirements. For instance, the two 80 kVA systems alone save approximately 13,500 kWh annually, leading to notable energy cost reductions.”
Since its inception in 1899, the Dolder Grand has epitomized elegance and hospitality. Today, Louves and his team remain devoted to sustainability and innovation, ensuring that the hotel continues to offer unforgettable experiences for guests, even 125 years into the future.