As global populations age and people live longer, providing inclusive and reliable vertical mobility has become a critical challenge. Otis is addressing this need through innovation, and its new Otis Gen3™ Comfort elevator recently earned a prestigious 2026 Red Dot Design Concept Award in the Mega Trends: Ageing and Geriatrics category.

High-quality senior living is a priority in China, where <a href="http://english.scio.gov.cn/chinavoices/2025-01/02/content_117641102.html"> more than 400 million people are projected to be over the age of 60 by 2035,</a> representing more than 30 percent of the population. Many of these seniors will live in older apartment blocks, where inaccessible or unreliable elevators can restrict their independence and quality of life.

Developed by the Otis design team in Shanghai, the Otis Gen3 Comfort elevator was engineered specifically to support the modernization of aging residential buildings and infrastructure. It combines advanced accessibility features with intelligent elevator technology. Outside of China, Otis offers these features through its <a href="https://www.otis.com/en/us/products-services/otis-viva-solutions">Otis Viva™ Solutions</a>.

At Otis, innovation starts with understanding how people live and move. To develop the Otis Gen3 Comfort, our lead design team worked with thousands of residents within older communities to better understand their daily habits and needs, said Sally Loh, President of Otis Greater China. This Red Dot Award validates our approach: that great design is human-centered and solves real-world challenges. The Otis Gen3 Comfort is the first elevator to specially cater to older adults in residential communities in China.

The new elevator’s design prioritizes safety and ease of use, featuring wide doors and a spacious cabin to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility aids. The system includes large, high-contrast displays and oversized buttons for easy navigation, an ergonomic handrail for continuous support, and precision floor-level landing to eliminate the gaps that can cause trips and falls.

Beyond accessibility, the Otis Gen3 Comfort is engineered to enhance the overall residential experience. By replacing conventional metal ropes with polyurethane-coated steel belts, the system significantly reduces vibration and noise, providing a smoother ride for passengers and a quieter environment for residents living near the elevator hoist way.

The Otis Gen3 Comfort also integrates ReGen™ drive technology to return energy that would otherwise be lost as heat to the building as usable electricity. This is complemented by LED lighting and an intelligent “sleep mode” for periods of inactivity.

To ensure long-term reliability in residential settings, each unit features built-in Otis ONE™ Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and remote intervention to help prevent service disruptions and impact to the community.

Established in 1955, the Red Dot Award is one of the world’s largest design competitions. It recognizes outstanding designs across three disciplines: product design, brands and communication design, and design concept. Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.otis.com/en/us/news?cn=otis-smart-cab-2.0-receives-two-prestigious-red-dot-design-awards">Otis Smart Cab 2.0 won Red Dot Product Design Awards </a> for both its integrated elevator system and innovative modular ceiling solution.

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation, service and modernization of elevators and escalators, we move 2.5 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.5 million customer units worldwide – the industry's largest Service portfolio.

You’ll find us in the world's most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 45,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories.