Sky lobby

A sky lobby is an intermediate transfer floor in a skyscraper where people can change from an express elevator that only serves the sky lobby to a local elevator, which serves each floor within a segment of the building. Sky lobbies are employed to reduce the amount of space required for elevator shafts by dividing a tall building into elevator zones. This allows for more usable floor space and can significantly improve elevator efficiency.

Sky lobbies typically contain amenities similar to a standard building lobby, such as reception desks, seating areas, and sometimes retail spaces. They may also feature enhanced architectural design or offer panoramic views.

The concept arose with the increased construction of supertall buildings. Without sky lobbies, very tall buildings would require a large number of elevators running from the ground floor to the highest floors, consuming a significant portion of the building's footprint. Sky lobbies allow for optimized elevator systems with fewer stops, resulting in faster travel times and reduced elevator traffic congestion. The alternative to a sky lobby is significantly increasing the number of elevator shafts, decreasing the rentable area in the skyscraper.