Otis announced it is building the world's tallest above-ground elevator test tower in Shanghai on Tuesday, an effort by the world's largest elevator manufacturer to tap into China's well-known appetite for skyscrapers.

A new elevator test tower as part of a new global research and development facility will be built by Otis China, and the new facilities are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2018, according to Otis president Philippe Delpech.

The elevator test tower at a projected height of about 270 meters in height, is anticipated to be the tallest above-ground test tower in the world upon completion. The innovative tower design uses a flexible configuration that can easily adapt to test new components and systems as they evolve.