One of the original ideas was that the Emperor arrived in his mobile Palace (ripped straight off of Dune) and that docked onto a landing pylon tower thing.

So the elevator could be a link to the Pylon and it could uncouple once Luke in the throne room and the whole complex could float around like a blimp.

I don't like the idea myself.

I was just saying that the mockup didn't quite look right but if anyone could illustrate the concept well it would be you Angel.

If you want to give it a go I'm sure we'd all like to look at what you come up with.

It would mean that instead of a shuttle landing the bottom of the pylon would have to end in a large parade space/hanger (to stand in for what is currently the Docking bay).

Instead of coming off a shuttle he would be descending down a huge elevator.

It could work.

It would explain how Luke gets so quickly to a shuttle to escape.

The Emperor arriving in a giant space traveling building rather than a conventional ship and shuttle would give him a degree of extra clout.