UCCS recently finished maintenance on the elevators in Cragmor and Columbine Halls, marking the start of a project set to take multiple years to complete.
Executive director of Facilities Services Jeff Reed said the recent maintenance is just stage one of a four stage plan. Reed noted the plan was made to bring the elevators on campus “into the 21st century.”
The elevator maintenances will replace outdated controllers, motherboards, relays and other parts to make the elevator ride smoother. The elevators will also receive more sustainable LED lighting in the interiors and video phones to meet new ADA regulation. These video phones will allow users to call for help in emergency situations if they cannot pick up a phone or push a button.
According to Reed, stage two for the elevator maintenances will take place over the 2024 summer semester and will include the elevators in Centennial Hall, the Kraemer Family Library and the El Pomar Center. Stage three includes the elevators in the University Center.
If funding is received for stage four, the final elevators scheduled for maintenance will be in the Main Hall, Dwire Hall and the Campus Services Building.
Over about the past seven years, UCCS has received state funding from Colorado for various projects on campus through the controlled maintenance project. Reed said part of the funds for this project are being used to update or replace systems in buildings that are older than 15 years old, including the elevators.
Reed also said the ADA door operator buttons on the second story of Dwire Hall have been fixed for similar reasons to the elevator updates. He explained the maintenance was done to update the door operator buttons with newer technology.
Reed said there are still some doors that need fixing, so students should expect more ADA door operator button maintenances in the future.
Students who discover something that needs fixing to submit a work order online or call the Facility Services front desk at 719-255-3313, which is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m Monday-Friday.
“We got a very dedicated team where we’re proud of what we do … and how we serve the students and the campus community,” Reed said, “but we could miss things.”
Students needing ADA accommodations can reach out to Disability Services at 719-255-3354 or [email protected]. The Disability Services office is located in Main Hall 105 and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The elevator in Cragmor Hall recently underwent maintenance. Photo by Meghan Germain.