2014 may 2

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A K LEO T H E

FRIDAY, MAY 2 to SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 81

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Making changes from the ground up NOELLE F UJII News Editor Elevators across campus are beginning to be changed out thanks to the Elevator Modernization Project, which the Facilities Management Office is overseeing. “The (project) was instituted because the great majority of the elevators on our campus are the ones that were installed when the building was built and have gone past their life cycle expectancy,” said Tom Katsuyoshi, director of the office. He said some of the problems with the elevators include people being trapped between fl oors, elevators not leveling off at the level of the fl oor, loud banging noises while in operation, lack of responsiveness when the call buttons are pushed and cab vibrates while in motion. The project is intended to replace the entire elevator system, which includes cabs, pulleys, counterweights, controls, call systems, rails, hoistway systems and electrical systems. “When the five phases of the Elevator Modernization Project are completed, it is hoped that there will be no calls for the next 10 to 20 years for the need to extricate people in an elevator,” Katsuyoshi said.

G I V I N G T H E E L E VAT O R S A M A K E OV E R According to Katsuyoshi, the project was started three or four years ago. “We have identified approximately 42 buildings with elevators that are problematic,” he said. “We decided to replace the elevators in these buildings in fi ve different phases. The fi rst phase would address the eight or nine buildings with the most problematic elevators, and each subsequent phase would address eight or nine buildings with similarly problematic elevators.” He said the first phase should be completed before the end of the year. The second phase is about to start, and the third may start at the end of the year. The Sakamaki elevators, which are roughly 38

years old, could be completely changed out by the end of this year and early next year, according to a previous Ka Leo article. On March 21, ASUH senator Brenden Burk got stuck in one of the elevators for approximately an hour. Burk said he was the sixth person to get stuck in a Sakamaki elevator since the beginning of the semester. He thinks there is a need for an elevator modernization project. “I recognize, of course, that they are going through with this elevator renovation project and they can’t do all of the buildings at once, but you know, that’s part of the problem with having let the backlog work just grow,” he said. “Because now, instead of being able to tackle them individually and say well these ones are OK and let’s keep moving, now you have a whole bunch that are in need of exchange and basically people just have to wait. But I do applaud them for moving forward with it.”

W H E N S T U C K I N A N E L E VAT O R Phyllis Look, marketing and communications manager for Campus Services, said Campus Security said if one is trapped in an elevator, don't panic. “Use the phone in the elevator to call Campus Security; it will connect you directly to Security’s dispatch office. Inform the dispatcher of your situation, then wait for trained and equipped personnel to release you. Never attempt to leave the stalled elevator on your own,” Look said.

A C A M P U S F U L L O F E L E VAT O R S According to Katsuyoshi, there are about 94 elevators on campus. Katsuyoshi said the offi ce is contemplating two additional phases, but it will depend on future legislative appropriations. “We hope to aggressively pursue that funding so that we may complete the elevator modernization program within the next four to five years,” Katsuyoshi said.

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