The three elevators in the College of Engineering (Building 9) will receive extensive upgrades in a modernization project that is scheduled to start in late June.

The elevator contractor, thyssenkrupp Elevator, is expected to formalize the contract with the university in early June.

The modernization project will involve installing state-of-the art controls and panels along with new motors, cables and other hardware. Two elevators will be in service at all times during the course of the modernization work.

"Once the project is finished, wait times for the elevators will decrease and the reliability of the elevators will increase dramatically," said Bruyn Bevans, a senior project manager in Facilities Planning, Design & Construction who is overseeing the modernization project.

Elevator No. 1 will be the first elevator to be overhauled and is tentatively set to be returned to service on March 1, 2020. Next, Elevator No. 2 will be shut down (the return to service date is on or before June 1, 2020). Elevator No. 3 will be the last car to be overhauled (tentative return to service is Aug. 15, 2020). All three elevators are expected to be in full operation for the beginning of the fall 2020 semester.