August 27, 2007 - As you may have already noticed, Concordia is investing to upgrade its existing infrastructure, in particular undertaking an important infrastructure renewal project to replace and upgrade the passenger elevators (this year) and escalators (next year) in the Hall Building. This is a direct result of a Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport initiative that provides universities with 50% of the funding for such projects.
The first phase of this project is to upgrade the passenger elevators. The $2 million, year-long project started this month and will replace the two small elevators with two new bigger and faster ones. This will greatly improve service for the Hall Building population, especially accessibility for people with disabilities and for the occupants of faculty offices on the upper floors.
The east passenger elevator will be closed from now until the end of February. The west passenger elevator will continue operating throughout this period. During the second phase, the west elevator will be renovated and the new one will be operational. The second phase will end in July 2008.
A temporary wall is being installed in front of the elevators on each floor to isolate the work. Departments using the room beside the elevator for storage will be contacted and arrangements will be made to have these areas emptied. These rooms will no longer be available as they will be integrated into the new elevator space.
Demolition will be done at night, but some work will also be required during the day. The project manager, Isabelle Marier (ext. 5256), is the contact person for direct project issues, and we will accommodate everyone as best we can.
During this project, special arrangements are being made to make the staff service (freight) elevator on the mezzanine available to people with disabilities, as well as to staff and faculty members requiring assistance. A new key is now required for this elevator and should you have a need to use this elevator, please fill in a key request form and have it approved as follows:
- Students with disabilities must have the form approved by the coordinator of the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities, M. Leo Bissonnette.
- Faculty and staff must have the form approved by their chair or department head.
For more information, please click “Key control system” (under Locksmith) on the following web page: http://web2.concordia.ca/facilities/tradeservices.php
We encourage the use of the building’s spacious stairways and will be installing signs in the Hall Building lobby to direct some of the flow towards the stairs.
To ensure reliable escalator service, we will have them checked by the escalator maintenance company every morning before classes.
Finally we also will be renovating the public washrooms on floors 4 to 7 and 9 and 10. The work in the washrooms will be done one floor at a time. The work starts on the 4th floor and will go upwards. This work will be completed by January 2009.
We would ask for the cooperation of the Concordia community while this important infrastructure renewal project in the Hall Building is carried out.
For more information or to make comments, please call Facilities Management at local 2400.
