Sven Alskog

News Editor

Students, faculty and staff walking by the Business Building on campus can see a large hole and heavy construction taking place, all being done in an effort to help Idaho State University comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) through the construction of a new elevator.

This addition to the building will cost $708,000 and has an expected completion date of March of next year.

Ground was broken for the project on Sept. 11, 2014.

The current elevator in the 101,751 square foot building has been in place since 1967 when it was built.

Doug Simpson is the project manager for the new elevator which was rendered by JHS Architects and is being contracted out to CR Clark Construction.

Director of Engineering, Planning and Environment Cheryl Hanson has also been heavily involved in making the new elevator a reality for the Business Building.

There are certain difficulties that can come up when trying to push through a project of this nature.

“The main challenge is the project procurement process,” said Hanson. “Because it is state money you have to go back to the state and get it all approved. Contracts are very complex and with projects such as this you have to make sure everyone is Public Works certified.”

Each year the state of Idaho assists ISU with anywhere between $3 million and $5 million in funding for facility improvements or maintenance.

A prioritization process then takes place with an associated grading system attached. ADA and safety concerns are given top priority.

Once approved, the project entered a three-week bidding process.

After the architects and construction company are selected, the task is to then communicate effectively to ensure the needs of all parties are met.

“We give them the scope of why we need a new elevator, how many floors it will need to go to, how big it needs to be, etcetera,” said Hanson. “We went over lots of places to put it in an attempt to find the best fit.”

The location selected is on the side of the Business Building facing towards 8th Ave. and the Physical Science Building.

This new elevator will also feature what is expected to be a more aesthetically pleasing view from the exterior of the building, while also allowing ISU to be fully compliant with ADA requirements.

The current elevator does not meet ADA requirements.

One of the other difficulties associated with the original elevator has been that parts are no longer being made for it.

As a result, this project was given heavy precedence for facilities at ISU.

“For the fiscal year list of projects, this made the top of the list because of the fact that the existing elevator is so old and fails frequently,” said Hanson.

In regards to size, the new elevator will be 6’9” wide and 5’7” deep, allowing for 3,500 pounds of weight at any given time.

For Simpson, projects like this are why he got involved in the field.

“That’s why I started architecture,” he stated. “To see things from their [infancy] as an idea to this finished product.”

Once complete, the project will benefit a wide-range of ISU students, staff and faculty who utilize the building throughout each day.

“It will be serving a large section of people and we are able to make the environment better for a large group of people,” said Simpson.