Movin' on up

Running late to class? Beginning next fall, Harnwell College House residents will no longer be able to blame the elevators.

Renovations to the Harnwell elevators begin May 22 and will include installation of new elevator controls "with the latest microprocessor technology," new motors and new doors, Department of Design and Construction senior project manager David Dunn wrote in an e-mail.

The first elevator should be completed in mid-August, Dunn wrote.

After the renovations, students waiting for elevators will also be able to monitor elevators' present locations from every floor, something they can only do now from the lobby.

The renovations are part of ongoing restoration of the high-rise college houses. Work was done on the elevators in Rodin in 2002, and Harrison will be renovated in 2009-2010, after the Harnwell projects are completed.

Other renovations taking place this summer include the modernization of passenger elevators in Mayer Hall and Hill College House and of the dumbwaiter in DuBois College House.

Facilities and Real Estate Services vice president Anne Papageorge said the projects will be paid for with unused funds from previous high rise construction projects. She emphasized how unusual it is for a project like that to have money left over.

Many students say the renovations - particularly those taking place in Harnwell - are "long overdue," in the words of College sophomore and Harnwell resident Emily Toops.

"The elevators have been breaking down a lot," said Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger.

Harnwell Senate member and College junior Kristin Brinkley said that improving the high-rise elevators is a top priority for the building's residents.

These renovations follow 1996 alumnus Peter Kuperman's crusade to convince the University to update the high-rise elevators last year.

He pledged $50,000 for the cause if 5,000 students joined his Facebook group, "Yes, I want to fix the high rise elevators."

Although it quickly became the third largest UPenn group on Facebook, according to Kuperman, membership peaked at around 2,400 students.

But Kuperman said he still thinks repairs to the elevators should be a priority. He explained that if students spend less time commuting to and from class and extracurricular activities, "people are going to take on more leadership positions."

Brinkley is happy about the renovations for different reasons.

"I'll probably be a lot less late to important situations," she said.

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