Students living in Carman and Andrews halls will have more reliable elevators after they are revamped this summer.

Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining, said workers from Kone, Inc. will replace generator sets and controls with power-logic controls and refurbish the interior cars of two elevators in Andrews Hall and two elevators in the north tower of Carman Hall to make the elevators more dependable.

The repairs, which are estimated to cost over $250,000, are part of an effort to repair and bring all residence hall elevators up to date. The project will end with Stevenson Hall’s elevators in summer 2003.

The elevators are the buildings’ original elevators, Lou Henken, interim president, said at a Board of Trustees meeting April 1.

“Our goal is to have a more modern facility,” Hudson said.

The old elevator systems run mechanically, but the new controllers will be more computerized. Each elevator will be able to discern where the other one is, so one will always be available quickly for students.

A key system will also be installed into the elevators so students will have to key a floor before they can access it, Hudson said.

New light fixtures, carpeting and wall paneling will enhance the insides of the elevators. Control pads inside the elevators will also be replaced and moved down to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Carol Strode, interim director of facilities planning and management, said.

Though Hudson said the elevators are less reliable than he would like, they are still safe and just need to be kept up because of their old age.

The elevator doors, cables and controls are monitored weekly to make sure everything is in working order and all safety equipment still works reliably.