Dear University Family Housing residents of 30 Charles Street West,  

Please be advised that the elevator modernization at 35 Charles is now complete and the 30 Charles elevator modernization project is slated to begin next week. In this communication we provide information on the following areas of the Charles Street elevator modernization project: 

• Project Schedule 
• Elevator Features to be Implemented   
• Wait Times and Scheduling   
• Elevator Ambassadors 
• Webpage for Regular Project Updates 

Project Schedule 

Work at 30 Charles will begin on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, To conduct this work, one elevator will be taken out of service at a time, and it is expected that it will take 10-12 weeks to modernize each elevator. As a result, the building will only have 3 operating elevators during this modernization period. Once an elevator is modernized and 100% complete, they will start work on another elevator.  

Elevator Features to be Implemented  

We understand that having one of our elevators out of service for a prolonged period is not welcoming news, but these repairs and upgrades are necessary as major components of the existing elevators are nearing the end of their lifecycle. We want to proactively improve the reliability and performance of this crucial equipment, and introduce modern features including: 

• New cabin interiors, including new lighting, fans, and flooring 
• New digital display screens in each elevator to communicate building events and maintenance alerts 
• New LED button stations in each elevator and hall call buttons 
• New controllers, motors, hoist ropes, door rollers, door operators, and travel cables 

Wait Times and Scheduling  

With one elevator unavailable for the foreseeable future, residents are advised to expect longer wait times. There may also be times when the service elevator is booked temporarily, leaving only two elevators available.  The busiest periods for our elevators are 7:00am – 9:00am and 4:00pm – 6:00 pm and we will not be allowing anyone to book the service elevator during these times to allow for three elevators to be available to assist with traffic levels. Whenever possible, we advise residents to allocate additional time when leaving or returning to the building, avoid busy travel times, and if able to, use the stairs. 

Elevator Ambassadors 

To assist with busy periods during the elevator modernization, UFH has hired several UFH residents as Elevator Ambassadors that you may see in the lobbies during this project. Working 12-15 hours per week, Ambassadors are responsible for greeting residents in the lobby, answering questions regarding the elevator modernization, managing crowds, and assisting with navigating the stairwells.  

Webpage for Regular Project Updates 

To provide residents with regular updates on construction schedules and any other details that will impact residents, we have created a dedicated page on our website for this project. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding as this necessary work is completed. Should you have any questions, please reach out to operationscharles.ufh@utoronto.ca. 

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