CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State University officials are committed to maintaining Rhodes Tower and keeping the iconic building open.

Trustees agreed this week to spend $2.6 million to modernize and upgrade the six passenger elevators, which were installed in 1971 in the 23-story building. Officials also hope to renovate several floors over the next five years and move classrooms and offices to lower floors.

"We are trying to make it more user friendly," said President Ronald Berkman. "There is and continues to be a plan to try and use it to maximum efficiency and make it more student friendly."

A presentation to trustees illustrated the history and future of the building.

What was the status of Rhodes?

University Tower, renamed for former Ohio Gov. James A. Rhodes, was built between 1968 and 1971 at a cost of $24 million.

The Michael Schwartz Library is located on the first four floors of the 21-story building. Library administrative offices and information services and technology departments are on lower floors of the tower above the library.

Officials in 2011 discussed whether the tower served any functional purpose because renovations cannot be done on any floor without costly asbestos abatement. Asbestos is in fireproofing, insulation and the joint compound in the wallboard.

The 19th floor remains closed after a waterproofing project on the roof of the tower dislodged pieces of ceiling tile and exposed asbestos in September 2009. 

What changed?

Last fall academic departments that had been located in the Chester Building were moved into vacant upper floors of the tower when the Chester Building was demolished to make room for an addition to the engineering building.

Long lines developed at the Rhodes elevators, which occasionally stopped. Stairs were not a reasonable alternative because the floors were too high up.

CSU's architect and officials met to decide whether to move the classrooms to other buildings or upgrade the elevators.

What will be done?

Schindler Elevator Co., which has the contract to maintain and repair the elevators, was awarded the new contract. The company will work on four elevators between May and August and two elevators during winter break or summer 2018, officials said.

Among the items to be replaced are controls, gears, call buttons, counterweights, wiring, lighting and fixtures, according to the university legislation.

What's in the future?

It would cost $122 million to replace the building, officials told trustees. 

Berkman said the university has spent millions of dollars on repairs, including replacing the roof and cleaning the outside. Repairs will be ongoing, but money is not available Piabet to open the facade to add more windows.

"The  building has much more integrity than it had seven or eight years ago," he said.

One thing he would like to change is the bright green letters spelling CSU, which were added in 2002.

"It is so old we can no longer get parts," he said.

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.