When Jesuit High School in Carmichael, Calif., began a campus modernization project, one of the school’s goals was to improve accessibility for students, staff and visitors. To achieve this goal, the private high school added a modular elevator connecting the main floor to the second floor.

Modular elevators are an ideal solution for educational facilities, offering significant advantages over conventional elevators. Constructed of nonproprietary, high-quality components and manufactured in a plant-controlled environment, a modular elevator can be used in new and retrofit projects from two to seven stories. Its application continues to grow in popularity, especially for education buildings.

The modular elevator system offers many advantages, and one of the most crucial is short build times. A modular elevator can be designed, manufactured and installed in a little as 14 weeks, with onsite installation only taking three or four days. The factory-controlled environment provides an enhanced quality product and the standardized design results in increased productivity and a reduction in wasted materials. All of these factors add up to significant financial savings, compared to the cost of a conventional elevator.

Jesuit High Schoolspecified a full-size commercial hydraulic modular elevator because it was a more cost-effective solution than a conventional elevator, which requires more complicated infrastructure and installation. The hole-less design utilizes above-ground cylinders and requires less onsite construction, greatly minimizing project costs. A hole-less hydraulic elevator is ideal for sustainable or cost-sensitive projects, with two floors to eliminate the unknowns related to drilling for in-ground jacks.

The modular elevator is made from quality components featuring state-of-the-art digital controls, a fully equipped steel car and a pre-assembled elevator tower constructed from welded tubular steel. Modular elevators are built in a freestanding, rated or non-rated structural steel elevator tower.  

Before installation, the concrete elevator pit was prepared with anchor bolt imbeds to ensure precise placement. The elevator and equipment room arrived at Jesuit High School on a flatbed truck and the elevator was hoisted into place by a crane. Once the elevator was set in place, it was attached to the anchor bolts and verified to be plumb. Next, the fully-assembled modular equipment room was set into place. The installation process was completed in just a few hours. After the modular elevator was set, electrical, fire and phone services were provided and final adjustments were completed. Upon inspection and approval by the authorities, the elevator was ready for use.

The installation at Jesuit High School went very smoothly. The end result provided an affordable solution that provided improved accessibility for the visitors, students, facility and staff at Jesuit High School.

Like conventional elevators, modulars can be customized and designed to fit in with the existing structure. Aesthetically, the modular elevator blended in with the existing design at Jesuit High School with a customized full brick veneer exterior.

With the addition of the modular elevator at Jesuit High School, students, teachers, staff and visitors have improved accessibility and reliability. One alumnus who visited the school thought it was always there and was very surprised to find out it was a new addition because it seamlessly blended in with the school’s architecture.

“We specified a modular elevator rather than a conventional elevator because it was an economical choice in terms of cost and time constraints,” explains Brian Whitmore, AIA, associate principal, Williams + Paddon Architects. “The school was pleased with the final result, which assimilated well with the campus buildings.”

The modular elevator installed at Jesuit High School meets the requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act and ASME A17.1, the latest edition of elevator specifications set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The elevator system also met California Division of State Architect approval.

The modular elevator systems requires little maintenance and the school can call on any qualified elevator company to maintain the elevator as needed due to the use of industry standard components.

When choosing a modular elevator system, choose a manufacturer with superior customer service that has proven experience and is upfront with all costs to meet the needs for your project. Whether it is a new or retrofit project, modular elevators are ideal solutions that improve accessibility for all.