Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrates Opening of Library Elevator

A new elevator on the shared main campus of Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College has enhanced accessibility to inner campus and to the Ruth Ann Musick Library.

The Ruth Ann Musick Library Elevator Tower is a two-stop, enclosed elevator tower featuring two lobbies. As most of the campus is located on a hillside, its buildings are located on different levels. A 50-foot concrete pedestrian bridge now connects the upper level Education Building parking lot to the elevator tower. Pedestrians can use the elevator to move from the parking lot level to the main level of inner campus without using stairs or using elevators inside one of the other main campus buildings. A covered walkway was constructed to connect the tower to the entrance of an existing tunnel area located behind the library.

 The Physical Plant of Fairmont State and Pierpont helped manage the project. The architect for the project was Thrasher Engineering; the engineer was Tower Engineering; and the general contractor was Veritas Contracting.

The opening of the elevator was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, Oct. 8. Cutting the ribbon were Dr. Maria Rose, FSU President; Dale Bradley, Pierpont Vice President for Administration and Finance; Craig Baker, Architecture Department Manager and Partner at Thrasher Engineering; Jessica Nardo, Student Government President; and Thelma Hutchins, Director of Library Services.

At the ribbon cutting, Rose commended the Physical Plant, Thrasher Engineering, Tower Engineering and Veritas Contracting for their hard work on the project that adds to the quality of life on campus.

“Fairmont State University is proud to partner with Pierpont Community & Technical College in continuing improvements to our inner campus that enhance accessibility for our students, faculty staff and visitors,” Rose said. “By making our campus more accessible to those with disabilities, we are breaking down barriers to teaching and learning and living the mission of Fairmont State University.”

 “We were faced with the daunting task of having to aesthetically match a building that has been on campus since 1952. But with a great design and construction team comprised mostly of FSU alumni, we were able to pull it off seamlessly,” said Baker, who is a 2001 graduate of Fairmont State.

“This is a great day for us. It’s amazing to me how the elevator tower looks like it’s always been here. It’s brand new, but it looks like it’s always been a part of the campus,” Bradley said.

About the attached photo:

Pictured from left to right are Craig Baker, Architecture Department Manager and Partner at Thrasher Engineering; Jessica Nardo, Student Government President; Dr. Maria Rose, FSU President; Dale Bradley, Pierpont Vice President for Administration and Finance; and Thelma Hutchins, Director of Library Services.

Ruth Ann Musick LibraryMaria RoseThrasher EngineeringPhysical PlantDale BradleyCraig BakerVeritas ContractingTower Engineering