Helicopter to lift new elevator equipment atop Van Vleck Hall today

A helicopter will lift elevator equipment into place atop Van Vleck Hall today (Wednesday, Jan. 7) at about 9 a.m., university officials say.

In what’s expected to be an hourlong process, the helicopter will lift traction machines, motors and controllers to the roof of the building’s eight-story tower. Existing elevator equipment will also be removed from the rooftop during the operation.

A helicopter is being used because officials determined that access with a crane was not feasible.