TWIN CITIES ELEVATORS PREPARE FOR WORKERS' RETURN

As workers return to downtown office buildings in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, observers say the way elevators are used is set to change, the Star Tribune reported on July 3. Social distancing stickers, tape marking standing areas and antimicrobial button covers were among the measures being taken. A touchless elevator is already installed in the yet-to-open, US$214-million Dayton’s redevelopment project inside the former Macy’s department store in Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, according to a spokesperson for Chicago-based Telos Group, which is redeveloping the 12-story property. Other technology going into city elevators includes voice and cell-phone controls. Some units have antimicrobial elevator button covers or hourly disinfection. Other measures include ultraviolet lamps, antimicrobial dust filters, foot controls and software limiting elevator capacity. “What COVID-19 is doing is accelerating trends in every aspect,” said Jim Montez, vice president of Transwestern, the firm that manages Dayton’s leasing.