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Elevator upgrades mark the end of an era at Smith Tower

Smith Tower, Seattle's oldest skyscraper, is getting some renovations this spring. 

The tower’s old-fashioned manual elevators will be upgraded, and that means elevator operators will no longer take you to your floor. Instead, you'll just push a button.

One operator will still remain to take visitors to the tower's observatory.

Marissa Brooks, general manager of Smith Tower, said operators are part of the building's identity. And that's something property managers are keeping in mind as they upgrade.

“[That’s] why we intend to do everything we can to keep that elevator operator,” she said.

The tower's 103-year-old elevators are being modernized with energy-efficient equipment, modern controls and new earthquake sensors. Work on the elevators is scheduled to be completed in May.

 

Year started with KUOW: 2015