Elevator to be Donated and Installed in School’s New Building
[Roanoke, VA] — Community School announced today that the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) has gifted an elevator to the school’s new building project. The new building, which broke ground last fall, will house the middle school and enrichment classrooms as well as administrative offices. The IUEC donation plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the new facilities are fully accessible.
The elevator, designed for wheelchair use, will facilitate easy movement between floors for students, staff, and visitors with mobility differences. The lift meets ADA compliance standards, underscoring both the IUEC’s and Community School’s dedication to accessibility and inclusivity. In addition to the elevator itself, the IUEC is donating the time and labor for the installation. Inspector Jennifer Noell, owner of Roanoke Valley Elevator Inspection, LLC, will provide the inspection for the elevator at no additional cost to Community School.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the International Union of Elevator Constructors, Roanoke Valley Elevator Inspection, LLC, the IUEC Local 51 and current CS parent Henry Ferguson for facilitating this gift,” said Cassie Hunt, Chair of Community School’s Board of Trustees. “Their support is a wonderful example of how our community is coming together to achieve our goals.”
Fundraising is ongoing for the 15,000-square-foot building that will provide Community School’s middle school with an enlarged, collaborative learning environment and create areas to host events and programs throughout the year. The building will also include increased classroom space for enrichment classes such as drama, art and foreign languages and replace existing structures that currently house administrative offices.
Allen Thompson, IUEC/EIWPF National Coordinator, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We love to volunteer whenever possible and helping to ensure an educational facility is accessible is a project we can get behind. We are proud to partner with the school in their efforts to make their unique educational programs accessible to all.”
With the support of community partners like the IUEC, Community School is poised to welcome students to these new facilities in the upcoming academic year.
