With new elevator and escalators, Woodfield renovations nearing completion

Getting around Schaumburg's multilevel Woodfield Mall has never been easier, despite the final stages of a yearlong renovation going on.

The $13.9 million project took a major step toward completion Thursday with the activation of a second elevator in the center court, as well as of two new mini-escalators to better tie together the 2.2-million-square-foot shopping center's multiple levels.

This represents the last significant milestone in the Woodfield renovation before Santa's arrival on Nov. 5 - when the project will be all but completed.

Only work on a third elevator in the center court will extend beyond the holiday shopping season, and it is likely to be done by early March.

Woodfield Mall was opened by Taubman Co. in 1971 but purchased by Simon Property Group in early 2013.

Woodfield General Manager David Gott said the intent of this year's "style evolution" is to bring most elements of the mall closer to what would have been designed in the 21st century, and eliminate aspects that were clearly dated.