Stairs vs. Elevator: Which is more efficient to get to MCAD classes? | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Stairs vs. Elevator: Which is more efficient to get to MCAD classes?

By Kevin Vigneur on February 02, 2022
MCAD stairs from a distance

When it comes to running late and procrastinating, MCAD students are the best at doing exactly not that. So when a student is running late for a class, which of course never happens, there is a choice to make for students lucky enough to have a morning class on the fourth floor. Elevator or stairs? When it comes to the stairs, four flights, five minutes. It's possible, but by the time you reach the top, it can feel like you just ran a marathon. You get to class on time though, albeit sweating and out of breath probably, only to collapse in your seat a few minutes later. On the other hand, you have the elevator. Waiting and surrounded by other students totally not running late to class, the elevator opens after a very slow descent from the fourth floor. Stepping in, expecting to be headed straight for the fourth flour… only to stop on every single level. After a few minutes of an infuriating pair of slow elevator doors, you reach the fourth level. Calm and collected, you enter your classroom only to be marked tardy, a few minutes late for class.

So. What would you choose?

After doing some research myself on which would be better, I sort of came to a conclusion. The stairs were definitely faster. The elevator was slower than running up the stairs, even not stopping on any levels. However, by the time I reached the top, I was super out of breath, but hey, at least it's some good exercise. I mean, it doesn’t help that I did multiple shots of my running up the stairs or anything, but still. (PS. Thanks, Shane Kolstad for helping with filming for the vid!)