Much research has been published examining ways to increase stair use and decrease elevator/escalator use. Many of these studies used a point-of-choice prompt encouraging stair use. Conducted in community settings, such as shopping malls, train stations, and airports, few studies have been carried out in a university academic building. Findings are also mixed as to how women are affected. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine if motivational signs, placed at strategic locations throughout an academic building, would decrease elevator usage among women. The study also sought to examine whether signs placed at locations other than those at the point-of-choice would be more recognizable. Trained observers counted the number of women entering and exiting the elevator on the first floor, and categorize them by direction of travel, race/ ethnicity, and weight. Any woman carrying a heavy load, accompanied by children, or physically handicapped were not counted. There was a two week baseline period, followed by a two week intervention period using signs placed throughout the building. The signs were then removed for a one-week follow-up. Data were collected four days each week at two-hour intervals. During follow-up, 61 women were given an eight-item survey regarding elevator use, and their recall of intervention components. A total of 951 women meeting inclusion criteria were observed using the elevator over the five-week period of observations. Overall, elevator travel decreased by 12.1% between baseline and treatment. Although elevator travel increased during follow-up, it was still lower than during baseline. Women leaving the elevator decreased by 14.8%, while women entering the elevator decreased by 6.5% during treatment. Elevator use in overweight women decreased by 17% from baseline to treatment compared to 4.8% in those not overweight. In black women, elevator use decreased 15.7% from baseline to treatment compared to 7.0% for white women. However, in black women, elevator use was 3% higher than baseline during the follow-up. Of the 61 women surveyed, 38 reported they were in the building two days a week and remembered the signs. The most commonly remembered sign location was above the elevator buttons. The two most common reasons given for choosing the elevator were being lazy and too tired. Twenty-two of the 38 admitted the signs did encourage them to use the stairs. Results suggest that elevator use for women in an academic building can be decreased using motivational signs. Further research is needed to corroborate these findings. Keyword(s): adult physical activity/fitness, exercise/fitness/physical activity