All repair work due to the fire on the ground floor of the Hall of Languages was completed Jan. 10, said Kevin Morrow, director of Syracuse University News Services.The building has been returned to the way it was before the fire, and is ready for the spring semester, he said.A fire was discovered in a mechanical room that housed the building’s elevator on the morning of Dec. 17, according to an SU news alert released that afternoon. SU Public Safety and the Syracuse Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. The fire was contained within the 8 feet by 10 feet room that holds the motor for the building’s elevator, Morrow said. But there was significant damage to the ground floor and floors above from smoke and hydraulic oil that leaked from the motor. The motor malfunctioned and leaked hydraulic oil, which spread in a puddle across portions of the ground floor, including some classrooms, and fueled the fire, Morrow said. The smoke also carried an oily mist that damaged walls and ceilings on the ground floor and higher floors of the building.The Hall of Languages was reopened Dec. 29, after a repair company had mopped down the floors, walls and ceilings, Morrow said. Portions of the ground floor remained closed until the carpet was replaced last Wednesday.The elevator returned to service Monday, Jan. 8, Morrow said. There was no structural or permanent damage to the building. Morrow did not release the total cost of the repairs, which were completed by private contractors and SU Physical Plant. The College of Arts and Sciences faculty and staff were relocated to other offices on campus until Dec. 29, he said.The Hall of Languages opened in 1873 and is the campus’ oldest building, according to SU’s Web site. The interior of the building was renovated in 1978, with its classrooms holding up to 2,235 students.