Learn Spanish (Latin America): El edificio tiene elevador.

In Spanish, when you talk about having a standard feature or a general category of item, you often drop the words un or una (a/an). Saying tiene elevador focuses on the fact that the building comes equipped with this feature, rather than counting exactly one elevator. You'll also see this with everyday things, like saying tengo carro (I have a car).

I've also heard the word ascensor. What's the difference between ascensor and elevador?

Both mean "elevator." Elevador is very common in Mexico and several parts of Latin America, while ascensor is widely used in Spain and South America. They are completely interchangeable, but since you are focusing on Latin American Spanish, elevador is a great word to know here.

Is edificio related to the English word "edifice"?

Exactly! They share the same Latin root. However, while "edifice" sounds very formal or poetic in English, edificio is just the standard, everyday Spanish word for any kind of "building."

Could I use hay instead of tiene to talk about the elevator?