Thank you, lightbrite! 🙂
The non-Jew was the receptionist at the condominium complex we were staying at. I’m unaware how Avi Weiss asked him, or hinted to him to open it, so I can’t say. I simply turned around and saw him press the button for him. Regardless of pressing the buttons, there are two other major problems with going in the elevator: the first is that the extra weight in the elevator makes the machinery work harder, and the second is the automatic sensor on the elevator door. Besides that, there’s probably a problem of muktzah. I saw a noted sfardi posek (I don’t remember who, but he’s a household name) however, that said going on an escalator on shabbos is permitted.