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Contact UsThe goal of Facilities Management is to create an exceptional environment which is conducive to and enhances the delivery of high-quality teaching, research, and community service that are emblematic of a top-ranked university.
Winter is Coming, and UT Dallas is Prepared
Facilities & Economic Development - The University of Texas at Dallas
From left: Facilities Management’s Chris Decker, Noe Larin and Michael Ridgeway replace third floor ceiling tiles outside the Human Resources offices in the Administration Building.
With dependable regularity, Facilities Management (FM [Facilities Management] ) teams spread across campus near the end of every fall semester to prepare the University for winter. This year is no different.
From landscaping to plumbing, HVAC [Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning] to power to general maintenance, a great deal of upkeep gets accomplished in a very short time due to some careful synchronization. In consultation with UT Dallas research labs, faculty and staff, FM [Facilities Management] often plans maintenance and improvement projects around those times when the University is least busy, such as the upcoming Winter Break. The entire UTD community then enjoys the benefits of Facilities Management’s hard work when everyone returns to campus.
A dirt and gravel mix will be used to provide traction on icy streets and sidewalks.
Many projects have been planned for this winter, and some work has already begun:
Teams will be painting and replacing the carpets in classrooms. Floors will be stripped and waxed. Elevators will receive the maintenance they need to keep running smoothly. The HVAC [Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning] systems in many buildings will tuned to work more efficiently.
FM [Facilities Management] landscaper Catarino Tello prepares to plant pansies along the walkways in front of the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center (DGA).
Power will be shut down in order to perform critical work on the campus electrical distribution system. During two planned power outages, the central Energy Plant (EP) and Supplemental Utility Plant (SUP) will each receive necessary routine maintenance. The first outage, for the main campus, is set for Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21. A second outage is scheduled for the Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM) on Sunday, December 22.
A dirt and gravel mix has been stored on campus and is ready to be deployed with the next freezing rain.
Facilities Management will soon be deciding whether to drain the mall’s reflecting pools or keep their small fountains running this winter. In milder winters, running fountains keep the water moving, making it more difficult to freeze. In harsher winters, the pools are kept drained until temperatures rise again.
One early morning between midnight and 7:00 a.m., FM [Facilities Management] crews hung holiday decorations in the Student Union game room.
Near various buildings on campus, including the the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center (DGA) and the Administration Building (AD), fall flowers have already been exchanged for pansies, and rye grass seeds were spread across the lawns. Maintenance workers also replaced damaged ceiling tiles on several floors of the Administration Building.
Just in time for the arrival of all our fall commencement guests, FM [Facilities Management] staff filled the Student Union game room (SU 1.204) with holiday decorations, hanging large golden orbs from the ceiling and trimming the second floor’s ledges with garland.