Facilities Management in the News

2008

LIVE WIND MEASUREMENTS NOW ONLINE ...The University of Iowa is currently taking wind speed and direction measurements at two sites to determine the feasibility of erecting wind turbines. Increasing the use of renewable energy, like wind energy, is an identified goal in the UI's Energy Plan.

GREEN' HYGIENIC LABORATORY UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN MARCH...Groundbreaking will begin in March on the new University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL), an environmentally "green" project. The $37.75 million, 113,500-square-foot Hygienic Laboratory, to be constructed on the southeast corner of Highway 965 and Oakdale Boulevard in Coralville, will replace the current UHL facility in Oakdale Hall. Completion of the new laboratory is scheduled for fall 2009.

UI SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES PHASE I CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE... As a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the UI has complied with the most rigorous standards for greenhouse gas emission reductions available in North America and has successfully completed the Phase I greenhouse gas reduction commitment of 4% below its baseline.

OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE AND LANDSCAPE SERVICES MERGE...
On January 1, 2008, Operations & Maintenance and Landscape Services merged to create Building & Landscape Services. This new unit within Facilities Management is dedicated to building maintenance, custodial service and landscape services.

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES AND CAMPUS & FACILITIES PLANNING MERGE...
On January 1, 2008, Campus & Facilities Planning and Design & Construction Services merged to create Planning, Design & Construction. This new unit within Facilities Management is responsible for the complete range of services related to the physical development of the UI campus (with the exception of UIHC-specific space).

2007

UI WASTE CHARACTERIZATION SORTING PROJECT..Student and staff volunteers sorted waste in Hubbard Park and at the UI Library to determine how much waste currently going to the landfill could be diverted to recycling.

ROWING TANK MODEL TESTED...Facilities Management and others collaborated to construct a scale model of the proposed indoor rowing tank for the new Boat House project at UI. A preliminary test run of the model was conducted on Friday, November 9, 2007.

WEST CAMPUS CHILLED WATER PLANT RENOVATION WINS GRAND PLACE AWARD... The West Campus Chilled Water Plant Renovation - Phase 2A project has won Grand Place Award (1st place in category) in the Buildings and Systems Category of the 2008 Engineering Excellence Award sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Iowa. 

KINNICK STADIUM FEATURED IN ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO 07 ...American School & University released architectural portfolio 2007 featuring Kinnick Stadium--named outstanding design for renovation and modernization.

UI PROCESS CONTROL METHODS IN DISTRICT ENERGY
District Energy Fourth Quarter 2007 features an article by Ferman Milster, Associate Director Utilities & Energy Management, "Computational Intelligence Comes of Age: University of Iowa discovers new process control methods".

POWERING DOWN - SAVE ENERGY, DOLLARS, and the ENVIRONMENT...If you will be gone over Thanksgiving or Winter Break, please "power down" your office by doing the following: close windows and outside doors, turn off your computer, monitor, printer, lights, fans, copy machines and unplug equipment. If you have a thermostat, lower the heating temperature. These few simple steps will do much to help the UI reduce energy expenses and improve the environment.

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT STAFF BATTLE THE ICE...During and after the major ice storm Tuesday, December 11, Landscape Services crews braved rapidly deteriorating road conditions and removed ice and slush from 31 miles of streets and 36 miles of sidewalks.

UI FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (FM) SAFETY PROGRAM WINS TWO NATIONAL AWARDS...FM's "Route 66" safety program is the winner of APPA's Effective and Innovative Practices Award, and CACUBO's 2007 RCB Capital Markets Best Practices Program - second place. Route 66 was selected for reducing injuries and saving money.

UI ENERGY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN... is an ambitious and money-saving plan providing strategies to use more renewable energy, increase energy efficiencies, encourage energy conservation, attain energy security, ensure systems reliability, and more. Read the plan...

TWO UI BUILDINGS RECOGNIZED BY AIA IOWA...The UI West Campus Tennis & Recreation Center received one of five Design Merit awards in the state. Additionally, Carver-Hawkeye Arena received the 25-Year Award.

ENERGY EXPO 2007 UI President Sally Mason (right) addresses the crowd at Energy Expo on September 5, 2007. President Mason introduced Roya Stanley, Iowa’s new Director of the Office of Energy Independence (left). To read more about the Expo and view photos, click here.

ART BUILDING WEST WINS ANOTHER AWARD... The UI's Art Building West won a 2007 Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects in January. Now the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has honored the building with a 2007 International Award. Read more about the RIBA award...

OLD CAPITOL RESTORATION PROJECT WINS NATIONAL AWARD...The University of Iowa project that restored the historic Old Capitol following the fire in 2001 won the Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture for Restoration and Preservation from the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP).

UI BEST PRACTICES IN SAFETY CONFERENCE... Facilities Management hosted its third annual Safety Best Practices Conference Wednesday, June 27, to showcase the organizations in Iowa with the best practices in safety. More than 400 participants registered for the day-long event, held at the Iowa Memorial Union. Read more...