Sand sweeping underway

It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Cleaning up a winter’s worth of sand from the University of Lethbridge campus can be an onerous task, but it’s just part of a regular routine for the Grounds department.

About 100 yards of sand was spread across campus this past winter in order to keep campus walkways as safe as possible for pedestrians. Some weather events where crews were unable to clear the snow before it compacted or turned to ice, resulted in generous applications of sand, salt or ice melt products, leaving plenty of sand behind when the snow melted.

Workers try to save as much sand as possible to reuse the following year which helps the department save on costs to replenish its supply. However, the sand must be fairly clean – yes, clean dirt – otherwise it leads to dust, tracking or spreading of litter.

In order to get the sand in good, reusable condition, Grounds crews will first sweep the streets where the sand is cleanest. The sand is piled and stored at the bone yard until the weather warms up enough for it to be spread out and dried. After the sand is dry, workers hand pick out the litter, leaves and other debris, and the sand is piled back into the sand shed for use the following year.

Sand that has been piled onto grassy areas along roads and walkways is not suitable for reuse as it is usually mixed with a lot of litter and grass.  However, some of this sand can be used for back fill or it can be spread on campus dirt trails to minimize mud. This sand is swept up with smaller sweepers so it can be picked up by a bigger sweeper afterwards. This helps avoid build up over time and reduces the risk of sand clogging up irrigation heads and destroying healthy grass.

Caretaking Manger Judy Jaeger says she appreciates the effort by Grounds crews as it means less work for her staff to clean up the sand that gets tracked into campus buildings.

“They do an awesome job,” she says. “Cleaning up the sand inside building entrances takes away from other work we do to keep classrooms and public spaces clean and tidy, so my employees are especially glad to see the sand cleared away outside.”

For more information on Grounds or its operations call 329-2602 or email facility.servicedesk@uleth.ca.

Visit the Facilities website.

 

 

Our inaugural Annual Report has been published!

Facilities Annual Report smallWhat do you do when a light burns out in your office? Who do you call when you need to report a slippery sidewalk? A food spill? A broken window? Need a new office chair? A sign for your event? Perhaps you want to utilize the Safewalk program or have a questions regarding special event parking.

All of these tasks, and more, are performed by the Facilities department.

Our mission is to strive to provide the highest quality environments that enhance learning, creativity and growth. With more than 130 employees across more than a dozen departments, Facilities plays an important role in nearly every aspect of the University’s physical appearance.

Our first annual report presents a snapshot of our operations and achievements from the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

Read a PDF of the report here.

Happy reading!

Facilities featured in 45th anniversary videos

45thThe U of L celebrated its 45th anniversary last year with several activities and video presentations throughout the year and we were pleased to be a part of it.

Associate Director of Campus Planning and Architecture Spencer Court was recently featured in one of the U of L’s 45th Anniversary YouTube videos talking about some of our planning projects.

Judy Jaeger, Facilities Caretaking Manager and Co-chair of the SOS program was also featured.

Check out the videos here.

You can also view the University’s YouTube page here.

 

 

 

 

Another busy building year at U of L

It’s a New Year which means a new list of campus enhancing activities is being planned by the Facilities department.

The Project Management Office (PMO) is gearing up for next summer’s construction season with several projects aimed to improve campus life for the University community.

A significant project taking place is the rehabilitation of the PE underground tunnel and south plaza replacement. Construction is set to begin in May and run through to the end of the year.

The project addresses necessary infrastructure upgrades including tunnel leak repairs as well as work to improve the air quality and lighting. The tunnel murals should be preserved unless unforeseen circumstances arise.

Work on the south plaza will see about 1,500 sq. m. of concrete removed and re-poured along the exterior of the Max Bell Aquatic Centre and Student’s Union Building up to the north side of the library and rotunda.

Pedestrian Tunnel South Plaza Rehabilitation

Because the area above the tunnel cannot withstand more than 10,000 lbs. of weight, the underground tunnel will be closed throughout the duration of the project to allow the coordination of heavy duty excavation equipment.

The Aperture Drive bus loop and Lot D with the loop will be also closed during construction. A new, temporary bus route will be planned in conjunction with the City of Lethbridge. The new route will be announced when it is finalized.

The tunnel will remain closed during both June and October convocations. More details regarding this project will be released as it becomes available.

The final phase of the Parking Lot Redevelopment Project will also get underway this summer. The project includes paving Lots E and G, installing landscaping and trees, and the construction of storm water management and drainage systems.

The new residence in Aperture Park will open in July 2013. The last sections of concrete pouring for the 259-bed facility has already taken place. The pouring of the residence roof on Dec. 12 was a significant milestone for the construction crew and we were happy to have the University Board of Governors take in a tour of the site the following day.

Housing is already taking applications for returning students. Read more about what the residence will look like here.

Campus Master Plan ratified

A new University Campus Master Plan was ratified by the U of L Board of Governors Thursday, Dec. 13.

The 217-page document will be published in the New Year. It contains recommendations to guide the planning decisions for the physical campus at U of L for the next 25 years. For example, the UCMP would aid in the development of the proposed Destination Project by pinpointing a location for the new facility and emphasizing the functional parameters that help to create a unique campus identity and student experience.

Key planning principles of the UCMP include:

  • Establishing a campus Gateway along Aperture Drive.
  • Framing a new “Coulee Quad” creating a campus heart.
  • Interconnecting buildings that engage the coulees.
  • Creating a unique brand of architecture that integrates with landscape.
  • Generating a unique campus identity and experience.

For more details on the plan check out the Fall 2012 edition of SAM magazine.

More information on the UCMP can also be found at http://www.uleth.ca/masterplan.

An open house celebrating the new plan will take place Jan. 28, 2013. Details on the event will be announced in the coming weeks.

LEEDing the way to a greener U

In a world where the terms like “climate change,” “greenhouse gases,” and “carbon footprint,” are now part of everyday vocabulary, it’s clear that we need to take better care of our planet so that future generations may also enjoy a clean and healthy place to live.

Enhancing the environmental sustainability of the University is a top priority for the institution – one outlined in the 2009-13 Strategic Plan.

Facilities has been practising sustainability in nearly every aspect of its operations. From recycling and composting to installing low-energy light bulbs and low-flush toilets, not to mention constructing LEED buildings, the departments within Facilities are committed to creating and maintaining a green campus that enhances student experience and preserves the unique coulee landscape that surrounds us.

How can you participate?

  • Shut down your computer when you’re finished using it for the day. Not only will shutting down reduce the wear on your system, it will also result in more cost-effective energy savings. Contrary to popular belief, daily start-ups do not use up more energy than leaving a computer on, and it will not damage a computer’s components, nor lead to electrical surges.
  • Recycle your paper coffee cups! There is a special coffee cup recycling bin in the Centre for Sport and Wellness with a compartment to pour out left over coffee, but empty paper cups can also be recycled in the paper and cardboard recycling bags.
  • Unplug electronic devices, chargers, and power cords when not in use. Even when switched off or left unattached, these devices draw power through the outlet they are plugged into.

Last week we mentioned that Caretaking Services was accepting pumpkins for composting. To date, 125 pumpkins have been collected at the University for composting! That’s great news.

Parking Lot Redevelopment Project wins Green Award

Parking Project Manager, Dick Lutwick (left) and Director of Security and Parking Services, John O’Keeffe were pleased to accept a Green List award on behalf of Facilities.

We are excited to announce that the Parking Lot Redevelopment Project was recognized for its environmentally friendly and sustainable design by the City of Lethbridge.

Project Manager Dick Lutwick accepted the City Green List award at a celebration event this past Friday.

The first half of the two-year project was completed earlier this fall.The redesign improves storm water management by collecting rain water into landscaped bioswales which aids in removing sediments prior to the water being released into the storm sewer system and into the river.

Additional landscaping including several varieties of grasses, plants, shrubs and trees will provide a visually pleasing atmosphere, but more importantly it will deliver wind abatement for buildings and pedestrians.

Click here for more information on this project.

Information on the City of Lethbridge Green List Awards can be found here.