Facilities Services

Facilities Services Weekly

August 24, 2026

A group of diverse people seated and standing around modular tables in a bright meeting room, engaged in conversation. One woman stands on the right, while others are seated, some with name tags visible.

Announcements

Building Services

Operations

Maintenance

Comm & Info

Utilities

Construction

Safety Stand Down

Announcements

Football Training Dates Announced

Go ahead and mark your calendars to attend one session of football training if you work to support game days. Please note the location change from the FSC to the SU for the first shift sessions. Email [email protected] to sign up for the session of your choosing. 

Wednesday, August 26 Times/Locations 
0830 – SU 362A/B 
1000 – SU 362A/B 
1400 – SU 362A/B 
1700 – FSC 101/102 
2200 – FSC 101/102 

Thursday, August 27 Times/Locations 
1030 – SU 362A/B 
1400 – SU 362A/B 

Introducing the UT Wellness: Know How, Know Now Challenge 

The University of Tennessee is launching UT Wellness: Know How, Know Now, a new systemwide K@TE training series designed to equip faculty and staff with practical, life-saving skills. Beginning Aug. 31, employees can complete three self-paced trainings on mental health warning signs, opioid overdose response and suicide prevention. From Aug. 31 through Oct. 10, employees who complete all three trainings will earn a digital certificate and qualify for a systemwide prize drawing as part of the Know How, Know Now Challenge. 

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Building Services

  • No report received
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Operations

Moving & Event Services

  • No report received

Sustainability

What improved last week?

  • Grow Lab: Fall volunteer shifts were scheduled in GivePulse, and Federal Work-Study schedules were confirmed. 
  • Compost: Reorganized and cleaned the break room, prepared desk space for the new Compost Logistics Coordinator arriving August 18, and continued bin cleaning and maintenance ahead of the first week of classes. Delivered 12 cubic yards of garden compost to the Organic Crops Unit. Increased compost education and outreach at the Hort, Hops, & Crops field day reached 15 people. 
  • Recycling: Recovered and marketed approximately 48,810 lbs. (24.4 tons) of recyclable material, including a full tractor-trailer load of cardboard, along with significant paper and plastic diversion. Increased collection capacity and frequency are helping manage move-in volumes. 

What declined last week? 

  • Grow Lab: Weed control in the wood-chipped area and Pollinator Meadow declined. 
  • Compost: Rain required additional site maintenance to keep operations running smoothly. 
  • Recycling: Increased move-in cardboard volumes are creating additional pressure on collection capacity and contamination control. 

Where is attention needed this week? 

  • Grow Lab: Weed-eat the wood-chipped area and remove invasive species in the Pollinator Meadow. 
  • Compost: Onboard and train new team members, adjust routes for the return to campus, and continue cleaning/replacing bins and standardizing bin labels. 
  • Recycling: Prioritize move-in cardboard recovery, monitor temporary 30- and 40-yard containers, maintain clean cardboard separation, and prepare infrastructure for football season. 

What changes are happening this week? 

  • Finalizing Grow Lab student schedules and hiring/onboarding Federal Work-Study students. 
  • Welcoming the new Compost Logistics Coordinator and Academic Engagement Coordinator. 
  • Adjusting compost routes and operations for the academic-year schedule. 
  • Continuing preparation of recycling and waste containers and collection logistics for football season. 

Key metrics: 

  • 48,810 lbs. (24.4 tons) of recyclable material recovered and marketed. 
  • 20.01 tons of organic material diverted through composting: 
    • Food waste: 11.4 tons 
    • Animal waste: 5.03 tons 
    • Landscaping waste: 3.58 tons 
  • 12 cubic yards of garden compost delivered to the Organic Crops Unit. 
  • 15 people engaged through compost education at Hort, Hops, & Crops. 
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Maintenance & Repair

Housing

What was accomplished? 

  • Work orders in the residence hall are decreasing as students settle in.  

Athletics

What’s Improved?

  • PMs on DASH are getting cleared up as well as work orders.  
  • A new chiller is being installed at Allan Jones.  
  • New LED’S are being installed at Regal Soccer. 

What’s Declined?  

  • Nothing declined.

This Week’s Attention? 

  • Preparing the stadium for the Big Orange Flush! 
  • Preparing premium areas for events at Neyland. 
  • Daktronics and Volleyball are set up for exhibition games. 
  • Regal soccer season starts, preparing for games. 

What Changes Are Happening This Week? 

  •  No changes happening.

Dining

What’s Improved?

  • Repaired multiple AC coolers, freezers, ice makers – ongoing process. Continuing installing new and removing old equipment. Repaired multiple sinks, cleared and treated drains, cleaned coils and replaced filters. Maintaining equipment and responding to requests to the best of our ability. 

What’s Declined?  

  • With all this hot weather some old coolers and freezers are showing weakness, and some are failing. Otherwise – no noticeable decline observed. 

This Week’s Attention? 

  • Concentrating on AC walk-in and reach-in units, replacing compressors and parts needed to get them back in service as soon as possible. 

What Changes Are Happening This Week? 

  • No changes at this point.

Zone 4

  • No report received

Zone 5

  • No report received

Zone 6

What was accomplished? 

  • Response to Conference Center flooding 
  • Weekend Fire Watch at Conference Center 

What’s getting attention this week?

  • Continuing Fire Watch all week at the Conference Center 
  • Coordinating with Conference Center occupants for secure building entry to get things they need 

Zone 7

  • No report received

Zone 8

What improved last week? 

  • We greatly reduced the amount of heat in our machine room at Plant Biotech with the help of Will Weaber from Breeding Insulation. 

What declined last week? 

  • Our chill water temperatures continue to  struggle at times on the Biotech and ANRB chillers.  We have lost one of our heat exchangers at the IAMM building for our process chill water loop. 

Where is attention needed this week? 

  • We will continue to work on our HVAC in most of our buildings and prioritize the comfort and care of our UT family. 

What changes are happening this week?

  • We will hopefully begin the process of trying to fill 2 positions on our One-Call team that have been vacant for some time. 

Building HVAC

What improved last week? 

  • SERF AHU-4.  

What declined last week?

  • nothing

Where is attention needed this week?

  • SERF, Student Aquatics, Brenda Lawson, Arena, Stadium. 

What changes are happening this week?

  • Coil replacements, CHW coil repairs, split system installs, VRF system repairs, water leak repairs, and refrigerant system repairs.

Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?

  • SERF AHU-4, Claxton AHU-104, Arena AHU-3.

Building Electrical

What improved last week?

  • Serf new power feeds for labs and implementing a plan for Nielsen Physics Temp AC power. 

What declined last week?

  • Working on campus with standard pole lights that are out. 

Where is attention needed this week?

  • Completing Serf power drops and power for the new furnace. 

What changes are happening this week? 

  • Dividing teams so we can have extra tech working on newer work orders. 

Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?

  • Planning the power feeds for the Temp AC for Neilsen Physics. 

Building Plumbing

What improved last week?

  • Jobs were completed promptly and efficiently.  

What declined last week?

  • Critical outage at the Conference Center required much attention.  

Where is attention needed this week?

  • Completion of work orders.  

What changes are happening this week? 

  • Continued efforts to strengthen staffing levels. 

Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?

  • Repaired critical outages at the Conference Center. 

Lock & Key Services 

What improved last week?

  • Completion of summer projects in Neyland, Key audits and rekeys in housing.  

What declined last week?

  • Nothing to report. 

Where is attention needed this week?

  • Continued support of housing with campus move in. 

What changes are happening this week? 

  • No major changes happening this week.   
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Comm & Info

WOM & IT

  • First software licensing audit completed on Autodesk products 
  • GenWatch deployed for FS and now live monitored in the FSC Monitoring Center 
  • Met with M&R foreman to show a roadmap to WOM services for the coming year 
  • Working with Space Management for Scans drive repository replacement 
  • Working with Space Management to provide additional Student/Temp worker landing spaces 
  • FS IT worked 101 tickets last week 
  • WOM worked 317 tickets last week 
  • FSShare has successfully been archived and retired 

Training

What challenge can training help us solve? 

  • Are you planning your goals for the 4th quarter? What about for 2027? If you need help strategizing how to achieve the goals you’re establishing for your teams, please reach out to training so we can identify how we can assist in this process. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals!

What do employees need to know this week? 

  • Football training is this week! Get your sign ups in if you are or might be working football this year.
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Utilities & Energy

A/C Utilities

  • What improved last week?
    • Replaced gear reducer in ANRB cooling tower. 
    • Repaired Magnolia/Dogwood cooling towers.  
    • SMC rebuilt a heating water pump.  
    • Plant Bio – repaired multiple leaks on chiller no. 3.  
    • KPB – cleaned condenser coils on both chillers.  
    • Mossman – replaced I/O board on chiller no. 1.  
    • Allan Jones – Installing rental chiller 
  • What declined last week?
    • South Union – IGBT board failure on no.1 chiller.  
    • TBA – heating water pump seal failure 
  • Where is attention needed this week?
    • Allan Jones – chiller installation.  
    • Campus chiller plants and cooling towers.  
    • TBA – heating water pumps 

Electrical – High Voltage Utilities

  • What improved last week? 
    • Campus Standard light fixtures at Student Mall. Repulled wire to reinstall power.  
  • What declined last week?
    • Conference Center power.  
  • Where is attention needed this week?
    • Conference Center  
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • Restore power to the Conference Center.  
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
    • Conference Center. 

Plumbing Utilities

  • What improved last week? 
    • Improved team coordination and collaboration.  
  • What declined last week?
    • Nothing has declined. The team continues to work diligently to stay on top of work orders. Overall, teamwork remains strong, and collaboration has been excellent. 
  • Where is attention needed this week?
    • Focus attention on upcoming repairs. 
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • Staying on top of work orders and completing jobs efficiently and promptly. 
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
    • No.

Steam Plant

  • What improved last week?
    • Continued work with contractors on new boiler installation. Addressed packing issue on DA tank drain valve. Cleaned / replace air filters on air compressor. Replaced regulator on DA overflow. Monthly inspection on fuel containments. Went through spill prevention with EHS  
  • Where is attention needed this week? 
    • Will work on cleanup and improvement projects around the plant. Working on leak on HDPE piping. Working in vent line for fuel oil header. 
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • Working on any issues that arise and working with contractors on the new boiler.  
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
    • Repair on HDPE piping

Building Automation Systems

  • What improved last week?  
    • TBA Air Handlers lower Discharge Air Temps. 
    • A&A pneumatic leaks. 
  • What declined last week?  
    • Old Invensys systems. 
    • Mossman Labs Strobic SP low 
    • AMB AHU 11 high discharge temperature. 
    • Student Union P1’s AHUs 
  • Where is attention needed this week?  
    • Prep for students returning 
    • Prep for upcoming football season. 
    • Parking and Transportation’s office HVAC control repairs.  
  • What changes are happening this week?  
    • HPER pool temps. 
    • Repairing lighting control issues across campus 
    • Triage issues found during first week of classes 
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
    • Chiller Plant troubleshooting across campus 
    • Stokely Residence Hall issues on 7th floor. 
    • Andy Holt Tower’s cooling issues 

Electrical Control and Fire Alarms

  • What improved last week?
    • Finishing up Fire alarm and sprinkler testing before classes start back  
  • What declined last week? 
    • Batteries and smoke detector issues 
  • Where is attention needed this week? 
    • Assisting contractors with fire alarm and sprinkler testing 
    • Continue working on leak detection at IAMM 
    • Traffic signal install at Volunteer and Pedestrian walkway 
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • New Traffic signal cabinet 
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed? 
    • Correcting Deficiencies at multiple buildings. 

Chemical Treatment

  • What improved last week?
    • Housing Closed Loop system health, equipment installs for TBA, SERF 
  • What declined last week? 
    • Not declined more than it already is, but Nursing loop is being opened to Claxton chilled loop 
  • Where is attention needed this week? 
    • Chill water closed loops for TBA, Claxton, and SERF 
  • What changes are happening this week?
    • Ability to feed chemicals into buildings that need it. As well as extra makeup water capacity in Claxton loop to prevent “drying” out the system. JARTU cooling tower monitoring/feeding install 
  • Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed? 
    •  Claxton 
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In-house Construction

  • New projects received: 14
  • New estimate requests received:  4
  • Construction Projects of Note:
    • TCE Cluster Hires-Zeanah Engineering, SERF, Dougherty Engineering
      • Finishes, HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, and Lab Furniture 
    • College of Veterinary Medicine 
      • Installation of an air filter in the farrier shop 
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Safety

As students return to campus, we want to remind everyone of the importance of staying alert and adjusting our work practices as we continue to maintain and operate on campus. 

During the summer, we have more space to move equipment, vehicles, and materials with fewer pedestrians around. That changes quickly when students return. Our campus is now much more active, with students, staff, faculty, visitors, and employees moving throughout the areas where we work. 

We have already had some safety concerns involving materials and equipment being moved through areas occupied by students, creating potentially dangerous situations and increasing the risk of someone being injured. This is a good reminder that we need to be aware of our surroundings and recognize that the conditions we work in during the summer are very different once the academic year begins. 

As we move around campus, please take the time to: 

  • Slow down and remain alert in congested areas. 
  • Watch for pedestrians, especially when operating vehicles or equipment. 
  • Plan movements of materials and equipment before entering busy areas. 
  • Use spotters when needed and maintain clear pedestrian pathways. 
  • Avoid distractions, including cell phone use, while driving or operating equipment. 
  • Be patient and allow pedestrians the time and space they need to move safely around our work activities. 
  • Utilize barricades and signage to clearly separate work areas from pedestrians and help direct foot traffic safely around the work area. Together, these safety measures help clearly communicate the hazards and reduce the likelihood that someone will enter the work area. 

Our work does not stop because students are back, but the way we perform that work may need to change. We all share responsibility for maintaining a safe campus while continuing to provide the services needed to support our students, faculty, staff, and visitors. 

Thank you for staying focused, looking out for one another, and helping ensure that everyone who comes to campus can move through it safely. 

Facilities Services 

Safety Department 

fs.utk.edu * 865-974-9833 

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