Let’s meet
Meet Our Teams
Facilities Services is made up of hundreds of individuals working toward the common goal of supporting our campus for research, academics, and athletics. We carry the torch toward a consistent and quality campus experience for every Volunteer. Get to know the teams behind this work.
Carrying Out Our Mission
Facilities Services is the largest non-academic department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As the university’s dedicated facilities stewards, our mission is to plan, construct, and maintain its physical resources and environments to fully support and promote the University of Tennessee’s Vol Vision, implement its long-range Master Plan, and embody the attributes of a modern R1 land-grant university.
Our vision is to be recognized as a model facilities services department comprised of personnel dedicated to each other and our mission, and who are proud to be a part of the Facilities team. This is accomplished by promoting an environment that:
– Focuses on quality service
– Seeks constant improvement
– Develops staff both professionally and personally
– Integrates technology and innovative work practices into its daily routine
What We Do
Our department is responsible for the basic operation and continuous maintenance of most facilities on the main and agriculture campuses of the University of Tennessee. We currently have 650+ employees spread out through several specialized units in our department. These units include: Administration & Finance, Building Services, Communication & Information Services, Capital Construction, Design Services, Facilities Operations, In-House Construction, Space Management, Utilities Services and Maintenance and Repair. Facilities Services staff members also oversee the university’s environmental programs through UT’s Office of Sustainability.
Who We Are
Administration & Finance
Primarily responsible for:
- Financial Support Services
- Material Procurement/Receiving and Warehousing/Inventory Management Services
- Personnel and Administrative Support Services
Includes the offices of:
- Business Services
- Central Supply and Warehouse
- Human Resources
Building Services
Primarily responsible for:
- Cleaning and disinfection across academic and athletic facilities 24/7
- Emergency custodial response during snow, severe weather events, and special events
Services Included:
- Hard Floor Restoration & Wood Floor Maintenance
- Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
- Window and Floor Washing
- Recycling
Capital Construction
The Capital Construction Directorate was formed and organized in 2024 to manage all capital construction projects in cooperation with partnering departments at the campus and system level. This team is equipped with top-notch construction managers and growing to meet the needs of our campus.
Communication & Information Services
Primarily responsible for:
- Providing direct support to UT Facilities Services employees by effectively and efficiently providing services directly related to communications, information technology, and employee training. This unit facilitates customer transparency; handles departmental awareness and promotion; maintains positive relationships with all our associates and team members; provides timely and structured learning experiences; and provides information technology products and services in a timely manner.
Includes the Offices of:
- Communications & Public Relations
- Employee Training & Development
- Information Technology
Design Services
Primarily responsible for:
- Professional architectural, interior design, and engineering guidance for new buildings and renovation of existing spaces on campus.
- Assists other departments and UTK administration to incorporate concerns such as utilities, traffic, and parking.
Includes the Offices of:
- Campus Planning
- Design Project Management
- Interior Environments
- Landscape & Natural Resources
Project Administration
This is a new unit with more information to come. Project Administration will report directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Planning and Design and serves as a clearinghouse to initiate all project-related work received by Facilities Services. The Project Administration team will work with stakeholders to identify scopes, schedules, and budgets to determine the best method for project setup and approvals. They’ll also serve as the primary point of contact for our UT System and State of Tennessee colleagues to develop the most successful path forward for campus project efforts.
Facilities Operations
The Facilities Operations Unit provides a diverse range of services to the UT Knoxville Main and Agricultural campuses. Its offices include Landscape Services, Pest Services, Environmental Services, Moving & Event Services, and the UTK Office of Sustainability.
Maintenance & Repair
The Maintenance & Repair unit is responsible for maintenance of all systems related to the 250-plus buildings on the main and agricultural campuses 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year. This includes lighting and electrical systems, heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, plumbing systems, laboratory systems, and structural and building envelope systems including roofing, walls and windows. Campus is organized into ten zones by type of customer and building.
This office includes:
- Lock & Key Services
- One Call
In-House Construction
The Construction Services Unit assists the campus with construction and renovation activities for projects performed by Facilities Services and is available to assist with projects performed by the Office of Facilities Planning.
Includes:
- Project Coordination
- Non-Capital Construction
- Estimation Services
- Building Finishes
- Support Team for Assisting Research (STAR)
- Paint & Sign Services
Space Management
Space Management is primarily responsible for:
- The creation, collection, maintenance and management of all digital information that relates to the University’s physical environments, assets and archival documentation
Primary areas of responsibility:
- Space Management and Planning
- Building Information Modeling (BIM)
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Archives
Utilities Services
The Utilities Services unit is made up of four major groups, Electrical Services, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Plumbing & Heating, and Steam Plant. This unit is responsible for the day-to-day design, operation and maintenance of the Steam Plant and all other utility systems on the Knoxville campus.
It Takes a Volunteer
Facilities Services is made up of more than 600 individuals
who work tirelessly to keep campus running 365 days a year.