3.11.3 Physical facilities
The institution operates and maintains physical facilities, both on and off campus, that appropriately serve the needs of the institution’s educational programs, support services, and other mission-related activities.
Judgment of Compliance:
Compliance
Narrative:
The Facilities Planning & Management department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) strives to enhance the learning environment by providing safe, functional, convenient, and attractive facilities and grounds which can be cost effectively operated, maintained, secured, and expanded. This effort is achieved by employing competent and experienced staff in the following disciplines:
- HVAC
- Plumbing
- Carpentry
- Electrical
- Keys
- Signs
- Custodial
- Moves
- Grounds
- Motor pool
- Central Energy Plan
These operations-related functions are augmented by strong project managers, a state of the art CMMS system/ Work Control function, an in-house storeroom, and the Space Inventory program. Together, these components allow the Facilities Department to effectively and efficiently operate and maintain campus facilities.
As the table below indicates, The Facilities Department has spearheaded over $3.1 million dollars in significant Education and General (E&G) projects since 2000. In addition, there has been another $4.6 million in auxiliary funded projects that were completed during that same period.
E&G Projects (2000-2010)
Year |
Description |
Dollars Spent |
|---|---|---|
99-00 |
J. Gilbert Stein Suite Fletcher Hall |
$250,000 |
01-02 |
Grote 129 Auditorium Renovation |
$150,000 |
04-05 |
Mabel Entrance Gateway |
$125,000 |
04-05 |
Cadek Hall Renovations |
$180,000 |
05-06 |
Fine Arts Theater Lighting Replacement |
$200,000 |
05-06 |
Shakespeare Garden & Chapel Landscaping |
$120,000 |
05-06 |
Visitors Kiosk |
$90,000 |
06-07 |
739 McCallie Renovation Phase I |
$100,000 |
07-08 |
739 McCallie Renovation Phased II |
$124,000 |
08-09 |
University Center Tile Replacement |
$130,000 |
08-09 |
Collins Street Modular Buildings |
$1,200,000 |
08-09 |
Pedestrian Lights |
$200,000 |
08-09 |
Exterior Furnishings (Benches, Trash Cans, Bike Racks) |
$100,000 |
09-10 |
UC Advisement Center |
$40,000 |
09-10 |
UC Media Hub |
$120,000 |
|
Total |
$3,129,000 |
UTC’s aggressive capital maintenance program has also made a dramatic improvement to campus facilities and infrastructure. As indicated in the table below, over $23.4 million in capital maintenance projects have been completed during the last decade.
U.T. Chattanooga’s Capital Maintenance Projects (2000-2010)
Description | Dollars |
|---|---|
Hunter HVAC Improvements |
$1,600,000 |
Central Energy Dist. System Improvements |
$1,300,000 |
Roof Replacements |
$1,200,000 |
Race/Hooper Hall Renovations, Phase I |
$1,370,000 |
Race/Hooper Hall Renovations, Phase II |
$1,475,000 |
Electrical Distribution System Upgrades, Phase I |
$2,080,000 |
ADA Improvements & Upgrades, Phase I |
$500,000 |
ADA Improvements & Upgrades, Phase I |
$250,000 |
Central Energy Plant Improvements |
$1,950,000 |
Metropolitan Building Renovations, Phase II |
$2,350,000 |
Campus Landscaping |
$1,400,000 |
North Stadium Demolition |
$650,000 |
Math Bldg Demolition |
$146,000 |
Building Exterior Repairs |
$1,860,000 |
Central Energy Improvements (Chiller #3) |
$2,000,000 |
Roof Replacements |
$1,300,000 |
Challenger Center Expansion |
$900,000 |
Campus Fire Alarm Upgrades |
$400,000 |
Boiler Replacement |
$2,675,000 |
Arena Video Upgrade |
$875,000 |
Grote Hall Renovation |
$4,250,000 |
Campus Elevator Upgrades |
$1,500,000 |
Intramural Development |
$1,300,000 |
Electrical Distribution Upgrades- Phase 2 |
$2,700,000 |
SimCenter Alternate Energy Lab |
$150,000 |
Total Capital Maintenance Projects 2000-2010 |
$23,435,000 |
Since 1998, UTC has completed $10 million in capital improvements to the Central Energy Plant as well as other improvements to the central heating and cooling distribution systems. The conversion to DDC systems as well as the full employment of outside air economizers has become a top priority when designing new or renovated spaces. Further, the Facilities department consistently works with contractors during the commissioning of all new and renovated mechanical systems to ensure point-to-point system functionality. These practices, when combined with other improvements, have achieved a 57% reduction in energy use per gross square foot since its peak in 1998, resulting in $24.8 million of cost avoidance for the campus.
The capital program, occupant funds, and special allocations of operating funds have also allowed UTC to make improvements to interior space conditions in approximately half of campus square footage. New or upgraded mechanical systems allow outside air ventilation ranging from the minimum (per code) up to 100%, achieving “free” winter cooling & dehumidification in many areas. Humidity control for both occupant comfort and mold prevention is a priority in new construction and renovation projects, and thermostats are provided for most offices and shared office space. Low and high limits are set for variability via the DDC controls.
Interior space conditions have also been improved by the use of hard surface flooring in all classroom environments, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing, functional, and sustainable floor covering. Walk-off mats have also been provided at all building entry points to reduce both slip hazards in wet weather and the amount of outside debris tracked into buildings. The Facilities Department also maintains a consistent schedule for floor cleaning and refurbishing.
As detailed on the previous tables, capital and E&G projects have had dramatic impacts upon campus academic spaces over the last ten years. Buildings receiving major renovations include Grote, Cadek Hall, Fine Arts Center, University Center, Collins Street Modular Buildings, Race & Hooper Halls, Metro, Challenger Center, and the SimCenter.
In addition to major improvements to interior spaces, two-thirds of campus roofs have been replaced in the past ten years, and upgrades have been made to high-need entrance doors and building windows. Other milestones include $750 thousand in ADA projects and $1.5 million in elevator upgrades, both of which brought significant improvements in building accessibility. $400 thousand was spent on fire alarm upgrades in Holt Hall, Brock Hall, the Fine Arts Center, and the purchase and installation of a Simplex front end.
The exterior campus environment has not been ignored. Ten years ago, a cross-functional team representing Academics, Facilities, Parking, and Development came together to form the Campus Landscape Committee. In 2002, the group commissioned a Landscape Master Plan that set forth an “exterior language” for the campus that established common site furnishings, pedestrian lighting, and other exterior fixtures to be used during the expansion of campus green space and when making improvements to the existing exterior environment. Emphasis was placed on gathering spaces, lawn areas, long-lived legacy trees, and pedestrian ways. Arboretum designation of the campus is in development. Way-finding improvements such as masonry entry features, campus maps, and more aesthetic building signs have been installed.
Construction of new pedestrian ways has begun using a combination of gift funds, student fees, and partnership projects. The University Greenway begins at the southern edge of campus and connects to the City’s Riverwalk on the Tennessee River. A pedestrian “entrance” was created at the northern campus boundary on East Fifth Street. This entrance leads to an expansive plaza at the heart of the campus Over 600 new trees have been planted in the last decade. Annual maintenance and arborist review of legacy trees is performed, and most overhead power lines have been removed within the campus perimeter. UTC is in the process of converting all pedestrian light fixtures to a design featuring reflectors that reduce or eliminate light pollution. All new surface parking lots are designed to city landscaping and storm water runoff reduction standards.
While large-scale projects and initiatives have had a dramatic impact upon the campus, they should not overshadow UTC’s dedication to continuously improving operating practices, organizational structures, and the efficient use of scarce university resources. A primary example of this dedication occurred in 2009 when Facilities launched their new computerized maintenance management system, “famis 8i.”
The new, web-based software vastly increases the efficiency in which customer requests are routed through the Work Control process. It provides campus users with a simple, on-line tool that not only allows them to quickly enter service requests but also to track those requests, monitor status changes, and view associated costs. A self-help tutorial provides a good overview of the system from the user’s perspective.
From an internal standpoint, the combination of an increased number of “fixed-fields” and a dramatically more robust reporting capability enables the Facilities Department to more easily spot trends and monitor costs associated with certain maintenance types. For instance, Facilities has the capability of monitoring lighting expenses, plumbing repairs, heating and cooling issues, lost keys, and other “typified” maintenance issues by building. Access to this type of data allows us to make informed decisions about how to best use monetary and human resources. The Campus Services Guide provides additional insight into the capabilities of system users.
In the past decade, the Facilities Department has also worked diligently to creatively improve services to the campus while combating diminishing in-house manpower per gross square foot of maintained space. In large part, this improvement has been accomplished by seeking the most cost-effective combination of in-house and contracted services. Our in-house personnel strive to provide a quick, customer-centric response to service issues; to conduct routine preventive maintenance; and to maintain a broad knowledge of the campus and its systems. For large-scale projects that would monopolize our in-house staff or for repairs requiring specialized knowledge, we typically use the services of qualified outside contractors.
Another key component in UTC’s effort to effectively operate and maintain campus facilities is the ability to accurately rank the condition of campus properties, so scarce resources can be applied in the areas with the highest need. In 2009, the UTC Facilities Planning and Management Department significantly increased its ability to do so by participating in the University of Tennessee’s Facilities Assessment Program.
The Facilities Assessment Program is a joint venture between University of Tennessee Facilities Departments, Michael Brady Inc., and Pickering Inc. This 3-phase evaluation is intended to provide a consistent comparative evaluation of building conditions across all U.T. campuses. Once complete, the evaluation will supply facilities administrators with an accurate ranking of campus properties and provide key information for funding and management decisions at the system level.
Phase 1 of the Facilities Assessment targeted buildings with the highest degree of “known issues” that met the following criteria:
- Greater than 5000 gsf
- In excess of 10 years old
- Not barns, outbuildings, etc
- Not scheduled for demolition
Ten buildings on the UTC campus were selected and evaluated. The UTC Building Data Sheet details the scoring of those buildings and the Fac. Assessment System Wide Comparison ranks them against other UT properties. Phase II of the evaluation was completed in April 2010, and Phase III is currently being scheduled. The result will be a detailed ranking of buildings and their components both within the UTC campus and across the UT system.
The University’s Efficiency & Effectiveness committee is studying the physical capacity of the academic spaces on campus and actual utilization of those spaces. That study began in May 2010 and is scheduled to be completed with actionable recommendations by October 2010. Preliminary data points to the following:
- Capacity limits that reflect local fire code requirements will be set for all academic spaces.
- Classroom configuration across the campus utilizes eighty-four (84) percent of the available capacity.
- Classroom data gathered by the committee includes fire code room capacity limits, class size limits, and actual enrollment. This assessment indicates where opportunities exist for more appropriate room assignments and how class scheduling guidelines might be revised to optimize the available room capacity.
In addition, the study indicates that peak times of day (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) are fully utilized Monday through Thursday. Early morning and late afternoon time slots are underutilized and are available for additional classes. Consideration is also being given to courses in which large lecture sections can be accommodated without a pedagogically negative impact.
Although it is expected that this study will result in better utilization of all academic spaces and in improved scheduling of classes across campus, it is clear that the university has adequate instructional space to support its academic programs.
