Georgia Institute of Technology Facilities Management | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA

Look for construction to wrap up on a few long-term projects, for short-term projects to take shape, and for some new long-term work to begin.

The existing elevator in the Pettit Microelectronics Research Center (MiRC) is undergoing renovations and machinery replacements. 

Renovation will include 17 classrooms and the associated public spaces and lobby on the first and second floors.

Tech earned recognition as a Tree Campus USA for 2016 from the Arbor Day Foundation. 

This semester, projects include infrastructure upgrades, new buildings, and a facility that is on the national radar for its net-positive energy use.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Acting Assistant Secretary David Friedman announced the new institute Dec. 9 at the U.S. Council on Competitiveness’ 2016 National Competitiveness Forum. This new institute will be officially called the Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment or (RAPID) Institute.

Earlier this year, the Student Move-Out Recycling Program evolved to not only collect recyclable waste and donations, but also help feed hungry students. 

In an effort to conserve water and help reduce the impact of the severe drought conditions in North Georgia, Facilities Management’s Landscape Services has proactively stopped all noncritical irrigation on campus. 

The Van Leer Rotunda and two story connecting the wing to the main building will be closed through January of 2018. 

The Dorothy M. Crosland Tower closed for nearly two years on December 31, 2015. Interior abatement has begun in some areas and pedestrian detours will change throughout construction phases. 

The PATH Foundation, with whom Tech is partnering on the project, has stated that construction will result in vehicle traffic changes beginning Tuesday, Nov. 8, at noon.

Today, the fences around Tech Green are being removed, and the campus community will be able to once again enjoy this central green space — just in time for Homecoming Weekend.

Phased detours of pedestrian traffic are planned. Check back for updates. 

For a third consecutive year, Georgia Tech is getting the help of woolly, four-legged friends to help control one of the most invasive plants in the South — the dreaded kudzu.

Several projects were completed over the summer, while a few continue into the fall. 

Throughout the summer, Facilities Management’s Design and Construction team was hard at work making sure that projects were staying on schedule, while also anticipating and designing upcoming projects to make the campus even better for staff, faculty, and students.

Chatman is on a personal and professional mission to reduce paper usage — and that’s above and beyond her dedication to Georgia Tech’s green cleaning program. 

Three initiatives demonstrate efforts in this department to reduce waste and optimize operations.

Beginning July 1, Stamps Health Services will be renovated for improved patient efficiency.

Roof-retrofitting plan to reduce a building’s energy demand was a course project

Meagan Fitzpatrick, biosafety officer in Environmental Health and Safety, initially set out to be a full-time researcher.

Beginning June 1, food items will be allowed in classroom spaces reserved for events.

With a smaller population on campus in the summer months, it is often a season of transformation, as many infrastructure and construction projects are underway simultaneously. 

Effective July 1, any Georgia Tech unit owning or purchasing LSVs or golf carts must ensure these vehicles are street legal and register each of them with Georgia Tech Fleet Services.

The Georgia Institute of Technology has received the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognition award. 

The Holland Plant, located at 680 Power Plant Drive behind the A. French Building, has been producing steam since opening in 1917.

Sustainability in Engineering Design and Construction outlines the sustainable practices used in engineering design and construction operations for all types of engineering and construction projects.

A registered architect and avid watercolorist, Frank Lamia is associate director of Construction Services in the Design & Construction Department of Facilities Management. 

The repairs require significant digging, which provides an opportunity to enhance the pedestrian experience through the primary north/south corridor of campus on Atlantic Drive. 

Georgia Tech is one of only six higher education campuses in the nation to receive the GS-42 certification. 

Campus leaf-collection supports mulch compost development and more effective operations. Compost will be used in our landscaping beds year-round. 

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents (BOR) presented several awards to Georgia Tech during its 2015 BOR Facilities Conference last Friday, November 6 in Athens, Georgia.

Our woolly, four-legged friends are back to help manage the vegetation

Five trees are in the process of being removed throughout the campus. These removals will be complete by the end of October. Managing our campus trees and the urban forest that they create is a responsibility that is taken very seriously by the Georgia Tech Landscape Services team.  We are always sad to have to remove failing trees, but all are replaced, per caliper inch, according to our Tree Management Plan.  

Landscape Services lost a beloved teammate when Andrew McKinney died this month. 

Many construction projects were completed over the summer. A few other will continue into the fall.

The Georgia Institute of Technology earned three out of a possible four stars from the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) Landscape Management and Operations Accreditation program.

A $2.9 million cooperative agreement between Georgia Tech and the U.S. Department of Defense will develop information tht military planners can use to optimize energy consumption in forward operating bases.

When it comes to memorable moments while working at Georgia Tech, Warren Page is quick to mention the “snowstorm o’doom” (as Creative Loafing called it) that crippled Atlanta in 2011. 

The guys at Georgia Tech may not have noticed, but there is something different about the restrooms on campus. Three hundred and eight automatic, one-pint urinals have been installed throughout the Institute.

For more than 10 years, the Office of Facilities Management has been testing low flow water fixtures to reduce the campus’ water consumption.  Many of the newer buildings on campus have energy and water efficient bathrooms with automatic faucets and low flow toilets, and now several of the older buildings will be receiving these upgrades as well.

With the help of several other Tech engineering alumni, two recent grads created a new energy technology company called Bractlet.

Shutting off the lights when leaving a room and using more energy-efficient light bulbs are easy, but effective, ways to improve energy efficiency — especially at Tech.

Lawsuits and legislation are top of mind for the green building sector.