Maintenance and Operations

Maintenance & Operations encompasses a wide variety of activities, many of which directly relate to the operations and maintenance of the campus buildings, grounds, and utility systems. Support is also provided for special events, moving, storage, and relocations. All requests should be made by submitting a Work Order or calling ext. 8490. The services we provide include:

ACADEMIC CUSTODIANS - Menu of Services and Frequencies

RESIDENTAL CUSTODIANS - Menu of Services and Frequencies

Automotive Shop: The automotive shop performs most repairs on University vehicles, preventative maintenance, and state inspections for university vehicles. They also maintain the athletic and gym equipment, exercise machines in the dorms and the electrical generators on campus.

Campus/Grounds: The Campus / Grounds shop is responsible for a wide range of services including the maintenance of the grounds, recycling, and solid waste. Grounds maintenance includes mowing, leaf collection, mulching, weed control, snow removal, pruning, planting and litter collection.

The Grounds Department is proud to maintain two Restored Historic Gardens of Virginia that were designed and installed through the generosity of The Garden Club of Virginia. The first project undertaken was the landscaping around the University Chapel. Charles F. Gillette designed the foundation plantings and a double row of boxwood plants surrounding the Memorial (Visitor) parking lot in 1934-35. The semi-circular entrance court and plantings in front of the Chapel, designed by Ralph E. Griswold, were added in 1977. An additional garden at the University Chapel is the landscaping around the grave of Traveler, Lee's beloved horse. This garden, designed by William T. Borellis, was a gift of the 1995 W & L Alumni Board of Directors and the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. As part of that project, the Memorial parking lot was reconfigured and one of the rows of boxwood plants was removed.

Carpentry Shop: The carpenter shop is primarily responsible for building and repairing walls, ceilings, cabinets, stairs, floors, trim, and some furniture. Installing paneling, sheet rock, floors, sound boarding, shower doors, mirrors, insulation, siding, windows, bookshelves, doors and hardware, fences, sidewalk replacement, handicap ramps and more. The carpenter shop also installs and performs preventative maintenance and repairs on roofs, installs and maintains gutters and down spouts, hangs banners on buildings, assembles staging set-ups and sets-up tents.

Custodial Services: Custodial services is responsible for the general cleaning of dormitories, fraternities, sororities, academic and administrative buildings on campus. Staff are routinely responsible for general cleaning on a daily basis, changing light bulbs and fluorescent tubes, washing windows, reporting building and equipment repairs as noticed while performing duties, snow removal at building entrances, providing entrance mats and runners where needed, limited pest control services inside buildings and facilities.

Electrical Shop: The electric shop performs emergency and routine work on electrical panels, switches, receptacles, light fixtures, electric heat, electric motors, campus street lights and outdoor building lightning. In addition, they offer the following special services: temporary power and lighting for special events on campus.

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HVAC and Plumbing: The HVAC and plumbing shop is responsible for general upkeep, maintenance and repairs to mechanical systems in the buildings. The shop will also repair and maintain departmental equipment for a charge, as scheduling permits. Routine services include:

Heating and Ventilation - routine and emergency repairs and preventative maintenance on all HVACR equipment and systems, high-temperature hot water systems. These include steam, hot water, warm air, and electrical systems for large buildings as well as controls and equipment for offices and rooms.

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration - repairs and maintains air conditioning systems for computer rooms, PBX equipment and buildings; walk-in coolers and freezers, refrigerated water, coolers, ice machines, dehumidifiers and humidifiers, heat pumps, chilled water piping and coils.

Plumbing Shop - installs, repairs and maintains drinking fountains, showers, drain lines, faucets, garbage disposals, toilets, hot and cold water lines, water valves, submersible pumps, sewer injectors, steam machines, water softener units, hot water heaters, dish machines, hot water circulating pumps, and irrigation systems.

Report problems to the Facilities Management office at ext. 8490 or by submitting a work order.

M&O Business Operations: This department is responsible for maintaining the work order and purchase order systems, coordinating special events and payroll support.

Paint Shop: The Paint Shop is primarily responsible for priming and painting buildings interiors and exteriors, removing graffiti, and refinishing furniture.

Power Plant: In a typical year, the central heating/cooling plant generates between 219,000,000 to 341,640,000 pounds of steam for its customers. The steam is used for autoclaves (sterilizers), humidifiers, domestic hot water, absorber chiller for air conditioning, and heating services. The plant operates four chillers and cooling towers: one 900 ton steam absorption chiller; one 1200 ton centrifugal chiller; and two 600 ton centrifugal chillers.

The heating / cooling plant has three fire tube boilers. We have two 500 horsepower and one 800 horsepower boilers, and each boiler is capable of generating approximately 30,000 - 45,000 pounds of steam per hour. The boilers are duel fuel boilers, capable of burning natural gas or No. 2 heating oil (diesel). For most of the year the boilers burn natural gas. Our fuel storage capacity is 40,000 gallons. During January 2001, we used 99,000 gallons of fuel oil.

The heating/cooling plant operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The plant responds to emergencies after regular business hours. Wind, rain, sleet, or snow, the heating/cooling plant delivers.

Utility Crew: This shop is responsible for furniture and equipment moving, relocation, and storing. Moving services include moving offices, equipment and other items. To schedule moving services, please submit a work order or contact the Facilities Management office at X8490. Ample notice is necessary in order to schedule for customer needs. There is a labor charge for moving services. The Utility crew is also responsible for routine set ups and supports larger special events.

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