Top Stories
Building Ops lends its expertise to help improve Hebb Renewal Project
Last Thursday the technical specialists from Building Operations met with the project team for the HEBB Renewal to help get that project off to a great start. The team made important contacts with the various design engineers, provided insights from our experiences with the building and clarified some of the UBC requirements. This is to ensure that the University will get a renewed building that not only meets the needs of the users but also provides improved performance and maintenance outcomes. Anybody who has ever tackled a major reno project knows that there are always surprises uncovered during demo and design. By tapping into the experience in our trades workforce we are able to help the design/construction team minimize those surprises. This is the first time that we have taken steps to truly engage at the pre-design level. This is how Building Ops can help the University have better building outcomes. This is EAOS in action.
Thanks to all who worked tirelessly to reclaim the campus from the snow and ice
Monday started off like any other December Monday. Those who got to work before 6:00 had a fairly easy commute. But everything started to change around 6:30 as snow fell across the region catching many municipalities off guard. Road conditions deteriorated quickly and soon the buses were unable to make it up the hill to campus, creating commuting challenges for many. A hearty thanks to those who found themselves in a very long commute but persevered to get here to help with all of our work on campus. I think 3.5 hours traveling to work was the record from the casual hallway poll conducted.
Thanks to the Building Ops Labour Division, Landscape crew, Waste Management, Utility workers, Custodians and the dozen or so trades who all joined forces to clear the snow and salt the roads and paths on campus. With tens of thousands of staff, faculty, students and visitors moving around our campus everyday, keeping pathways safe for all is one of the most important jobs we do. Particular thanks to those who were back at 4:30 this morning to re-salt.
This week promises to deliver some more snow starting on Thursday afternoon/evening. So please plan you commutes accordingly and be safe out there.
Clothing/Laundry contract awarded to Cintas Corp
Remember the open house we held in October where we invited the 5 respondents to the clothing/laundry RFP to come show us the clothing and services they provided?
Based on the feedback you gave us (as well as some other key considerations, like cost) we are happy to announce that Cintas Corporation has been awarded the clothing and laundry contract. Building Ops Finance is in the process of drafting the General Services Contract and Kishani Gibbons will be working with Cintas to establish a transition plan to ensure a smooth move from one vendor to the next.
We are hoping to see a reduction in cost, an increase in customer service and in some shops a decrease in clothing inventory. In the new year, you will be further consulted to finalize clothing requirements and preferences. Thanks again for your enthusiastic participation in this process!
8 Driving Tips for Winter Conditions
Snow and ice push our driving skills to the limit. These 8 tips from WorkSafeBC will refresh your thinking about driving in winter conditions: http://shiftintowinter.ca/drive-for-the-conditions/
Animal Care Noise Window from January 16 – 29, 2017
Animal Care research labs in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Life Sciences buildings will shut down from January 16 to 29. During this time crews are able to do work that creates noise and vibration. Please plan accordingly or reach out to FM Deb Capps if you need support scheduling your work in these buildings.
Custodial extends thank you to Building Ops Labour Division for going above and beyond
The Custodial Department would like to extend a huge thank you to the Building Ops Labour Division for their help with Storekeeper deliveries over the last few weeks. This is a great example of how we work together to help out one another.
“If it wasn’t for Colin and his laborers, we would have been in a dire situation. Within the last month, we had the Remembrance Day ceremony, fall congregation, the President’s tree installation, and final exam set up for 2 gyms and including exam booklet delivery, which put our supply deliveries really behind. In addition to the crazy schedule, our two-man crew was down to just one. Thanks to the Moving Crew, we were able to recover and buildings are now getting their much needed soap, toilet paper and paper towel. Thank you for your support!”