Staff in Action

Out at the ARS facility kennels, the upper and lower plexiglass panels shielding the dogs from the elements were in rough shape. None of the panels were a uniform size to begin with, so when the weather turned cooler and staff needed to reinstall the top panels (which are removed to improve airflow in the summer), they stuck them where they thought they fit best and drilled them into place. After six years of drilling in the top panels combined with dogs pawing at the lower panels, there were holes throughout.

Back in 1970, when Tupper Hall opened, Tyler hub and spigot cast iron pipe had been the standard drainpipe for over 40 years. Thousands of feet of the stuff zig-zagged throughout the building. In 2005, after responding to countless leaks and patching up sections of pipe running throughout the underside of each of Tupper's four floors, FM's plumbing shop secured deferred maintenance funding to replace Tupper's acid waste line with a long-term fix that kicked off on the third and fourth floors.

The UC Davis Police and Fire departments just received three new air handling units (AHU) as part of FM’s Deferred Maintenance program. The equipment replaced was commissioned in 1978, not energy efficient, leaking air and past its useful life. The new AHUs -- serving 10 zones in the PD and six zones in the FD -- will help resolve a history of low-airflow issues impacting the spaces. Other enhancements include direct drive fans and improved air filtration.

This summer, seven of the campus’ 128 general assignment classrooms are getting a makeover.

The classrooms – all in Olson Hall – are being updated floor to ceiling with fresh paint, lighting upgrades, new flooring, updated window coverings, and the latest in audio/video equipment.

“It’s so much better to walk into a pleasant environment,” said Matt Traxler, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning in the Office of Undergraduate Education and Professor of Psychology. “And fewer distractions mean students can focus on learning.”