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FSU Facilities News

Building Excellence: Phil Gleason

01/08/2025


Building Excellence: Phil GleasonMaster Craftsman Studio (MCS) is a unique university auxiliary associated with FSU Facilities. They specialize in creating one-of-a-kind custom art pieces for the campus community and private clients. As Master Craftsman Studio Production Manager, Phil Gleason manages Master Craftsman’s daily production meetings, quality control, design meetings, and client interactions.


Gleason began his tenure at Master Craftsman Studio in May of 2008. While in graduate school, he was a student employee for three years and will celebrate 20 years at FSU in August of 2025.


 
 

Building Excellence: Chelsey Falb

12/16/2024


Building Excellence: Chelsey FalbBehind all Facilities communications materials and publications, including social media posts, the website, newsletters, and other materials, is the dedicated Facilities Communication team led by Facilities Communications Manager Chelsey Falb.


In her current role, Falb manages all internal and external communication aspects for all Facilities and Planning, Design & Construction units. This involves collaborating with leadership to engage and inform students, staff, faculty, and other university community members.


 
 

F&A Award Winners

12/16/2024


F&A Award WinnersOn November 15, 2024, the Finance & Administration (F&A) Employee Appreciation Celebration acknowledged employees’ dedication and hard work. The celebration was organized by Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Kyle Clark, Chief of Staff for Finance and Administration/Associate Vice President for Human Resources Renisha Gibbs, and the F&A Celebration planning committee. The annual event was packed with delicious food, exciting games, fantastic prizes, photo booths, music, and other activities. From start to finish, the day offered something for everyone, creating a memorable experience full of laughter and camaraderie.


 
 

Board of Trustees Visit to IRCB

11/25/2024


Board of Trustees Visit to IRCBOn November 20, 2024, Planning, Design & Construction (PD&C) hosted the FSU Board of Trustees (BOT) to tour the soon-to-be-completed Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB) project located on the corner of Levy Avenue and Engineering Way in the Innovation Park corridor led by PD&C Senior Project Manager Mary Jo Spector. In addition to the BOT, FSU President Dr. Richard McCullough, First Lady Dr. Jai Vartikar, Senior Vice President for Finance & Administration Kyle Clark, Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson, Dean of FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Dr. Suvanru De, representatives from the Provost's office, and other FSU stakeholders joined the tour.


 
 

Building Excellence: Luke Tabbert

11/25/2024


Building Excellence: Luke TabbertPlanning, Design & Construction’s Planning & Space Management group is responsible for campus planning, space data management, property management, GIS and mapping, and archives. In his new role as the Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Analyst, Luke Tabbert is responsible for creating, editing, printing, and maintaining the GIS data and maps for Facilities and Planning, Design & Construction.


 
 

Building Excellence: Atari Timmons-Ross

11/07/2024


Building Excellence: Atari Timmons-RossFacilities Maintenance provides world-class maintenance, repair, and construction services to the FSU community. For the Maintenance Department to run efficiently, there needs to be exemplary people behind the scenes, such as Atari Timmons-Ross. As of October 18th, Timmons-Ross is the new Administrative Specialist for Maintenance, where she performs administrative duties including recruiting, payroll, creating work orders, and ensures the office is running smoothly.


 
 

Building Excellence: Danial Hathcock

10/29/2024


Building Excellence: Danial HathcockKeeping Florida State cool, in the literal not figurative sense, is largely thanks to the chill water systems here on campus which work to regulate the internal temperatures of buildings. The Pipe Shop maintains and repairs the steam and chill water systems here on campus, as well as maintaining the stormwater drain systems. As Pipe Shop Supervisor, Danial Hathcock does a standout job in overseeing the day-to-day operation of the FSU pipe shop and handling campus water leaks both in buildings and on the grounds.


 
 

On the Path to Rebuilding After May’s Tornado Outbreak

10/28/2024


On the Path to Rebuilding After May’s Tornado OutbreakA pair of EF-2 tornados impacted Florida State's Main and Southwest campuses on Friday, May 10, a day of historic tornadic activity in the Tallahassee region. FSU Environmental Health & Safety and Planning, Design & Construction representatives, including Insurance & Risk Manager Laymon Gray and Project Manager Jose Moralez, collaborated with FEMA representatives on Friday, May and project contractors to inspect storm damage from the tornado event earlier this week.


 
 

Building Excellence: Al Smythe

09/23/2024


Building Excellence: Al SmytheFlorida building departments are responsible for reviewing plans and inspecting commercial construction for compliance with the Florida Building Code and other applicable construction requirements. At FSU, the Building Code group in Environmental Health & Safety works closely with project planners from the start of construction through project completion. Al Smythe entered the role of Building Official for FSU on August 30th, 2024, and is responsible for the permitting, plan review, inspections, and Certificates of Occupancy or Completion issuance for not only FSU but also Florida State University Schools and New College in Sarasota.


 
 

Building Excellence: Randy Wright

08/23/2024


Building Excellence: Randy WrightFSU’s large campus makes it essential to have a robust waste management system in place to provide excellent customer service and support the University’s sustainability goals. As the superintendent of Waste Management and Recycling, Randy Wright has devoted years to providing the entire campus with efficient and effective services.


Wright originally began working at FSU fifteen and a half years ago, where he started as a supervisor in Building Services. From there, he moved to Waste Management as a commercial driver and continued up the ladder to be an assistant supervisor, supervisor, and finally superintendent. Wright entered his current role in 2018 and then retired in 2021, before returning to his current position in 2023.


 
 

A Culture of Efficiency: Campus Utility Dashboard

09/16/2024


Attention to Details: The Campus Beautification TeamIn the summer of 2024, Florida State University Facilities launched a Campus Utility Dashboard to monitor and gather insights about energy consumption on campus. The goal was to provide an interactive tool for users to visualize campus utility usage and plan for a more sustainable and efficient campus energy management program.


"This opportunity to give our customers a window into sustainability and energy initiatives has been a long-time goal," Director of Campus Sustainability Elizabeth Swiman said. "The data project represents the culmination of broad efforts to present information in a useful manner for our campus community. It also emphasizes the diversity of our campus buildings, which vary in age, size, and use, each contributing to the overall story of energy consumption."


 
 

Attention to Details: The Campus Beautification Team

09/04/2024


Attention to Details: The Campus Beautification TeamFSU’s campus is known for its beauty, from the sweeping branches of the oak trees to the Collegiate Gothic-style brick buildings that dot the landscape. While these more prominent features of the campus may be the first to garner one’s attention, taking a closer look at the details of FSU’s campus, like the light posts and the handrails, one would notice just as much care and attention has been dedicated to ensuring that these small features contribute to keeping all of the campus looking it’s best.


 
 

Building Excellence: Shane Clemons

08/23/2024


Building Excellence: Shane ClemonsThe Facilities Construction and Labor Shop supports the University with general maintenance and provides services that enable campus units to perform to the best of their ability. As the In-House Labor and Construction Maintenance Supervisor, Shane Clemons is always on job sites working alongside his team to complete these projects promptly.


 
 

Building Excellence: Malica Segura

08/23/2024


Building Excellence: Malica SeguraFacilities Financial Services provides financial services and reporting on University plant and facility operations. As Assistant Director of Budget and Financial Services, Malica Segura plays an essential role in managing the procurement and accounts payable functions for Facilities and advising the various Facilities stakeholders on the procurement and accounts payable processes.


 
 

Facilities' Utilities and Engineering Intern Program

08/20/2024


Facilities' Utilities and Engineering Intern ProgramFor nearly three years, Utilities and Engineering’s Building Automation System (BAS) team has employed student interns from various engineering and computer science educational tracks at Florida State. The intern program’s goal is to aid in implementing large numbers of equipment/datasets on campus. This ranges from working with mechanical equipment, such as boilers and chillers, to electrical equipment, such as generators, to fire alarms, utilities distributions and more.


 
 

Building Excellence: Ryan Porter

08/20/2024


Building Excellence: Ryan PorterFacilities Maintenance provides world-class maintenance, repair, and construction services to the Florida State University community. On July 12th, Ryan Porter transitioned from his role as Preventative Maintenance Coordinator to Assistant Director of Maintenance Planning. In both roles, Porter has been essential in coordinating the preventative maintenance programs and teams for FSU’s Main and Southwest campuses.


 
 

Building Excellence: Lashea Alexander

07/08/2024


Building Excellence: Dea ArenthBuilding Services strives to provide the most efficient, versatile, timely, and economic Custodial Service program possible. As the current Assistant Director of Building Services, Lashea Alexander is essential in providing guidance for the main campus custodial staff and custodial contractors for the off-site buildings.


Alexander moved into her current position in 2015 but has worked at FSU for 19 years. She began working at FSU in 2004 as a Building Services Custodial Supervisor after working as a branch manager at Advance America for several years. Since then, she has become a Maintenance Support Specialist, received a promotional opportunity to become Superintendent, and continued to progress to her current role.


 
 

Building Excellence: Dea Arenth

07/01/2024


Building Excellence: Dea ArenthPreventative maintenance is essential for keeping FSU’s campus safe and functioning and could not be accomplished without the work of those such as Dea Arenth, who currently works in Facilities’ Preventative Maintenance Shop under Mike Ochat. This coming October is Arenth’s one-year celebration of being in the role.


In her current role, Arenth is responsible for completing various work assignments throughout different buildings on campus and maintaining the machines there. This includes working exhaust fans, HVAC units, chill water pumps, hot water pumps, and condensate pumps to keep them in proper operating order.


 
 

All About Agave

07/01/2024


All About AgaveFlorida State’s campus is renowned for its natural beauty – from the sprawling branches of the oak trees to the flowers blooming across campus – the landscape is one that is often admired. Yet, a unique and rare bloom is currently sprouting up across campus, one that might be missed if people did not know how to look. Century plants, or formally known as Agave Americana, are shooting up their sprouts in three different locations at FSU, but what makes them unique?


Unlike other plants, century plants bloom only once every 40 to 60 years (it does not take a whole century as the name implies) but the reason for why these plants bloom and when they will is still unknown. Yet, after they bloom, these plants will quickly wilt and die, giving the chance for viewers to see their blooms a short timeframe. Despite the death of these plants, there is no reason to shed a tear, as throughout the plant’s lifetime it produced “pups” which are budding century plants at its base. These pups will continue to grow and one day bloom in the decades to come.


 
 

Building Excellence: Marvin Simmons

06/10/2024


Building Excellence: Marvin SimmonsFSU’s Utilities Plant works to provide crucial utility services to support the entire University Community. As Operations Superintendent at the Utilities Plant for the last four years, Marvin Simmons has been essential in ensuring that amenities such as chilled water, steam, and electrical are provided to the entire campus.


 
 

TOM Project Enhances Campus Safety with Expanded AED Program

06/18/2024


TOM Project Enhances Campus Safety with Expanded AED ProgramThe TOM Project is a Florida State University health initiative launched in 2021 in memory of Florida State University student Toluwani "Tom" Idowu, who passed away suddenly in 2020 at the age of 22 due to a sudden cardiac arrest while on a run near campus.


“I’m so grateful to the FSU community and to God that a way was made for The TOM Project to be sustainable. This has been a key part to my consolation, that through this project, another might have the hope of life.” Tom’s Mother, Cathy Idowu said.


 
 

Building Excellence: Alfie Brown

06/10/2024


Building Excellence: Alfie BrownThe National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) is globally renowned for being the largest and highest-powered magnet lab in the world, conducting groundbreaking research here in Tallahassee. Alfie Brown, who works in Environmental Health & Safety as the Interim Safety Director at the MagLab, plays an important role in ensuring that the facility operates safely.


 
 

Update on Tree Removal Efforts Following May 10th Tornadoes

06/03/2024


Restoring normalcy after a significant storm event is of the utmost importance. The dedicated team at FSU Facilities is working diligently to restore the campus environment after three tornados touched down on Friday, May 10, severely impacting FSU's Main and Southwest campuses. The storm activity resulted in the loss of an estimated 1,000 trees at FSU. The landscape surrounding the Southwest campus's National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) received the brunt of the storm's force and was significantly altered.


 
 

EH&S Announces Organizational Changes, Retirement of Tom Deckert, and Promotion of Sam Sevor

06/03/2024


Associate Director of Building Code Tom Deckert announced his retirement. His last day will be Thursday, June 6, 2024. Tom started his career in 1993 as an Architectural Programmer and transitioned into the building code role in 2001 following a state legislature decision that required all educational entities to have a code compliance division.


 
 

Building Excellence: Ben Arline

05/31/2024


Building Excellence: Ben ArlineChemical Safety is crucial for providing safe working and learning environments for campus laboratories. Ben Arline, Assistant Chemical Safety Officer in Environmental Health & Safety, is responsible for operating protocols for lab personnel interacting with potentially dangerous materials. As a hazmat-certified environmental specialist, Ben is the first responder to on-site hazardous incidents, developing training to enhance safety knowledge and mitigate these occurrences.


 
 

A Growing Legacy: FSU College of Medicine Chapman Garden

05/22/2024


A Growing Legacy: FSU College of Medicine Chapman GardenThe Chapman Memorial Garden is at the Florida State University College of Medicine and is designed to be an extension of the Thrasher Building. It is named after Jules B. Chapman, M.D., and Annie Lou Chapman, whose foundation provides scholarships to the College of Medicine. The renovated courtyard serves as a welcoming space for students to relax and contemplate the humanistic aspect of practicing medicine. The garden features hardscape plazas, landscaping, irrigation, a water element, and seating to encourage individuals to sit, have lunch, or hold small group meetings.


 
 

Building Excellence: Zale Bergozza

05/15/2024


Building Excellence: Zale BergozzaResidence halls serve as a home away from home for many Florida State students. University Housing Maintenance Supervisor Zale Bergozza ensures that students have the best possible on-campus housing experience by overseeing repairs and improvements to the residence halls.


Zale has been celebrating a decade-long career at University Housing. He started as a General Technician, transitioned to Specialty Trades Technician, and became the West Side Maintenance Supervisor. In October 2023, he was promoted to Housing Maintenance Supervisor, where he oversees trades work in all residence halls.


 
 

Building Excellence: Zone C&D Facilities Maintenance

04/15/2024


Ceremonial Evergreen Placed at Legacy HallWelcome to Building Excellence! This feature spotlights a Facilities team recognized for going above and beyond to create, maintain, and manage Florida State University's physical environment.


The maintenance teams made up of electricians, plumbers, and maintenance technicians, were recently recognized for their diligent work this spring ahead of important events on campus for our academic partners.


 
 

Facilities Announces New Organizational Structure

04/10/2024


Ceremonial Evergreen Placed at Legacy HallFacilities is pleased to announce that it is transitioning to a new organizational structure. This change ensures that we continue to offer the best possible physical environment to our campus community by creating, maintaining, and operating our buildings, grounds, utility systems, and infrastructure. Facilities leadership has collaborated with human resources to design an organizational structure that will enable us to provide our campus partners with the highest quality of customer service.


 
 

Ceremonial Evergreen Placed at Legacy Hall

04/10/2024


Ceremonial Evergreen Placed at Legacy HallA pine tree was raised on the roof of Legacy Hall during its "Topping Out" ceremony, marking the completion of the building's structural phase. The pine is known as a "Topping Tree," indicating the celebratory nature of the building structure reaching its final height. For builders, the evergreen holds a profound symbolism. It is a testament to the safety and care taken and a beacon of good luck and prosperity for future occupants.


 
 

Facilities Opens New Operations Center

04/09/2024


Facilities Opens New Operations CenterFacilities Information has relocated our operations center to a more modern space within Mendenhall A. The operations center is the central hub for Facilities to monitor campus systems actively. This new space provides enhanced situational awareness of campus activities, events, outages, and external factors such as weather.

The expansion will afford facilities increased operational capacity and more staffing opportunities. With our focus on customer service and transparency, we are confident that the new operations center will contribute to Facilities' culture of Building Excellence.


 
 

Building Excellence: Union+ Maintenance

04/02/2024


Building Excellence: Union+ MaintenanceThe Union+ Maintenance Team maintains the buildings that empower and support students, such as the Student Union, Askew Student Life Center, The Globe, Student Services Building, and more!

The team brings diverse skills to the Union+ zone and is well-equipped to tackle any maintenance issue staff may present. Whether it is a routine inspection, emergency repair, system upgrades, or minor renovations, they are on the ground building excellence daily. The Student Union staff recently recognized the Union+ group for the improvements made in the Student Services Building (SSB), including door restoration, painting, and enhanced entryway aesthetics.


 
 

AiM Upgrade March 29 - 30

03/27/2024


Facilities ITS is upgrading the AiM work management system. Starting Friday, March 29th at 5 p.m., ITS will turn off all Facilities web request forms that feed into AiM: Service Requests, Housing Requests, Surplus Requests, Special Event Requests, etc.


 
 

National Call to Artists - Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB)

03/06/2024


National Call to Artists - Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB)Through the state of Florida's Art in State Buildings program (ASB) Program, Florida State University (FSU) seeks proposals for existing or new 2D or 3D public art to be installed permanently inside or on the grounds of the Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB) currently under construction.


 
 

The Late Winter Leaf Drop of Campus Live Oaks

03/05/2024


Live oak leaf shedding on campusFlorida State University's campus is well known for its iconic grounds with the Southern Live Oak being one of its crown jewels. As winter turns to spring in Tallahassee, Live Oaks begin shedding their leaves. Individual Live Oak trees shed their leaves at various times- often weeks apart. However, the spring leaf shedding is currently at its peak throughout campus, resulting in a flurry of leaves dropping that the Facilities' Grounds and Landscaping team is diligently working to keep at bay. They also collect them to be composted at the plant nursery when possible.


 
 

Planning, Design, and Construction Announces New Organizational Structure and Leadership Positions

02/29/2024


Planning, Design, and Construction will transition to a new organizational structure aimed at undertaking the most extensive capital improvement portfolio in Florida State University's history. Considering workload and campus partner satisfaction, Planning, Design, and Construction is pleased to announce three new roles.


 
 

FSU hires new Maintenance Director

02/26/2024


Joel VanRavenswaayFlorida State University Facilities is happy to announce that Joel VanRavenswaay has been selected as the Director of Facilities Maintenance. With a trades career of over three decades and over twenty years of experience in university facilities management, he will serve as a key steward of the physical systems supporting the University's teaching, learning, research, and service goals. VanRavenswaay will begin his new role on February 26th.


 
 

Facilities and Housing Introduces New Service Level Agreement

02/15/2024


As students returned to residence halls after Winter break to gear up for the Spring Semester, FSU Facilities Department and University Housing prepared to implement a new Service Level Agreement (SLA). This collaborative agreement, which took effect on January 5th, outlines the custodial and maintenance services provided by Facilities to Housing and sets the financial expectations for Routine and Non-routine Maintenance.


 
 

Master Craftsman Announces Flaumenhaft Family Gate

02/15/2024


Flaumenhaft Family GateSeminole Boosters unveiled the Flaumenhaft Family Gate of Florida State University's Doak Campbell Stadium on Tuesday, December 12th, 2023. The 3'x12' sign is composed of aluminum and features cast aluminum letters bearing the family's name.

Florida State University Facilities' Master Craftsman Studio oversaw the design and installation of the Flaumenhaft Family Gate sign. It includes a powder-coated finish selected for its durability, lightness, and minimal oxidation in a humid environment.


 
 

Ragans Hall Lobby Updates

01/25/2024


Ragans Hall Lobby UpdatesRagans Residence Hall is an apartment-style dorm on the west of campus comprised of four buildings with a shared lobby. Facilities Design recently completed updated finishes to the lobby, including flooring, carpet, and paint. The Ragan lobby experiences heavy traffic as it is occupied year-round and serves as a contact point for residents and staff.

Ragans Hall was renamed in 2006 in honor of Sherill Williams Ragans, a former residence counselor and housing director. The lobby design features a collage centered on a previously crowded wall, highlighting the hall's namesake.


 
 

Track and Beach Volleyball Facilities Upgrades

12/12/2023


Track and Beach Volleyball Facilities UpgradesThe success of Florida State University Athletics highly depends on having reliable structures and systems in place. Facilities Planning, Design, and Construction is excited to announce the addition of two new storage facilities that will offer additional storage for the Track and Beach Volleyball teams.


 
 

Landis Furniture Improvements

12/12/2023


Landis Furniture ImprovementsBordering Landis Green to the south and sharing the same name, Landis Hall is an essential figure in the heart of Florida State's campus. Home to 400 honors students, University Housing requested a furniture replacement for Landis Hall's common areas, such as study rooms, kitchens, and lounges. The Facilities Design group collaborated with University Housing to foster an environment of collaboration, socialization, and community that recalls the Hall's character while upgrading existing, outdated furniture.


 
 

Bio Unit One and Student Union Honored at North Florida Excellence in Construction Awards

11/10/2023


Bio Unit OneThe Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of North Florida Excellence in Construction Awards recognized two Florida State University projects at their awards ceremony on November 9, 2023. Bio Unit One (Childers Construction) received an Eagle Award in the Education: Postsecondary/Higher Education category for projects worth $10 - $25 million. The project transformed the 50-year-old laboratory building's third floor with ten new 660-square-foot state-of-the-art biomedical labs and complementary collaborative spaces, including core labs, support labs, offices, conference rooms, and communal areas.


 
 

Master Craftsman Studio Completes First Federally Approved Project

10/20/2023


Master Craftsman Studio Completes First Federally Approved ProjectMaster Craftsman Studio, an auxiliary unit of Florida State University Facilities, is renowned for its unique art installations and fabrications on Florida State’s campus and public commissions throughout Tallahassee and beyond. The studio achieved a landmark in its 20+ year history, completing its first federally approved monument. The Department of Veterans Affairs was the governing body responsible for the approval. On November 2, the Air Force Association (AFA) Chapter 419 revealed the United States Air Force (USAF) Memorial at the Tallahassee National Cemetery at a ceremony with members of Chapter 419 and their families, representatives from the US Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration, and various community members. The towering Memorial measures 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide, comprises four panels adorned with USAF insignia, and serves as a tribute to the remarkable service and sacrifice of USAF personnel.


 

Clery Act Drill at Health and Wellness

10/19/2023


Multiple university and community partners collaborated to ensure the success of the Clery Act drillFacilities’ Environmental Health & Safety Department conducted a successful drill on Thursday, October 5, at the Health and Wellness Center. A joint exercise between Environmental Health & Safety, the Health and Wellness Center, FSU Emergency Management, FSU Police Department, Tallahassee Fire Department, and Assa-Abloy (door control contractor), the drill served as a test of the FSU Alert System, an evacuation and fire drill, as well as an inspection of all fire alarm system components.


 

Sadie Greiner Named Chief Construction Officer

10/17/2023


Sadie GreinerSenior VP Kyle Clark announced the advancement of Sadie Greiner as Florida State University's first-ever Chief Construction Officer. Well-known as a proactive leader who guided us through multiple transitions, Sadie joined Facilities in 2021, serving as Chief of Staff and, most recently, Interim AVP. She excels at leveraging existing strengths, acquiring new talent, and identifying areas for improvement.