Process Maps

Plant Operations

Plant Operations encompasses the Central Plant and Electrical Services.

The Central Plant building is the heart of the campus heating and air conditioning system. Within the building our equipment produces steam and chilled water which is then circulated across the campus through a network of below and above ground piping. Once the steam and chilled water enters the buildings, a series of pumps, valves, and fans are operated by an automated, computerized control system. The system works to maintain a balance between building occupant comfort and energy efficiency. However, not all of the campus is served by the Central Plant. There are boilers and air conditioning units located in other facilities around the campus.

HVAC Repair & Installations

Our highly experienced and knowledgeable Engineering Services staff perform repairs and install new systems for a variety of applications.

As mechanical systems reach the end of their useful life, our department develops and implements plans to replace those systems. We also work closely with the Facilities Planning Unit (link to Facilities Planning site) to develop new projects and specify equipment that provides the university the best value for our long-term needs.

HVAC System Maintenance

The millions of square feet of space that need to be heated and cooled means that there are thousands of pieces of equipment that need to be maintained.

Our maintenance activities include maintaining and repairing several miles of underground heating and cooling distribution lines; replacing air filters and cleaning air distribution system components; greasing bearings, oiling motors and changing belts; cleaning heating and cooling coils; and evaluating/adjusting operating conditions/parameters of auxiliary systems and components.

Operations & Maintenance

During the heating season, (November through May), the Central Plant boilers are operating and must be monitored 24 hours a day.

The Central Plant chillers are taken apart and cleaned during this time as well. During the cooling season, (June - October), the boilers are shut down for maintenance. The chillers run regularly to provide air conditioning for the majority of the campus. Since the chillers consume a lot of energy, we attempt to limit the amount of time they run during the day. At night they run to chill the water in the Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Tank. We then circulate TES water around the campus during the day, thereby allowing us to keep the chillers off during peak hours, which reduce electrical costs substantially.

Energy Management & Building Automation Systems

Several computer systems are in place which are designed to optimize energy consumption and building occupant comfort. The systems gather data from around the campus such as temperatures, pressures, and other operating conditions. They then evaluate that data, look at the time of day, and other factors, and make adjustments accordingly.

The quantity and variety of controls and the environment that they operate in means that adjustments and repairs must be made continually. Our staff can recognize potential problems by analyzing computer data and make corrections before there is any impact on building occupants. Constantly changing needs on the campus require us to develop solutions quickly and cost effectively. Through training and partnerships with vendors and other professionals, we strive to provide flexible control systems that reduce equipment downtime and costs, and maintain comfortable indoor environments.

Electric Shop

The Electrical Shop works closely with Plant Operations to maintain nearly all electrical equipment on campus including primary and secondary distribution systems, underground cables, interior circuits, panels, transformers and switchgear.

The shop is also responsible for all indoor and outdoor lighting on campus and contributes to many of the campus’ Special Repair and Minor Capital Outlay projects.

Building Trades

Automotive Services

Automotive Services specializes in the repair and upkeep of a wide range of vehicles including university carts, cars, trucks, vans, and other mobile equipment. Our services extend beyond automobiles to encompass gasoline and diesel-powered machinery, spanning from large generators to weed eaters.

Our dedicated team at Car Care Solutions conducts thorough inspections of vehicles prior to their procurement, whether they are being leased, purchased, or received as gifts. We also efficiently manage off-site repair processes to ensure minimal disruption. Adhering to local, state, and federal regulations, including those related to air quality, smog testing, and CSU executive orders, is a top priority for us. Additionally, we stay at the forefront of technological advancements, enabling our campus to acquire vehicles that align with our sustainability goals while effectively meeting our operational requirements.

Lock Shop

Within Facilities Management, our Security and Lock Shop takes charge of a variety of crucial responsibilities. This includes the oversight of the campus master key system, key inventory, and the issuance of keys. Our scope extends further to encompass the upkeep of campus door locks, ranging from cutting-edge electronic locks like Velocity, to standard keyed locks, padlocks, and software-controlled key cabinets such as Key Watcher.

The Lock Shop is your solution for a wide range of lock-related tasks. This includes extracting broken keys, rekeying, and providing repairs for lock sets. We also address concerns in automatic doors, door closure malfunctions, repairs for building exit door hardware, and regular preventive maintenance.

Please take note that Key Requests are not managed by the Lock Shop

Metal Shop

The Metal Shop's primary function is supporting all sheet metal and welding needs throughout the entire campus Our in-house staff can take care of most metal fabrication requests that do not require specialized metals such as stainless steel. Any non-structural welding can be performed by the staff based on specifications provided by the customer.

Multi-craft Shop

The Multi-craft Shop plays a dual part by taking care of the essential upkeep and repair of fundamental elements across all campus buildings. This includes foundations, walls, roofs, stairs, ceilings, floors, floor coverings, wall coverings, doors, hardware, sidewalks, streets, and additional auxiliary facilities or equipment. Additionally, we oversee project management for minor renovations and moderately-sized projects.
For services that fall beyond the scope of Executive Order No. 847, we offer these upon request through a cost recovery procedure.

Paint Shop

Spanning across more than 2 million square feet of campus buildings, the task of painting is substantial. Our skilled painters undertake the preparation and final touches for offices, corridors, classrooms, and the interiors of various structures. In addition, they handle the painting of roadways and parking lots, including striping and markings. Our objective is clear: to revitalize, safeguard, and enhance the appearance of everything, ensuring a clean and vibrant environment for you.

Plumbing Shop

The plumbers replace and repair faucets, valves, water and drain lines, water heaters, sewer, storm, domestic and hot water circulating pumps, just to name some of the work they do. They also install new piping and plumbing components for remodel projects. On a regular basis, they hydro-jet sanitary and storm lines to keep them flowing utilizing an aggressive preventive maintenance program.

The plumbers are also responsible for:

• Maintenance and replacement of sanitary and storm systems
• Domestic water mains
• Natural gas distribution systems
• Fire suppression systems such as sprinklers, stand-pipes, hose cabinets, and hydrants
• Layout, rough-in and final fixture installation of all plumbing systems
• Maintenance and repair of all 287 restrooms on campus
• Testing and repairing 84 backflow prevention devices