In June 2017, the Building Services Department (BSD) launched a free menstrual product pilot program on campus in Seattle. Following a successful rollout, the offering is now an established program that provides clear, acrylic dispensers stocked with free individually-packaged pads and tampons within select restrooms across campus.
About a stone’s throw from the Plant Services Building, where Pend Oreille Place NE and 25th Avenue NE intersect, a young black walnut tree, freshly planted, waves in the bright afternoon sun.
If you spend any time around Lou Cariello, the new vice president of UW Facilities, you’re likely to hear him quote the late great UCLA basketball coach John Wooden: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
UW employees from around campus converged at the HUB on Oct. 2 to compare notes and share results from some of their team’s latest lean ideas and implementations. The 7th annual Lean Cultural Showcase was hosted by UW Finance & Administration and highlighted the work of more than 70 teams.
More than 70,000 people travel to the University of Washington every day, and there's a good chance that one of them is going your way. UW commuters take more than 16,000 trips via carpool or vanpool every week and autumn is an excellent time to give ridesharing a try.
You may notice some trees missing when you stroll around campus this fall. This summer’s sustained heat coupled with the crafty work of the bronze birch borer have weakened the University of Washington’s birch trees, forcing grounds crews to remove many of them.
What happens to all of the items generated by thousands of University of Washington students as they race to clear out their spaces and leave campus for the summer?
The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games are almost here, and the University of Washington is proud to serve as a primary venue. From the day the athletes move in to the opening ceremony on July 1 at Husky Stadium and through the whole weeklong schedule of events that follows, expect to see a lot more new faces around campus. Please be aware of the following parking and traffic changes and how they might impact your daily commute from Tuesday, June 26 to Sunday, July 8.
Road closures: Walla Walla Road will be closed to unauthorized vehicles from the Baseball stadium to the E19 parking lot Sunday, July 1 through Friday, July 6. Mason Road will be closed intermittenly to unauthorized vehicles on Sunday, July 1. Jefferson Road will be closed to unauthorized vehicles Monday, July 2 through Friday, July 6.
Parking closures and changes: Lots E4, E6, E8 and E9 will be closed to regular UW permit holders for some or all of the period between Tuesday, June 26 to Sunday, July 8. If you have a permit for one of these lots, you will receive an email with specific information about the closure period and where to park during this time.
Also affected are lots W8 and E12. W8 will have 30 fewer spaces for the duration of the event, and while E12 is not closing, congestion is expected to make it difficult to access. If you have a permit for one of these lots, you will receive an email with alternate parking suggestions. Lots N16-N21, N24 and C12, please note the Mason Road closure and plan your route accordingly.
Congestion: The UW is housing more than 4,000 athletes and coaches in residence halls and hosting competitions in venues across campus. The largest crowd is expected during the opening ceremony at Husky Stadium on Sunday, July 1, with up to 24,000 people attending. As it is summer quarter, the traffic impact other than on Sunday should not be too great. Something to be aware of is the high number of pedestrians that wll be in the area around the stadium. Drivers are asked to be patient, drive slowly, and, if not attending the event, consider taking alternate routes to your destinations.
As technology becomes more sophisticated, companies and universities alike are identifying new, cutting-edge ways to utilize and improve safety methods and equipment to ensure the well-being of their workers. These methods are designed to keep employees safe every day at work, and are often the last line of defense against accidents.
For example, smart helmets and earmuffs can include systems designed for fast, effective communication in loud or low-visibility environments. Phone-based apps can send alerts about weather and emergency situations at a facility. Apps can also be used together with wearable sensors in order to notify people when they misuse a tool.
Athletes aren’t the only ones training for this summer’s Special Olympics in Seattle. Deep beneath UW Tower on May 22, more than 100 University of Washington personnel and regional partners will gather for a simulated disaster — testing and evaluating the University’s ability to handle a large-scale emergency.
UW Recycling of Building Services Department has been focusing on expanding its team, preparing inventory and designing the 2018 install strategy in order to tackle Phase I of the MiniMax expansion plan: implementing the waste diversion program in the Health Sciences Building (HSB).
Facilities Services joined other University of Washington groups in Red Square on April 20 to celebrate Earth Day 2018 and support this year’s theme of “planting the seeds for a sustainable future.” Employees from UW Recycling, UW Surplus and Transportation Services staffed outreach tables at the event, and the Energy Resource Conservation team received a Husky Green Award during the ceremonies.
The University of Washington was named a 2017 Tree Campus USA member by the Arbor Day Foundation, marking the 9th year in a row it has achieved this recognition.
Originally posted on March 2, 2016. Updated by Alicia Halberg on March 9, 2018.
It’s that time of year again. The cherry tree blossoms are starting to bloom across campus, which means the University will see more people outside enjoying the Quad. Help make the blossoms last by avoiding some damaging behavior.
June 4 update: Facilities Services is pleased to announce that Jerrett Roberge is one of the 2018 Distinguished Staff Award recipients. Learn more about him and his fellow DSA recipients through The Whole U Spotlight.
Eight Facilities Services employees were honored along with their fellow nominees for the University of Washington's Distinguished Staff Award (DSA) at a special ceremony at the HUB Ballroom on Feb. 27. The award's executive sponsor and Vice President for Human Resources Mindy Kornberg welcomed the more than 200 colleagues, friends and family who attended the reception. UW President Ana Mari Cauce praised the 138 nominees for their outstanding contributions to the University. Each nominee was called by name to receive a certificate from campus leaders while excerpts from their nominations were read aloud.
We’ve all heard the stories of 38 minutes of panic and fear in Hawaii, the time between when a mistaken missile alert first went out and when the correction message was finally sent. In the wake of this, we took a closer look at the processes used for sending out urgent and emergency messages to the campus community, and the different systems University officials have at their disposal.
Employee & team features, News & updates, Training
In collaboration with the Facilities Services Training Center, Building Service Department officially began its fourth year of The Stepping Stones for Success Program (SSSP) in January 2018. The program’s nine-month-long format is designed to develop leaders and provide valuable skills for job advancement opportunities.
With the collective support of University of Washington’s campus community, UW will take another step towards achieving its sustainability goal of 70% waste diversion by 2020 through the expansion of MiniMax, UW’s comprehensive waste diversion program. By supporting the growth of the MiniMax program, UW will continue to uphold its reputation as a national leader of sustainability.
