The fall semester may be over, but Facilities Services crews are just getting started on a variety of upgrades across campus to complete them while classes are not in session. More than 160 separate projects in 90 buildings and locations will be tackled between now and Monday, January 6 to ready the campus for the spring semester, which begins January 8.
Many academic and administrative buildings will have their lighting systems converted to LED lights, which use much less electricity. Several classrooms will see fresh coats of paint, new carpeting, new or refurbished student desks, and additional wall-mounted large-screen monitors.
“We’re very grateful to our staff for their hard work and dedication to the university,” said Dave Irvin, associate vice chancellor for facilities services. “We’re tackling these projects now because the end of the semester is a great time to work on our infrastructure needs without interrupting classes and academic research.”
The Walters Academic Building renovation is one of the larger projects that will finish soon. With many life sciences classrooms and offices moved to the Mossman Building, the interior of the Walters Building is being re-engineered with additional studio and performance spaces for theatre and art students.
Weather-related repairs and upgrades also will take place during the break, with Facilities Services workers repairing cracked or broken sidewalks, installing plumbing systems, cleaning out storm drains, and conducting maintenance on heating and venting units.
Athletic facilities, including Neyland Stadium, Lindsey Nelson Stadium, the Regal Soccer Stadium, Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, and Tom Black Track, will be winterized to ride out the chilly temperatures expected over the next few months.
This also is the time for landscaping work, with leaf removal, tree pruning, and sod replacement on the to-do list.
See the full list of projects.
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CONTACT:
Sam Ledford (865-297-3027, sjones80@vols.utk.edu)
Charles Primm (865-974-5180, charles.primm@tennessee.edu)