Top Stories
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STAFFING UPDATE: MANY OPEN POSITIONS
Building Operations will be posting several jobs this coming week to fill critical vacancies in many of our core areas. Positions include: plumbers, electricians, operating engineers and a mechanical maintenance assistant. These are in addition to the already open millwright, roofer, utility worker, service worker, steamfitter, and a (new) steamfitter apprentice. Many of these roles have been hard for us fill and so word of mouth can be one of our best attractors of good talent. If you know somebody who would be a great addition to our team please send them to our website http://www3.buildingoperations.ubc.ca/careers/.
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2016/17 BUDGET UPDATE – BUILDING OPERATIONS PUTS FORWARD BUDGET REQUEST TO EXECUTE EAOS TRANSITION AND FILL CRITICAL VACANCIES
In early April the UBC Board of Governors will be reviewing and approving the 2016/17 budget. Last week a message came out from the Finance and Provost offices discussing the process to date. You can read that email here if you haven’t seen it. Over the last several years Building Operations has contributed to significant savings for the University by cutting back our expenditures and our staffing levels. Thanks to EAOS and your input we now have a clear strategy to transition our department into a proactive Operations and Maintenance department that will deliver long term savings. As part of the 2016/17 budget proposal we have requested additional funds so that we can execute on that strategy and become exceptional asset stewards ensuring that this campus continues to operate at the lowest total cost and enabling the living, learning and research spaces that make UBC world class. Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we roll out the initiatives identified and supported by our future budget. There are many competing demands on the limited funds available for this campus and we must be sure to make the best use of every dollar and so as always your continued input via crew talks, hallway chats, one-on-ones with your supervisors and managers and via Bright Ideas are appreciated and welcomed. If you see a better way to do something we’d all like to hear about it.
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BUILDING OPS KEEPS THE TRADITION ALIVE, PUTS UP THE WALL AND PARTICIPANTS STORM OVER IT!
From March 20th to the 23rd, thousands will participate in UBC’s most iconic event, Storm the Wall. What started as an intramural event in 1970 has become a UBC tradition. Last year, a record-breaking 800 teams signed up for the competitions and ultimately, conquered the 12-foot high wall.
Building Operations helps keep this tradition alive. The team, consisting of Neil Malmquist, Ron Wessa, John Singh, Scott Turner, Foti Alexiou and Mo Afshar; with the supervision and coordination of Robert Stone and Paul Shaw, had been preparing the site and constructing the wall since March 7th. Based on the photo below, it’s all smiles from the team as they “conquer” the wall!
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BUILDING OPS TEAMS QUICKLY RESPONDS TO FUME HOOD FIRE IN CHEM/PHYSICS
After VFD cleared the area, Custodial, Plumbers, Carpenters, and FLS all responded very quickly to a fume hood fire in Chemistry/Physics. The extra effort by the Custodial team helped mitigate the extensive damage from the fire and the sprinkler system. Crews worked throughout the night. Professor Peter Legzdins of the Department of Chemistry expressed his gratitude and congratulations for the exemplary work they did. Their efforts were much appreciated by all the members of the research group.
Well done!
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BIG TEAM WIN ALERT!
Buchanan’s garbage and recycling areas have been a real eyesore and smelly issue for a long time. Due to can collectors rummaging through, and the spills/drips/leaks of liquids in coffee cups and drink cans, Custodial and Waste Management were constantly cleaning it up.
We came together as a team, Custodial, Waste Management, and our FM Chris Skipper, to solve this problem once and for all! Mike Giannias and Barry Jones responded quickly to moving the bins and pressure washing the Buch D entrance. Gary Wolfram and the Waste Management Team increased the recycling pick up to twice a week. The Evening Custodial Staff organized the bins for easier pick up and less visibility.
Happy to report the before and after, and to show what putting our heads together will do!
Plus the clients in Buchanan D began to remove their nose plugs & stopped packing their bags, so…
HIGH FIVE!
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IS EAOS ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING?
Yes!
And we are very excited to show you what we’ve done, and what’s on the way!
The asset collection pilot is over, we’ve learned our lessons, & we’ve received approval from the Steering Committee to move forward on the following:
• Fund the cleanup of Records in Laserfiche – we are going to index the O&M manuals so you DON’T have to sift through 4 million pages of info!
• Do a refresh training on Records Retrieval – we will remind you/show you how to make it work for you! Not just for you as a group of Building Operations employees, but you as an individual!
(Yes, we can do that!)
• And finally, we have the “GO” to create the building blocks of how we are going to collect what asset data YOU need to do your work without taking Tylenol or losing your hair.
You are in the driver seat of maintaining and operating your assets, so we are going to work with you to get you what you need.
And not 10 years from now, NOW now.
We heard ya, and we’re going to blow you away with awesomeness!
(Sorry for all the exclamations, we’re very excited!)
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PONDEROSA COMMONS UNDER “PARTIAL PROVISIONAL OCCUPANCY” UNTIL APRIL 30
With the exception of FLS and Elevators, the academic space is will remain the responsibility of UBC Properties Trust and Urban One Construction until final turnover to Building Operations. We anticipate turnover within the next 3 to 4 weeks.
In the transition period prior to Final Turnover, Building Operations trades will attend to Service Requests received from the Service Centre.
These requests will be, but not limited to the following.
• Zone and central shop Client Funded and Maintenance Requests. (including Scheduling Services classroom repairs)
• Cleaning
• Insecure premise
• Leaks and floods
• Fire Alarm System
• Elevators
• Emergency response to all systems
Please contact Rob MacDonald regarding any questions.
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WE HAVE A STAR IN OUR MIDST
Congratulations Electrician (and Firefighter) Brent Hannah on being honoured by the annual Pitt Meadows Fire and Rescue Service Awards for “going above and beyond the call of duty with extra initiatives.”
Read more here.
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UBC BIKE RAVE CENTENNIAL EDITION WILL BE ON MARCH 19, 8:00PM – 11:30PM
UBC’s Bike Rave is back. This is an annual event to promote sustainability and environmental awareness, to promote cycling as a fun and convenient form of transportation, and to bring the community together.
DATE: Saturday, March 19, 2016
TIME: 8:00pm – 11:30pm
SETUP/TAKEDOWN: Setup at 6pm / takedown to 12midnight
LOCATION: Start at Koerner Plaza
Finish at University Commons
See attached route map
# OF PARTICIPANTS: 400 cyclists
DETAILS: 4 pit stops (see map) – Audain Arts Centre, Martha Piper Plaza, Forest Sciences Centre, behind the Copp Building
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STORM THE WALL SET UP, EVENT PROPER AND TAKEDOWN ON MARCH 19TH TO THE 24TH
Storm the Wall is an annual event for faculty, staff, students and community to swim, sprint, bike, run and over the wall.
Event Information:
Date: Sunday, March 20th – Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016
Time: Sunday, March 20th – 11:00 am – 5:30pm
Monday, March 21st – 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Tuesday, March 22nd – 10:15 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday, March 23rd – 12:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Setup/Takedown: Saturday, March 19th – 6:00 am – 6:00 pm: Event fencing
Wall takedown on Thursday, March 24th and Tuesday, March 28th
Event days will have one hour and a half before event start and takedown one hour after last race ends
Location: Wall located at University Commons
Sponsor tents and others booths will be located on University Commons
Route map below.
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Quick Updates
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NPS SCORE DECREASED BY 1 POINT TO 79%.
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WELCOME TO UBC: MARK MARYNICK