In addition to facilitating communications between customers and the Facilities Operations Department, the Customer Service Group includes a Projects Division. Last fiscal year the CSG Projects Division was responsible for $5.2 million in project output. This year’s volume has already exceeded $13 million with three months remaining!

Projects that meet the following criteria are handled by the CSG:
* Renovations under $200 thousand.
* Single system replacement projects such as - roofs and HVAC upgrades.
* Refurbishing of classrooms, offices and common space areas throughout central campus.

Management of these CSG projects include reviewing all work requests for possible conflicts, meeting with customers to determine the scope of work, interfacing with Yale and external consultants, establishing a project budget and securing appropriate funding.

Upon project approval and contractor selection, the assigned project manager oversees the project through completion and ensures customer satisfaction.

The goal of the CSG Projects Division is to complete all projects in a timely manner, within budget and in keeping with the University’s construction standards.

In 2005, Yale University completed construction on two new cutting edge buildings - the Malone Center and the Chemistry Research Building, both of which incorporated sustainable building standards into the design. These two buildings help set the stage for Yale’s recent commitment to becoming a sustainable University. Both of these buildings meet the certification standards of the US Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org/ criterion referred to as LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design].

The LEED standards are developed to integrate ecological and human health principles into the building design in an economical manner. In the process of developing a LEED building the following areas tend to be evaluated:

* Site design, planning and management
* Energy use - efficiency and renewable energy standards
* Water management - conservation and quality
* Life Cycle Implications - materials and waste
* Indoor environmental quality
* The implications for transportation systems

In addition, the design also considers those who work inside the building. By the Planners selecting better building materials that produce fewer emissions, their design improves the building's indoor air quality for the occupants. In this same line of thinking, Custodial Services will begin to review the types of cleaning products that are used and pilot some new solutions that are more environmentally friendly and equally as effective.

Yale University is not alone in these decisions. There is an emerging trend on university campuses across the country to design new buildings that incorporate LEED standards. Campuses such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Clemson all have campus-wide standards that require a LEED certification of silver. Other universities such as Duke, the University of California system and the University of Vermont all require basic LEED certification at the minimum for new construction and renovation projects. http://www.efswest.org/working/building_policy.php

Beginning this semester, Yale University will grapple with these same issues via the engagement of a new Sustainability committee, intended to evaluate campus-wide sustainable design and construction standards. The Sustainable Building Design and Construction Committee will be charged with the task of developing a set of University-wide [Central Campus and Medical School] guidelines for the design and construction of high-performance, long-term, and cost-effective facilities that support and advance the mission of the University while minimizing the impact on the environment and human health.

For more information on Yale’s Sustainability initiative go to: http://www.yale.edu/sustainability or you may contact Julie Newman, Sustainability Director, Office of Facilities at mailto:julie.newman@yale.edu.

Promotions and New Assignments:

Jerry Irizarry, formerly assigned to Pierson and Davenport Colleges, has been reassigned to Stiles and Morse Colleges. Jerry, who in the past year was promoted to Supervisor, has been with Custodial Services for six years.

Rob Daly has moved from the Cross Campus work unit and is now Custodial Supervisor responsible for Pierson and Davenport Colleges.

Marilena Stephens has taken over the Cross Campus Work Unit. Additionally, Marilena will be continuing in her Team Leader role for the Evening Special Operations Crew and the Art/Grad Work Units.

Kirsta MacLellan, a long time Yale Employee who over the years has supported many departments administratively, has recently been promoted to Custodial Supervisor, assigned to Calhoun and Berkeley Colleges. Kirsta most recent assignment was as a Utilities Coordinator at the Yale Central Power Plant.

Jeanne DeChello has been promoted to Team Leader with Paul Catalano and Kirsta MacLellan as her team members. Jeanne will also be continuing her responsibilities as Supervisor for Timothy Dwight and Silliman Colleges.

Vanessa Mason-Stancil, formerly working with YSM Custodial Services has been promoted to Custodial Supervisor on Central Campus, supervising the newly formed Special Operations - Science.

Ronnie Mayberry, formerly of the Grounds Department has been promoted to supervisor. Ron will supervise the Special Operations - Central, reporting to Marilena Stephens.

Retirement:

Ray McCarthy is retiring after 35 years from his position as Custodial Supervisor of Stiles & Morse Colleges. Ray intends to travel and finally meet up with the challenging task of cleaning out his garage. Ray…we will miss you, your contributions and your most wonderful sense of humor. Best wishes, always, from all of us in Facilities!

Other Changes:

We are pleased to annouce that Carlos Mercado’s current role as an Associate Director of the Customer Service Group has been dramatically expanded. In addition to his duties as an Associate Director for the CSG, he will be managing the YSM Customer Service Center and its staff, mirroring colleague Pat Gallagher, Associate Director, CSG, who oversees the Customer Service Center for Central Campus. Carlos began his career in 1984 in Custodial Services, where he worked until 2004 when he made the move to the CSG.

Let’s congratulate Carlos on this latest accomplishment and wish him the very best!