Nathan Hale has been hired to serve in the newly created position of senior grounds manager, according to Andre Hutchinson, physical plant. The care and maintenance of the campus grounds is of paramount importance as the physical appearance of campus often forms visitors’ first impressions. With the development of the River Campus, the grounds staff has been spread increasingly thin. Nathan is a registered landscape architect with more than 30 years of commercial landscaping experience and brings incredible design and leadership capability to the UP grounds team. Please welcome him as he takes on his new duties.
Physical Plant
Key Position Filled in Physical Plant
Physical plant director André Hutchinson has announced the hiring of a second locksmith, Matt Nantz, to work in the University locksmith shop. Nantz and his wife recently relocated to Portland from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Matt worked in the locksmith trade for approximately 10 years, including work experience at the University of Michigan. He joins UP locksmith Dave Bachman and will help to reduce backlog and wait-times while the physical plant continues to improve building access controls and overall campus security. Please welcome him to the UP team.
For more information contact Hutchinson at 7306 or hutchina@up.edu.
UP Sustainability Efforts Recognized by PGE
Physical plant director André Hutchinson reports that the University of Portland was recently recognized in Portland General Electric (PGE) regional advertising for our ongoing participation in PGE’s Clean Wind Renewable Power program. Every year, UP self-directs the maximum amount of its public purpose charge toward the purchase of Clean Wind power. In 2013, the University purchased 1,032,895 kWh of Clean Wind power, resulting in 1,450,753 pounds of CO2 avoided, which equates roughly to 1,618,891 miles not driven or 173 trees planted annually. For more information contact Hutchinson at 7306 or hutchina@up.edu.
Campus Main Entry Update
The main Willamette Boulevard entry will be open to incoming traffic at all times during this summer’s repaving project. The entrance drive is currently a one-way gravel road on the left side of the drive. At the end of the entrance, drivers may turn into the main parking lot or go left to access other campus parking. Those who park in the main lot must exit using the road to Mehling Hall and onto Portsmouth. Those who park along the Buckley or Waldschmidt Hall areas must leave campus using the Kenna Hall exit.
On Tuesday the 24th, workers will switch the entrance to a wider gravel road on the opposite side of the current entrance, which should help make access to campus much easier. Your continued patience is appreciated as we update this important area of campus.
For more information contact Jim Ravelli, university operations, at ravelli@up.edu.
Beauchamp Center Construction Underway
Construction on the Beauchamp Recreation & Wellness Center started on May 19 with removal of the sod and retaining wall, according to Paul Luty, director of facilities planning and construction. Job trailers were set up and fencing put in place to keep curious onlookers at a safe distance. Site excavation commenced next, with all soil removed from the site being trucked down to the River Campus to be reused for future soccer and track facilities. The oak trees and the old public safety house came down next, with the help of Fr. Mark Poorman and Jim Ravelli (pictured before their turn at the controls of the excavator). All the concrete from the old site was hauled down to the River Campus to be ground up for use elsewhere. Next the workers excavated the two lower recreation courts and started digging and setting four new stormwater drywells. The first footings for the new building will be dug and formed this week, with a concrete pour scheduled the week of June 23. The oak tree trunks will be milled to be used in the new recreation building and/or the Cove project.
For more information on campus construction projects contact Luty at 8874 or luty@up.edu.
Aaaaaaargh!
Faculty, staff, and students are reminded that the bluff area on campus is perhaps the world’s most efficient breeding ground for poison oak, an innocent-looking plant that causes intense itching, swelling, and oozing blisters on the skin of those unfortunate enough to brush against it, or to pet a dog which has recently rolled in a big juicy patch, or any number of surreptitious poison-oak-delivery systems. The resulting misery will not soon be forgotten.
The best way to avoid poison oak is to stay away from the sloping sides of the campus bluff altogether. If your job makes it necessary to climb down the bluff, it would be best to learn to identify the plant (“leaves of three, leave it be”), which typically has shiny green leaves and white berries— but not always. For more information, contact campus horticultural whiz Jim Haines, physical plant, at 7306 or haines@up.edu.
Portsmouth Avenue Entrance Closure, Detour
The campus road that runs from Portsmouth Avenue (the “back entrance” onto campus) toward Bauccio Commons will be temporarily closed due to maintenance and repairs on the underground steam and condensate lines that provide heat to most campus buildings, according to Andre Hutchinson, physical plant. Traffic will be temporarily detoured around the back side of the physical plant building in order to get to and from the Bauccio Commons. Please drive carefully and proceed with caution when using this route. Physical plant staff and repair crews apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate everyone’s cooperation. For more information contact the physical plant at 7306 or physicalplant@up.edu.
UP Awarded Silver Status for Clean Wind Power
Physical plant director André Hutchinson announced that the University of Portland has been awarded Silver status for 2013 as result of its ongoing participation in Portland General Electric’s Clean Wind Renewable Power program. Every year, UP self-directs the maximum amount of its public purpose charge toward the purchase of Clean Wind power. In 2013, UP purchased 1,032,895 kWh of Clean Wind power, resulting in 1,450,753 pounds of CO2 avoided, which equates roughly to 1,618,891 miles not driven or 173 trees planted annually.
For more information contact Hutchinson at 7306 or hutchina@up.edu.
New Hires, New Positions
Physical plant director André Hutchinson (pictured) has announced some recent staff changes:
Rachel Partin was recently hired as the new office manager for the physical plant. Prior to joining the physical plant team, Rachel worked as a writer, editor, and manager of correspondence in the Office of the President at Harvard. In addition to managing a busy office supporting the largest non- faculty department on campus, Rachel will also provide administrative support to the physical plant director.
Sandy Galati has been appointed to the newly created position of operations administrator. Sandy’s attention will be focused almost exclusively on maintenance work-order performance management as the physical plant continues to strive to make good on its promise to deliver quality and service. In conjunction with Sandy’s new role, Physical Plant will soon begin implementing and monitoring performance metrics with the goal of making sure that maintenance work-orders are completed in a timely manner while at the same time upholding high standards in terms of the quality of the work performed. Sandy is an almost 8-year member of the UP community and was the recipient of the 2012 Margaret Henzi Outstanding Office/Clerical Employee Award.
Dirk Theisen has been appointed foreman of the newly formed Boiler/Steam/HVAC shop. As part of the physical plant’s efforts toward continual performance improvement, this new trade-specific shop was formed to provide better service and support for the management and maintenance of all heating and air- conditioning systems across campus. An almost 10-year member of the Physical Plant staff, Dirk was the 2008 recipient of the Ted Deiss Outstanding Physical Plant Employee Award and received his bachelor of business administration degree in operations and technology management from UP in 2013. Dirk also honorably served in the United States Navy from 2002-2010, including a tour in Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006-2007.
Danielle Marcial has recently been appointed lead of night shift custodians. Danielle came to UP with extensive custodial/floor care experience, having previously worked in a supervisory role for the custodial department of a large public-school system in New York. In her new role, she leads a team of dedicated staff who work Sunday through Thursday, from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., providing general custodial services to all non-residential buildings across campus. As someone who displays committment to self-improvement in her work, Danielle is also a voluntary participant in Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.’s Pathways to Success Program, a 7-week, pre-apprenticeship training program that helps women prepare for a high-skill, high-wage career in the construction industry.
For more information contact Hutchinson at 7306 or hutchina@up.edu.
Shaun Shepherd Knows Apples
Shaun Shepherd, physical plant, will be featured in the November 7, 2013 episode of OPB’s Oregon Field Guide at 8:30 p.m., which will repeat the following Sunday at 6:30 p.m. After the story airs, it will be viewable on the OPB website at www.opb.org/ofgis. Shepherd is actively involved in a leadership role in the Home Orchard Society, which will be the subject of the segment. For more information contact Shepherd at shepherd@up.edu.