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Campus Facilities, Administration and Services

Work of University’s Custodial, Environmental Staff Vital in Stopping Spread of COVID-19

They arrive each day on campus ready for work, many early in the morning and others during the day or late at night. They are essential, needed and necessary—and on the front lines in helping to stop the spread of the pernicious COVID-19. They are the University’s custodial staff.

Teams of custodians keep the academic buildings and residence halls clean and disinfected throughout the year. This semester, their work took on an added dimension with the developing COVID-19 health crisis.

The custodial staff, however, was prepared.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Iconic Air-Inflated Roof Lowered as Roof Replacement Project Continues

The skyline over Syracuse University is markedly different today, symbolic of the transformation and evolution of the campus. The iconic air-inflated roof over the Dome was deflated, making way for a fixed roof, part of the University’s $118 million, multi-year upgrade of the sports arena to create a new stadium experience.

“We have anticipated this day since the project started, but somehow the moment the roof was deflated marked a new turning point,” says Director of Athletics John Wildhack. “The momentum is undeniable, and it’s exciting to watch the completion of what will become another iconic athletic structure and an entirely new athletic experience for our fans.”

According to Pete Sala, vice president and chief campus facilities officer, the new roof is expected to have a 40-year lifespan, more than double its predecessor’s, and include less costs for maintenance. “Without the inflatable bubble, I won’t be watching our crews clearing off snow from the roof and, frankly, that makes me really happy,” he says, adding that the 7.7 acres of Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric, which weighed 220 tons, presented maintenance challenges that are now part of the past.  Sala recalls that in March 1993, the dome had to be deflated when nearly four feet of snow fell in the Syracuse area. The new steel roof enhances both safety and efficiency.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Scott Reynolds ‘Can’t Stand to See Kids Walk through Snow to Get on a Bus’

Very early on winter mornings, Scott Reynolds navigates a payloader along the streets and through parking lots on the Syracuse University campus. Following a snowfall, Reynolds and his 60 colleagues on the Facilities Services grounds team work to clear the campus of snow as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Reynolds works the 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shift, before campus stirs to life each morning, but teams work around the clock during the winter to keep the University’s four miles of streets, 26 miles of sidewalks and countless stairs, exits, entryways and curb cuts clean and accessible.

Read Scott’s full profile at Syracuse University News.

Hospitality Advisor for Yankees, Rams, Cowboys Will Look to Improve Fan Experience at the Dome

In an ongoing effort to provide an enhanced fan experience at the Dome, Auxiliary Services engaged Michael Bekolay of Venue Hospitality Solutions to provide feedback on the facility’s food service operations and capabilities. He began his work on campus in November when he took in a home football game and examined all aspects of the concessions infrastructure. He’ll soon attend basketball games to assess how facility operations adjust to a smaller crowd and a different layout. Bekolay will also gather feedback from the Athletics department, and most importantly, from fans and visitors to the Dome.

“It’s exciting to bring someone with Michael’s background to campus,” said Jennifer Uryniak, interim director of Auxiliary Services. “We want our game-day experience to be second to none, so we look forward to hearing his recommendations as we move forward on our planned renovations.”

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

’Cuse Trolleys Make Their Campus Debut, Expand Shuttle Routes

Four trolleys purchased by the Division of Business, Finance and Administrative Services (BFAS) have begun crisscrossing the Syracuse University campus, providing expanded shuttle coverage to the campus community.

The trolleys, which can accommodate 22 people, were selected for their reliability, size and modern accessibility features, including air-suspension for kneeling, ramps and low floors.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Seven Months into Renovation, the New Schine Takes Shape

Schine roof removed with view to sky

After donning a hard hat and protective eyewear to walk into the Schine Student Center construction zone, the first glimpse into the space is one of impressive vastness. What was once concealed behind brick walls and sectioned off into quadrants is a wide-open floor plan, soon to be filled with new gathering spaces, dining options, and offices for student services and activities.

There is still some time until the renovated Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center opens to the public. Right now, half of the building is still occupied by the University Bookstore and Goldstein Auditorium. The other half has been gutted, from the Panasci Lounge on the third floor all the way down to the loading dock. Demolition of the space is complete, according to Vice President and Chief Campus Facilities Officer Pete Sala. He says that the project’s general contractor, LeChase Construction, hauled away 223 30-yard dumpsters full of construction waste. That’s 1,345 tons of debris, or put another way by Sala, just as much interior demolition as with the Barnes Center at The Arch project.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Tips for Making the Holidays More Sustainable

The holidays are usually a time of overindulgence, but holiday traditions can be made more sustainable with a little creativity. We reached out to Syracuse University’s Office of Energy Systems and Sustainability Management for some ideas on how to make the holidays more environmentally friendly.

Get the tips and read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Stories of Service: CPDC Director Joe Alfieri

In celebration of Veterans Week 2019, the University is recognizing stories of student veterans and faculty/staff who are veterans or have especially strong connections to the military. These stories are just some of the many from the veteran and military-connected community on campus whom the University is dedicated to supporting. From welcoming veterans to campus as far back as World War I, and having the longest consecutively running ROTC program in the country, the University is committed to being the “best place for veterans.”

Today, read the stories of U.S. Marine Corps veteran and College of Visual and Performing Arts student Adrian Weekly ’20 and U.S. Navy veteran Joe Alfieri, director of campus planning, design, and construction.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Auxiliary Services Looking to Hire up to 500 People to Staff the Dome

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the excitement of a major Dome event and also earn money while you’re there, consider applying for one of the several hundred positions that are available through Dome concessions and catering.

The positions are flexible, says Mark Tewksbury, Food Services’ director of residence dining and concessions. Many people who work in the Dome do so for supplemental income and work games on nights and weekends. Food Services is looking for 300 to 400 people to staff concessions stands and another 100 or so to help with Dome catering and bartending.

Application links:

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

South Campus Composting Program Turns Food Waste Into Rich Nutrients for Plants

Syracuse University Sustainability Management has launched a Student Composting Program for South Campus residents. The goal is to reduce the amount of organic material going into trash dumpsters.

In January 2019, Sustainability Management piloted a composting program with a small group of volunteers living in South Campus housing. The program ran for 10 weeks and about 100 pounds of food scraps were diverted from the waste stream and delivered to the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) Composting Facility. The food scraps were turned into compost—a high-nutrient material that can be used in gardens and lawns to add back nutrients that are necessary for plants to grow. The compost is a replacement for synthetic fertilizers that harm streams, lakes and oceans.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.