University Facilities play a crucial role in maintaining the University’s 90 buildings, which span 2.8 million square feet and cover 350 acres of beautiful campus grounds. The team of more than 200 members ensures that the campus is safe, well-maintained, and welcoming every day. 

Boatwright Library’s carpeted floors span an impressive 100,000 square feet — nearly 100 times the size of the average home’s carpeting. To manage daily wear and tear, Custodial Services uses an automated commercial vacuum cleaner. They will soon deploy additional robots to other academic buildings with large, carpeted areas. These robots keep the floors clean, allowing the custodial team to concentrate on other essential tasks.

To maintain outdoor spaces, Landscape Services recently introduced the Lavo Bot, a remote-controlled pressure-washing machine that simplifies cleaning decks and patios while minimizing the physical strain on team members. They also use a remote-controlled mower for challenging areas like the Eco-Corridor. “The remote-controlled lawn mower is a much better option for tackling difficult, steep hillsides than a traditional mower,” said Mike Torquato, landscape manager. “It keeps our team members safe.”

The team will also consider using smart mowers for athletic fields and a turf robot to assist with painting fields once the technology progresses.

Drones are joining the team

The facilities team will pilot a pressure-washing drone to assist with masonry and window cleaning. This drone, which requires a specialized license to operate it, can fly up to 140 feet to reach hard-to-clean areas, potentially reducing the need to hire a specialized contractor. Facilities is also considering using a thermal drone for future roof inspections.

“When we discovered this new drone technology at a conference, we immediately recognized its potential to benefit campus,” said Elena Kinker, custodial manager. “It offers an innovative approach to cleaning areas that are difficult to access with traditional pressure washers.”