FM Staff News

There are more than 50 gardens on the College Park campus, many with a cozy bench where you can soak up the fragrances amid a peaceful environment. Here are just five examples selected by Director of Landscape and Special Services Karen Petroff and Arboretum Outreach Coordinator Meg Smolinski. They represent all corners of the campus and different types of gardens.

Almost every day, somewhere on campus, an elevator will come to a stop. Facilities Management (FM) constantly monitors them and is always ready to respond. Here’s what can disrupt elevator service and how FM works to minimize disruption to the UMD community.

As the Clarice celebrates its 25th Anniversary season, FM has completed a multi-year program to modernize the house lighting system, balancing aesthetics, fiscal responsibility, and environmental stewardship.

When a steam outage occurs, it can affect heating, hot water, and other building systems across campus. This overview explains how the campus steam system works, what impacts may occur during an outage, and what to expect as service is restored. What is the campus steam system? The university operates a central steam system that produces and distributes steam across campus. Steam is a critical utility that supports:

Winter storms can leave behind more than snow. Even after precipitation ends, cold temperatures and freeze–thaw cycles can create hazardous conditions across campus. Facilities Management crews work continuously to clear snow and ice, but lingering cold can slow cleanup and cause surfaces to refreeze—sometimes overnight. Thin layers of ice may form in areas that appear clear, especially in shaded locations, high-traffic walkways, near building entrances, and around structures with sloped roofs, where snow or ice may slide off without warning.

In a typical year, the College Park area experiences an average of five to six snow or ice events with an average seasonal snowfall of around 13 inches. Long before the first snowflakes fall, the Facilities Management (FM) landscape/snow removal team begins winter weather preparation, and whatever winter brings, FM is prepared.