FM Staff News

The fans are in the stands, the teams are ready, and the atmosphere is electric as tipoff approaches. It’s the moment everyone sees — and the one the Intercollegiate Athletics Facilities (ICA) team has been preparing for behind the scenes. In the hours leading up to game time, ICA staff are focused on the details that make a smooth game possible: floors cleaned and polished, heating and ventilation systems checked for comfort, restrooms and locker rooms cleaned and sanitized, and lighting systems tested and ready.

As Stanley R. Zupnik Hall moves steadily toward its 2026 opening, Facilities Management is already playing a key role in ensuring the building doesn’t just look impressive—but functions efficiently, sustainably, and reliably from day one.

FM’s Green Cleaning Program keeps campus healthy, safe, and environmentally responsible. A clean classroom or office may seem simple, but the choices behind it affect the air we breathe, the surfaces we touch, and the environmental footprint of every building on campus. Facilities Management’s Housekeeping team has turned these everyday tasks into a meaningful sustainability effort at UMD.

As we plan for the upcoming winter break, Facilities Management asks for your help in readying our campus buildings. With overnight lows expected to dip below freezing, these actions will help conserve energy, maintain comfortable temperatures inside buildings, and protect building systems, pipes, and equipment. Please help us by taking the following steps:

Inside the CRC Team that Keeps UMD Moving 24/7/365. It could happen in an instant. In the middle of a brutal cold snap, the heat in Tawes Hall begins to drop. Students pull on hats and zip up coats as the temperature slides lower and lower.

Meet Bill Olen, FM’s new Interim Associate Vice President. From his early days as a student worker to leading major construction efforts, Bill reflects on his career, what’s ahead for FM, and what keeps him energized outside of work.