The Facilities Management Landscape Architecture and Site Planning (FM-LASP) team recently completed the Physical Sciences District Framework Plan, a major design plan that aims to resolve long-standing safety concerns, enhance the campus environment, and create dynamic public spaces. We sat down with Mayton Xu, a licensed Landscape Architect (LA) on the FM-LASP team, and lead LA for this project, to learn more about this exciting redesign plan!

Building Management Services (BMS) is always working on new projects around campus. We sat down with Refik Smlatic, Inspector, Planner, Estimator for Facilities Management (FM) BMS, to delve into the background and details of an impressive project that has led to a complete overhaul of Hoagland Hall’s lighting system and aims to increase campus efficiency as a whole.

Our campus has long been known for its delightful greenery and natural beauty, but it’s easy to overlook the amount of care and planning that goes into making the UC Davis campus the lush space that it is. Beyond their beauty, campus gardens contribute to sustainability efforts, foster community engagement, and serve as living laboratories for educational exploration. The Gorman Museum of Native American Art, which opened its doors on campus just last year, recently got a garden makeover from Ryan Deering, GATEways Horticulturist, and his Sustainable Horticulture team.

Nearly a decade ago, campus leaders at UC Davis decided to invest in a small team of employees to reduce energy by optimizing building controls and systems. The concept was that UC Davis could fund such a team, if it could curb high utility bills — essentially having the team pay for itself with energy savings.

In 2016, UC Davis embarked on an ambitious project to enhance the Arboretum Waterway. Following the successful completion of

 the first phase, additional funding was secured to continue the improvements. Construction resumed in March 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2026. This massive undertaking aims to significantly enhance campus sustainability, research opportunities, and aesthetics. We sat down with landscape architect Andrew Fulks, who played a major role in launching this project, to learn more about the innovative changes taking place.

This past May, our custodial team hosted a series of employee events in honor of the International Sanitary Supply Association’s International Cleaning Week! The team showcased their spirit throughout the week by dressing up in fun themes and spending time socializing with each other. We sat down with custodial supervisor Jasmine Aranda to learn more about this celebration of team spirit! 

Elevators play a vital role in ensuring our campus remains accessible for all students, staff, and visitors. While essential for navigating campus buildings, they often go unnoticed until they stop working. Campus elevator foreman Aimee Spivey knows all about the intricate mechanisms that make these transportation devices function and works daily to make sure that they are operating at the highest level possible. We sat down with Aimee to learn more about a long-term elevator modernization project currently underway on campus. 

In the bustling landscape of the University of California, Davis, lies a silent community of guardians—towering sentinels that silently witness the ebb and flow of campus life. These guardians, however, have been given newfound recognition and care through an ambitious project aimed at understanding, mapping, and preserving UC Davis' arboreal riches.

In a recent interview with Joe Lestanguet, inspector, Planner, Estimator (IPE) for Facilities Management Building Maintenance Mechanical unit, we delved into the background and details of a transformative project to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and contribute to our campus sustainability goals.

In the dynamic landscape of a campus such as ours, adapting facilities to meet evolving needs is paramount. One such transformative endeavor took place at Cowell building's second story, housing the Center for Advocacy, Resources, and Education (CARES). Spearheaded by Student Affairs Director Matthew Fucile and Divisional Resources Associate Director Carol Swafford, this project breathed new life into the space, providing CARES with enhanced functionality and privacy.