UC Davis Facilities Management has completed upgrades to the traffic signals at the intersection of Mrak Hall Drive and Old Davis Road, restoring them to full operation and installing new Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) devices.
At UC Davis Facilities Management (FM), protecting the health and safety of technicians and the campus community is always the top priority. One important way this commitment is carried out is through hazardous material sampling, led by Jonathan Parrott and Robert Deman of the FM Safety Office.
Meet Susannah Olsonday, a Mechanical Engineering student at UC Davis who’s entering her final quarter and gearing up to graduate this December. Since January 2025, Susannah has been applying her engineering knowledge in a real-world setting as an Energy Engineering Intern with Facilities Management.
For nearly a decade, Kevin Bellido has been at the heart of the UC Davis Department of Animal Science’s Avian Research & Teaching Facility, where he serves as Facility Manager. His journey began as an undergraduate working in both the Avian Facility and the Young Hall Animal Facility, and over the years, his role has grown into one that combines animal care, education, and community outreach.
This month’s Facilities Management (FM) Staff Spotlight shines on a familiar face with deep roots in the UC Davis landscape—both literally and figuratively. Meet Mario Casanova, our Landscape Superintendent, whose journey from student employee to leadership role highlights a true commitment to campus and community.
When people think about facilities management, they often imagine custodians, tradespeople, or technicians working hands-on to keep the campus running smoothly. But behind the scenes, there’s a small yet mighty team coordinating details that make custodial operations possible. At UC Davis, that team is composed of just two members: Elizabeth (Liz) Spurr and Ashley Amaro.
For years, Facilities Management’s Utilities & Engineering explored ways to improve the groundwater well pumping system at Academic Surge. In September 2024, progress accelerated when Joel McCoy from Utilities partnered with Sam Cole and the Energy team and Nick Harden and the Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) team to design a smarter, more efficient solution. The result: a system that now saves thousands of dollars, millions of gallons of water, and provides more reliable service to a key research facility.
UC Davis Facilities Management (FM) recently achieved a major milestone in campus safety and operational excellence by completing state-of-the-art fire alarm system upgrades in Bixby and Malcolm Halls. This proactive project marks a significant step forward in improving residential safety, reliability, and long-term infrastructure sustainability.
Beginning Sept. 1, the Wastewater Treatment Plant will be closed to non-authorized staff. Large items will no longer be allowed to be dropped off at the site.
This season, a coordinated effort led by Facilities Management’s Arboretum and Public Garden and Building Maintenance Services teams is giving building entrances across campus a much-needed refresh, with a combination of pressure washing and landscape touch-ups.
