Construction Services | Facilities Services

NEED HELP? ONE CALL AWAY, 24 HOURS A DAY 946-7777

Roger McDonald

Director

Contact Information:

Phone: (865) 974-3146

Email: jmcdona3@utk.edu

Fax: (865) 974-7786

About:

Roger McDonald has worked in various roles in the UT Facilities Services department for 36 years and counting. During his time in the department, he has received the Chuck Thompson Outstanding Employee Award (2006) and the Chancellor’s Honor Citation for Community Service (2010). He was named Director of Construction Services in 2017. Roger has a passion for helping others as evidenced through the hard work he puts into the Ryan McDonald Annual Toy Drive that honors his late nephew. When he’s not working or volunteering, Roger enjoys watching college football and basketball and traveling.

The Construction Services Unit assists the campus with construction and renovation activities for projects performed by Facilities Services and is available to assist with projects performed by the Office of Facilities Planning.

Project Coordination

The Project Coordination Group assists the Campus with coordinating construction and renovation activities for contracted projects as well as projects performed by Facilities Services, and the group is also available to assist with projects performed by the Office of Facilities Planning.Some of their responsibilities include:

Primary contact for the campus community for renovation projects.
Work along with Facilities Planning on new capital projects to help control costs, achieve quality and to monitor the campus interests and standards.
Develop specifications for material and contracts.
Assist with estimates and design projects to include consulting with architects, engineers and clients concerning the design development of projects.
Contract and manager the yearly maintenance of campus sculptures.

Construction Team

The Construction Team aids the campus and department with construction and renovation projects. Since the creation of this subunit, the Construction Unit is able to complete projects in a more timely and efficient manner.Many projects, such as classroom upgrades, take place over the summer break. These projects require a great deal of planning with the campus departments as well as vendors to ensure everything is completed before the beginning of the fall semester.

Some of the Construction Team’s responsibilities include:

New Construction
Remodeling
New Loading Docks and Handicap Ramps
Outdoor Lighting
Other Major Building Projects

Estimating Services

Estimating Services is responsible for preparing on-site cost estimates for future projects and updating estimates as revisions are made during a project, as well as communicating project details to the construction coordinator when proposed work becomes an active project.

The Construction Unit’s in-house architect also coordinates with Estimating Services to work out specific details of the project before it begins. This helps the flow of the entire project by ensuring the group is proactive vs. reactive.

Building Finishes

Building Finishes provides a diverse range of services directed toward special projects, routine maintenance and upgrading facilities. Services provided include: building or demolishing walls; installing or removing windows and doors; repairing floors, walls, ceilings, windows and doors; installing whiteboards, glass boards, chalkboards and corkboards, forming, pouring and refinishing concrete walls, steps and retaining walls; laying blocks, brick and stone; repairing concrete sidewalks and other walking surfaces; installation and repair of cubicle furniture and work furniture; and the installation of new exterior building signage and Cone Zone signage.

Building Finishes also oversees Painting & Sign Services which includes a crew of room painters as well as a crew that is responsible for exterior signage and interior signage through the UT campus.

Accessibility for the Disabled:

Building Finishes coordinates curb cuts in streets and sidewalks, installation of ramps, lever handles, visual alarm systems and other devices. The team also organizes construction or maintenance services required for appropriate accessibility for the disabled. The Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Services is a member of the various campus committees which generally oversee accessibility for disabled individuals. For information about these programs, contact the Associate Vice Chancellor (208 Facilities Services Building, 974-2178).

Painting Services:

Building Finishes oversees a crew of room painters who perform 99% of the maintenance painting for all public areas in all campus buildings. Painting Services is also responsible for the repair and finish of sheetrock and interior/exterior plaster. The group also sandblasts and pressure washes buildings and hardscape on grounds. For painting questions contact Building Finishes at 974-7764.

Sign Services:

The Facilities Operations Sign Shop is responsible for exterior signage and interior signage throughout the UT campus. They also specialize in engraving for desk plates and room identification plates. The Sign Shop has the ability to make banners for any occasion. For those specialty jobs, they can also provide customer letters and graphics to fit your needs. For sign questions contact Sign Services at 974-6821.

STAR Team

The STAR Team is a specialized team responsible for providing a more focused service function to the research community. This is accomplished by assisting new researchers by renovating their lab space, helping them get acclimated to campus, and installing their lab equipment to ensure they can hit the ground running when they get to campus. The STAR Team also assists existing researchers with changes in programming requirements and assisting existing researchers with day-to-day problems that may arise, such as issues with the lab’s HVAC, electrical and plumbing to ensure there are no interruptions to the research.This subunit took over the responsibility for the TVA Energy Road Map, which includes energy auditing of buildings and working with College of Engineering students on senior design projects that benefit campus by conserving energy. The STAR Team also identifies and implements energy saving projects to be used for the green fee revolving loan fund as part of the road-map.

The STAR Team is leading the way to predictive maintenance techniques with vibration analysis, shaft alignment, and thermal analysis. Zone Maintenance acquired the equipment to do this type of work and is now training Zone Maintenance personnel to use it to balance all the equipment on campus to maximize efficiency.