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Collaborative Facilities Project Finishes Replacing Over 58,000 Light Bulbs

The campuswide project to upgrade lighting to LED bulbs and fixtures is now complete. Through a partnership among multiple units within Administration and Finance, the nearly four-year-long project is now finished, having converted over 58,000 light bulbs to highly efficient LEDs. This project is estimated to save 5,300,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity each year, which is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 817 passenger vehicles being driven for one year.

Learn more about the project in The Elm.

Cool Innovation: Chiller Upgrades in UMB Buildings Provide Energy Savings and Operational Efficiencies

Chiller upgrades on the south end of campus are allowing UMB to create an efficient chilled water loop. This south loop operates similar to the infrastructure on the north side of campus and allows equipment in one building to support another building if a piece of equipment fails, providing redundancy during unexpected outages.

Read more about this efficiency work in CATALYST.

Design and Construction Staff Tour Towson University Smith Hall Project

In early December 2025, Capital Project Managers (PMs) from D&C took a site visit of the Towson University Smith Hall project. Two special visitors joined the tour - PM Kisha Brown-Tuck's daughter Najlah and Associate Director Glenn Ryan's daughter Morgan, both of whom are current TU students.

Tissue Cutting at HSHSL Celebrates Bathroom Renovation Completion

A recent O&M project renovated restrooms throughout the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL). In place of a traditional ribbon cutting, the HSHSL team held a tissue cutting and breakfast in December 2025 to celebrate the completion of the project.

Building a Sustainable Future with Workforce Partners at Phase 3 Training

UMB recently received a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration to fund three projects in support of clean energy on campus and in the broader Baltimore community. UMB Workforce Initiatives, located within the Office of Community and Civic Engagement, is collaborating with the Office of Sustainability on one component of this project to offer community members access to alternative energy training that prepares them for careers in the growing solar industry. 

Read more about this partnership in The Elm.

New SSW Building Project Team Members Visit Terra Cotta Factory

In early December 2025, project team members visited Marklkofen, Germany to review the manufacturing process for terra cotta that will be used in the new building. The team got a tour of the factory and had larger discussions surrounding sustainability and the production schedule.

O&M Celebrates the Holidays in their "Wiser Wonderland"

Staff from O&M celebrated the holidays during their "Wiser Wonderland" event in December 2025. The event was themed around A&F's Wiser Together initiative and included a gingerbread house construction contest, with the winning team pictured on the left.

CFSA Staff Take Tour of Colwell Center

In December 2025, staff from Construction and Facilities Strategic Acquisitions got a tour of the Rita Rossi Colwell Center, which is currently undergoing a capital project to replace the roof and upgrade mechanical systems. This building is located in the Inner Harbor and is home to employees and programs from institutions including UMB, UMBC, Towson University, and the University System of Maryland.

From new employees to work anniversaries and everything in between, we have a lot to celebrate in Facilities and Operations!

New Employees



CFSA: Steve Burgess (Contracting Specialist)

EVS: Shakira Franklin (Grounds Supervisor), Aaron McNair (Clean Campus Ambassador)

O&M: Earnest Thompson (Project Manager)

Years of Service

10 Years: Helen Willis (EVS)

20 Years: Alain Seibert, Jacqueline Campbell Boydner, Ryan Mobley (EVS)

30 Years: Ronda Lewis, Ida Powell (EVS)

Achievements and Accolades

EVS

• Yolanda Horton (Custodial Manager): December EVS Employee of the Month
• Raekwon Wallace (Clean Campus Ambassador): December EVS Wheel of Gratitude
• Dominic Minter (Custodial): January EVS Employee of the Month
• Deja Simms (Moving, Recycling, and Special Events): January Wheel of Gratitude

While our bi-monthly F&O newsletter gives an overview of initiatives happening throughout Facilities and Operations, we encourage you to join the newsletters below for more detailed information on specific programs and projects.

Facilities and Operations

220 N Arch St

Baltimore, MD 21201

410-706-7570

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Facilities and Operations, a division of Administration and Finance

https://www.umaryland.edu/facilities