Essential Utilities
Energy & Utilities staff ensure uninterrupted services
We are highlighting different Facilities Management teams and their work to serve the University throughout this challenging time.
Photos by Ericka Rogers/Heat Plants Maintenance Manager and aerial image by Sanjay Suchak/University Communications
Facilities Management’s Energy & Utilities teams are working hard to ensure utility services are as reliable as ever. Without electrical power, heating, cooling and water, “all the outstanding work to combat the COVID pandemic would abruptly stop,” explained Associate Director of Chiller Plants Justin Callihan.
“So many throughout Facilities Management, UVA Health and the broader University community are doing so much incredible work to support the crisis,” Callihan added. “Our role, in my opinion, is to make certain they have the utilities needed to do their job…the last thing we want would be to give them another challenge to try and overcome. When done right, no one should even know we’re here.”
Facilities Management employees at the Main Heat Plant (pictured) continue to ensure the plant is generating steam and hot water distributed to most facilities on Grounds.
Heat Plants staff include (top row, from left) Operations Supervisor Scott Messer monitoring the plant’s control room; Senior Maintenance Mechanic Mikel Clements and Mechanic Justin Maxey performing gear box maintenance; Instrumentation and Controls Technician Chris Recke repairing a portable emissions monitor; the Main Heat Plant as seen from above; Sanitary Technician Hassan Mahamud sanitizing a plant door; and Operator DeUahn Wells filling out an operations log with daily readings.
Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu