Talking Stick - January/February 2014 - 44

CONVERSATIONS

The Four Pillars of Facilities Stewardship
Members talk about how important it is to base a maintenance
program on four essential supports.
Participating in this conversation are Frances Watson Lengowski, an associate with
VMDO Architects in Charlottesville, Virginia; Dave Sagaser, associate director of
facilities management at Florida State University in Tallahassee; and Steve Waller,
executive director of residential life and housing at Louisiana State University in Baton
Rouge.

Frances Watson Lengowski: Maintaining
DAVE SAGASER

FRANCES
WATSON
LENGOWSKI

STEVE WALLER

44

TALKING STICK

understanding of the buildings involved.

buildings is challenging, even in good economic
times. But there are several strategies we
have seen institutions use successfully -
carefully identifying and planning for known
maintenance needs, budgeting for maintenance
costs, and setting priorities. When times get
tough and money isn't as plentiful, these
strategies become even more important because
it's important to manage maintenance needs
before an emergency arises. It's all about smart
management. And as resources dwindle,
management has to get smarter.
Managing smarter starts with good
planning. A maintenance plan that outlines
the timing and cost of replacing or repairing
building components can serve as a road
map. Both internal and external resources are
useful in developing a maintenance plan. A
consultant can provide an outside perspective
on maintenance needs, informed by exposure
to a broad array of systems and campuses, but
an internal team has the invaluable handson knowledge of their buildings and can
identify ways to safely extend the life of some
components. The most important factor in a
good maintenance plan is that it needs to be
grounded in a strong, nuanced, and realistic

But even a great plan should be a living
document, one that allows priorities to shift over
time and respond to the unexpected.

Dave Sagaser: I maintain a five-year project
plan, and don't how I would live without it.
In some cases the projects could be moved
forward or moved up depending on changing
conditions, but normally most changes are
minor. One of the twists that affects student
housing is the planning necessary to take a
building off line for the summer. Obviously, this
affects summer conferences, summer housing
plans, and live-in staff relocation. But getting
the plan out is important in case the university
has other projects, particularly road or utility
projects that require a measure of coordination.
Our plan is shared with residence life, student
affairs, facility management, and, importantly,
our business manager.
Estimates are essential, but the projects
always seem to grow once it is decided that a
building goes off line. There is a tendency to do
more because it is so hard to get a hall off line
for three months. A roofing project will add a
fire alarm replacement, new ceiling tiles and
Talking Stick - January/February 2014

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