Physical Plant Operations

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does customer services do?
• Who picks up the check?
• Where is the Sterrett Complex (Physical Plant Operations) located?
• When will the heating/cooling be turned on?
• How do we get keys to locked areas?
• Where do I send an ISR (Interdepartamental Service Request) form?
• Who is responsible for cleaning of desks and podiums?
• Who takes care of projectors and projection screens?

What does customer services do?

Customer Service is a division of Physical Plant Operations, and exists to ensure that all university faculty, staff and students are comfortable in their environment. We staff three phone lines with trained personnel who are in direct radio contact with Physical Plant Operations personnel. They can answer most of your questions or direct you to the appropriate person. Customer Service automates, prints and distributes the customers' work requests. An average of 1,100 maintenance requests and 200 renovation requests are processed monthly. The staff acts as university liasons notifying our customers of building system shutdowns.

Who picks up the check?

The mission of the Physical Plant Operations Department within Virginia Tech Facilities is to provide quality facilities management and maintenance support to the learning, discovery, and engagement activities of Virginia Tech. This mission will be accomplished through effective, safe, and efficient service in the areas of building maintenance, housekeeping, and grounds maintenance.

The following information is provided as an introduction to the business structure concerning maintenance activities at Virginia Tech. Physical Plant Operations provides maintenance services using both general fund and non-general fund sources. General fund allocations from the State budget are used to provide maintenance of educational and general administration buildings on campus. Non-general funds, typically generated through fees and program revenues, are used to maintain auxiliary buildings such as residential and dining halls, athletic facilities, and The Inn at Virginia Tech. In addition, funding supplied by requesting departments is necessary for some maintenance activities.

The following lists are offered as examples of activities that are supported by funding assigned to Physical Plant Operations to fulfill their mission of maintaining the educational and administrative buildings on campus and services that must be funded by requesting departments.

Examples of services funded by Physical Plant:

• Building maintenance - Routine maintenance consists of repair to "basic" structural, electrical, and mechanical building components. Examples include: lighting; heating and ventilation (except window air conditioning units); standard ceilings/floors; roofs; windows; standard, manual door locks and closures; elevators; water fountains; bathrooms; etc.
• Preventive Maintenance - Scheduled preventive maintenance is performed on all major mechanical and electrical building systems to maintain optimum performance levels and minimize failures.
• Routine housekeeping services, not including window washing and carpet cleaning.
• Grounds maintenance.
• Painting offices and public spaces on a 15-year rotation with standard colors.

Examples of services charged to requesting units:

• Office and lab renovations, including needed work to upgrade systems to accommodate new functions, uses and equipment.
• Repair of program specific equipment such as (but not limited to) fume hoods, lab sinks and drains, stills and distilled water lines and fixtures, autoclaves, incubators, freezers, compressed air and gas, dedicated a/c systems. In general, the requesting departments must provide funding for the maintenance of specialized equipment that supports individual departments, missions, and projects.
• Maintenance of emergency generators not originally supplied as central building equipment.
• Maintenance of window air conditioning units.
• Maintenance of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment (FFE) such as carpet, window blinds and custom ceilings that represent an upgrade from standard floor, window, and ceiling treatments.
• Maintenance and replacement of lounge and public space furniture.
• Furniture and equipment moving services support.
• Maintenance of office furniture.
• Maintenance of departmental appliances and break areas.
• Keys.
• Installation and maintenance of custom security systems (key pad systems, card reader systems, pushbutton combination locks) and their associated hardware (such as electric door strikes).
• Specific signage (e.g. plaques, name plates, name tags, change of names on office signs).
• Recycling services including paper products, metal products, etc.
• Pick up of waste needing transport to the Dry Rendering Facility.
• Housekeeping services for lab areas.
• Window washing.
• Floor waxing.
• Carpet cleaning.
• Care of indoor and atrium plants.
• Painting with non-standard colors or outside of the normal maintenance rotation.
• Maintenance of tenant residences mandated or requested due to department specific missions.

Where is the Sterrett Complex (Physical Plant Operations) located?

Across from Fleet Services, as shown on this map.

When will the heating/cooling be turned on?

Please call Customer Service at 231-4300 to discuss the heating and cooling for your building.

How do we get keys to locked areas?

Keys are issued to authorized Virginia Tech personnel. Keys may be checked out at the key shop located in the Sterrett Complex.

Where do I send an ISR (Interdepartamental Service Request) form?

Sterrett Complex, Room 30, mail code 0529.

Who is responsible for cleaning of desks and podiums?

Housekeeping Services. The phone number is 231-7426.

Who takes care of projectors and projection screens?

Classroom Audio Visual. The phone number is 231-5684.