One of my favorite times to be on campus is early in the morning. Classroom lights are switching on for morning lectures; buses have started their routes; and research facilities, often active through the night, are ready for the work ahead. 

These moments highlight the role of Facilities & Operations (F&O), and they speak to a simple concept. We take care of the places where learning, research, patient care, and university activities happen.

This is an important responsibility, not just for me as vice president for facilities & operations, but also for the many dedicated staff in F&O who take pride in making campus welcoming each day. Together, our work supports every member of the campus community, grounded in safety, stewardship, service, and increasingly, innovation. 

The Look to Michigan vision calls for a future-ready university, and F&O plays an important role in helping to build that future.

Safety first: Every day, for everyone

Safety remains the foundation of everything we do. Our teams work closely with campus partners on areas such as emergency preparedness, preventive maintenance, laboratory safety, and day-to-day well-being on campus. These partnerships guide improvements in building systems, fire protection, and the routine support that keeps facilities dependable.

Today, safety also means embracing advanced tools that help us work smarter and more proactively. We are integrating new technologies including drones that assess building exteriors without a lift, automated grounds equipment, and camera-based sidewalk assessments. These innovations increase accuracy, reduce risk to staff, and help ensure that our spaces remain healthy and secure.

This work is not always visible, but it is always intentional with a straightforward goal: Everyone who comes to campus should feel comfortable in the spaces where they study, teach, work and visit.

Shaping tomorrow’s campus

Michigan’s campus is always evolving, and careful planning is essential. F&O leads major capital projects, advances maintenance initiatives, and uses data-driven assessments to guide responsible investment.

These efforts strengthen classrooms, research spaces, performance venues, and gathering places across the university. The D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion offers a recent example, defined by cross-campus collaboration, long-range planning, and a shared commitment to patient care, research, and education at Michigan Medicine. It represents the kind of strategic investment that positions Michigan for the future.

The people who make blue go

Facilities & Operations works closely with schools, colleges, and other campus units, and these partnerships flow in both directions. Enhancements to energy systems, research environments, and learning spaces directly support academic and operational priorities. 

At the same time, feedback from our partners helps us make informed decisions that reflect the needs of those who use campus spaces.

None of this is possible without the skill and dedication of F&O staff who bring expertise and a strong sense of purpose to their work each day. As we introduce new technologies, our teams bring judgment and creativity to tools that make our buildings safer and more sustainable.

That work is carried out across seven interconnected departments within Facilities & Operations: Architecture, Engineering & Construction; Custodial & Grounds Services; Environment, Health & Safety; Logistics, Transportation & Parking; Maintenance Services; Operational Support; and Utilities. 

Together, these teams steward the campus as a shared responsibility, ensuring space is supported, maintained, and positioned well for the future.

Connecting across campus

In the years ahead, F&O will continue building an environment where people can do their best work. This includes prioritizing reliability and safety, advancing sustainability initiatives, and preparing for long-term needs through clear and deliberate planning. It also means continuing to embrace technology that enhances productivity and improves service.

Facilities & Operations is proud to help shape a campus where innovation, learning, and community life are possible every day.

To learn more about Facilities & Operations and how we support campus, visit the F&O website at fo.umich.edu.

— By Kimberly Kiernan, who manages the University of Michigan’s extensive physical infrastructure, which includes over 38 million square feet of space on the Ann Arbor campus. She is responsible for a wide range of sophisticated and complex academic, research, and clinical facilities, including environmental stewardship and adherence to regulatory standards.