Small-Scale Construction and Renovation

Sponsor: Paul Page, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance

Team Leader: Don Robinson, Environmental Health & Safety

A new department for small-scale construction projects opened on October 8, 2000.

Located in the Physical Plant division, the new "Alterations Department" will feature a core staff of trade professionals dedicated to completing small projects quickly, efficiently, and effectively. The department will resemble an independent construction company within Physical Plant. For the coming year, the department will focus on clearing a backlog of small construction projects and developing a flexible and responsive team. The department is expected to become a self-supporting entity within the Physical Plant Division, after repaying its initial start-up costs.

Improving the University's capacity to successfully manage small-scale projects has been a key priority of the Striving for Excellence (SFE) initiative. An SFE project team, led by Dr. Don Robinson, conducted a comprehensive analysis of small project work and generated recommendations that have led to the formation of the new department. In July of 1999, a job description was developed for a new director of the Alteration Department in the Physical Plant Division.

The recently hired Assistant Director for Alterations is Kenneth Kern. Mr. Kern brings to UMass more than 30 years of experience in real estate and construction management, and he holds an MBA from Rutgers University.

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