2023 Achievements

In 2023, Facilities Management navigated challenges and embraced opportunities, contributing significantly to the success and well-being of Columbia University Irving Medical Center. As we bid farewell to another remarkable year, join us in celebrating the accomplishments, growth, and collective achievements that have defined our journey throughout the past year.

Faces of Facilities

We launched "Faces of Facilities" to share our stories with the CUIMC community.
Photo collage of Facilities employees

Elevator Modernization Projects

We initiated elevator modernization projects to improve the reliability, function, and appearance of the elevators located in the several campus buildings.
an empty elevator car with silver side panels

Celebrating Team Members with 25+ Years of Service

Our inaugural 25 Years of Service Dinner celebrated the remarkable contributions of our team members and underscored the importance of commitment, teamwork, and a shared sense of purpose.

Expanded AED Program

We expanded CUIMC's Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program across the medical center, offered CPR/First Responder training, and collaborated with Environmental Health & Safety to distribute updated campus emergency response cards.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) and dummy

December 2022 "Floodzilla" Remediation Efforts

After a series of catastrophic floods across CUIMC in late December 2022, we restored various impacted areas, expanded our Waterworks program, created 36 flood closets across the medical center, and are developing new valve maps for each building.
A collage of photos that show the equipment located within a flood closet

Campus-wide Fire Safety Initiatives

We resumed in-person fire drills and developed a cooking safety video as part of this year's Fire Prevention Month outreach.
an animated person is standing in a kitchen with a pan cooking on a stove

Our Design and Construction Projects

We modernized existing offices, corridors, and mechanical equipment facilities in several on- and offsite locations for various groups and departments, including the Department of Ophthalmology.

Earth Day at CUIMC

We celebrated Earth Day by hosting a street fair in Haven Plaza that highlighted sustainable transportation alternatives, paper and electronics shredding and recycling, information about Columbia’s sustainability efforts, and featured games and prizes.
Jeet Viswanathan, director of energy management and sustainability for CUIMC Facilities Engineering, talks with an Earth Day attendee about Plan 2030

CARE Crew Refreshes

The Construction and Refresh Effort (CARE) Crew continued to refresh and renovate public corridors, lobbies, stairs, and restrooms around the medical center.

Extended GWB/Fort Lee Shuttle Evening Service

To enhance our service offerings to support CUIMC students, faculty, and staff, we partnered with Columbia Transportation to extend evening service on the George Washington Bridge/Fort Lee Shuttle with two additional evening departures from CUIMC.
A blue Columbia University intercampus shuttle bus drives at the intersection of 116th Street and Broadway

CUIMC Emergency Management Preparedness

To preserve the safety and security of our campus and the CUIMC community, we hosted self-defense classes, situational awareness seminars, on-campus preparedness drills with NYPD, and other preparedness trainings.
Two members of the NYPD Community Affairs division look at a digital screen

Additional 2023 Highlights

Most of our work takes place behind the scenes, often in parellel to the research, instruction, and care being provided around the campus. Check out a few additional highlights from this past year.

New Team Members

  • Sonya Chao joined Capital Project Management as a project manager.
  • Malik Mercedes joined Campus Life Safety and Regulatory Compliance as a fire safety specialist.
  • Diana McWilliams joined Facilities Management as its senior administrative manager.
  • Oyeleke Oyewole joined the Campus Operations Team as an evening custodial supervisor.
  • Peter Pichardo joined the Campus Operations Team as an evening custodial supervisor.
  • Francisco Ramos joined the Department of Public Safety as a senior sergeant.
  • Lucy Riederer joined Capital Project Management as a project manager.

Team Promotions

  • Jose Gonzalez was promoted to senior sergeant in the Department of Public Safety.
  • Jefferson Newman was promoted to draftsman & design specialist for Space Planning.
  • Janey Rodriguez was promoted to sn evening custodial supervisor for Campus Operations.
  • Gabriel Villegas was promoted to senior project manager for Capital Project Management.
  • Jerry Wang was promoted to senior project manager for Capital Project Management.

Team Accomplishments and Awards

  • Led by Indrajeet Viswanathan, director of Energy Management and Sustainability for Facilities Engineering, CUIMC was awarded two grants through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Regional Economic Development Council's Initiative For Innovative Projects To Reduce Carbon Emissions. As one of only two schools selected in the state, CUIMC will use the grants towards sustainability related efforts for the new research building and replacing an existing absorption chiller with an electrically driven chiller at Lasker Biomedical Research Building.
  • Carol Duarte, site safety and compliance manager for Campus Life Safety and Regulatory Compliance, was certified as FDNY Fire Life Safety Director (FLSD) for the Allan Rosenfield Building and participated in the OSHA 2023 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, earning recognition for herself and CUIMC.
  • Anthony Donatich, director for Capital Project Management, participated as a panelist for the Young Professional Roundtable event hosted by the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP).
  • Yvonne Wojcicki, executive director for Campus Life Safety and Regulatory Compliance, joined the New York City Department of Buildings’ Administrative and Enforcement Advisory Committee.

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