Facilities

Facilities Department made short work of a long list of challenges

FROM LEFT, BACK ROW: Christopher Reed, Director of Facilities, Chuck Hannington, Mathew Mol, Todd Jenkins, Steven Tousignant and James Cooley, Maintenance Supervisor. FRONT ROW: Mike Santanello, Timothy Woytowicz, Scott Facey, Ian Brunelle, Gino Gasparrini and Cody Marra.

An attitude of “Whatever it Takes” was exemplified by the Facilities Department since early 2020 as it labored to prepare and maintain the campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campus closed in March 2020, with students learning remotely and no one reporting there to work. But the grass didn’t stop growing, and Director of Facilities Chris Reed needed to plan how his team could prepare the campus to open for the 2020–21 academic year. With a task list that would make anyone’s head spin, the Facilities Department sta attacked each item with creativity and skillfulness. Adding to the challenge was a need to adapt to changing guidance on COVID-19 safety protocols.

One of the largest challenges for the Facilities Department concerned our boarding students in Rich Hall. Each floor housed more than 30 boys, but contained a bathroom on only one (north) side of the building. This was a nearly impossible situation to stagger usage of the bathroom so that students stayed socially distanced. Following some brainstorming, the Facilities Department tackled the problem by converting dorm rooms into additional bathrooms on each of the three dorm floors. This will enhance dorm living for students for years to come.

Creativity was needed in many instances as the department worked to prepare the campus in a short number of months. Classrooms were set up in previously unused spaces, the Chapel was transformed into additional dining space, o ces were converted into quarantine spaces, RV trailers were set up as quarantine spaces and a modular unit was hooked up to utilities to use as a COVID-19 testing facility.

The lengthy list continued with HVAC systems being outfitted where possible with air purification systems, socially distanced classrooms were set up, mask free spaces marked all over campus, etc.

All told, WMA students, faculty and sta benefitted from the tireless “Whatever it Takes” attitude of the Facilities Department.