As Rice University continues to grow and evolve, so too must the teams that care for its campus. Facilities Reimagined is the next step in OF&S’s journey to achieve excellence through people, processes, and purpose—so the campus community can be served more efficiently, consistently, and with greater care.
Working Smarter, Together
Facilities Reimagined brings together custodial and maintenance teams from across OF&S to build a more unified approach to facilities services. All custodial and maintenance workers, including those from Housing & Dining (H&D) and the BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC), and Facilities will come together as one cohesive team under the Real Estate & Facilities organization, led by Ken Jett.
This transition will improve collaboration and strengthen service across campus.
What’s Changing—And Why It Matters
A design committee made up of staff and leaders from various departments conducted a deep review of current operations. They identified areas of excellence, but also noted challenges such as teams working in silos, inconsistent service standards, and varied tools and systems.
Facilities Reimagined responds to these challenges by planning for:
- Stronger teamwork: Unifying custodial and maintenance teams fosters more flexibility and responsiveness in serving the campus.
- More consistent service: Consolidating and unifying the tools, systems, and methods will create a more uniform and reliable experience for all campus users.
- Improved career opportunities: Staff will have expanded opportunities to explore new areas of specialization, engage in cross-training, grow professionally, and take on new roles.
While the long-term vision is transformational, day-to-day responsibilities remain unchanged for now. Supervisors, work locations, and job functions will stay the same as the university prepares for the transition.
Once executed, the transition will bring a noticeable difference in service to the broader Rice community, too, including:
- Higher and more consistent quality of service
- Improved responsiveness
- Better communication
- Clearer maintenance schedules
What’s Next
The Facilities Reimagined initiative will unfold in three key phases:
- Planning & Piloting (June–December 2025): A pilot zone will test the new structure and service model while the broader implementation plan is developed.
- Phased Implementation (January–June 2026): Process improvements, technology upgrades, and organizational adjustments will begin to roll out.
- Full Implementation (July 2026): The fully unified Real Estate & Facilities team will launch its new way of working.
This reorganization is not just about shifting structures—it represents a cultural transformation rooted in partnership, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence. With anticipated growth, Facilities Reimagined will help create a stronger foundation for service, growth, and success across Rice.