From new ways of organizing work to bringing teams together, Facilities Reimagined is continuing to reshape how facilities support is delivered across campus. Since the zone pilot launched last fall, teams across Rice have been testing, learning and building a more connected approach—one designed to improve service while better supporting the people behind it.
What We’ve Learned So Far
The zone pilot is already improving how teams work across buildings and departments. By organizing campus into dedicated service areas, teams have:
- Streamlined communication
- Improved visibility into workload
- Strengthened coordination
The pilot is also delivering measurable results, including:
- Faster resolution times
- Increased preventive maintenance, reducing reactive work
“Communication is key to delivering the best outcomes in facilities operations. The zone pilot is helping teams better understand workflow patterns and improve responsiveness for our residential communities. Mario Carrera’s leadership has also helped streamline efficiencies while reinforcing a community of care.”
— Beth Leaver, Interim AVP for Housing, Dining & Hospitality
One Custodial Team, Stronger Support
In January, custodial teams across campus came together under Facilities, Planning & Capital Construction (FP&CC), forming one unified team.
That transition is being reinforced through continued investment in custodial staff. Recent hands-on training introduced new equipment and techniques to improve efficiency and enhance cleanliness across campus.
Strengthening Connections and Transparency
The new Building Coordinator Program is creating more consistent connections between facilities teams and building occupants. With coordinators serving as dedicated points of contact for their building—sharing updates, gathering feedback and helping ensure building needs are understood and addressed.
To further improve visibility, a new outage reporting website launched on March 30th, providing a real-time, campus-wide view of planned and emergency outages in one place. Building-specific email notifications will continue, with the site offering a broader view of campus impacts.
What’s Ahead: Zone Expansion in May
Facilities Reimagined will continue to grow this spring with the final phase of zone expansion.
On May 18, the full zone model will go into effect, expanding to all four future-state zones. Each zone will focus on a specific building type—colleges and serveries, labs and administrative spaces—and will be supported by a dedicated Zone Manager to provide clear ownership and consistent support.
This expansion builds on what the pilot has taught us and represents another step toward a fully integrated, campus-wide model.
A More Connected Way to Serve Campus
Facilities Reimagined is helping create a more coordinated, consistent experience across Rice—one where teams are better aligned, communication is clearer and service is more responsive to campus needs.
Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to share feedback as Facilities Reimagined continues to expand this spring.
In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Mario Carrera, Assistant Vice President of Facilities Operations, at mc77@rice.edu with any questions.