June 15, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Facilities Division is the recipient of the 2005 Award for Excellence in Facilities Management presented by the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA). The award is the organization’s highest institutional honor and recognizes s commitment to excellence in the field of educational facilities. Brooks H. Baker III, UAB associate vice president for facilities, will be presented with the award July 10 at APPA’s July awards ceremony.

“Winning the APPA Award for Excellence recognizes the efforts of all of the employees of the Facilities Division, who provide a quality environment for learning, research and patient care,” Baker said. “UAB Facilities has a wonderful staff of highly skilled employees who put not only their backs but their hearts into their work every day. Taking care of the existing facilities and constructing new ones is a labor of love by the facilities team for this wonderful institution. They deserve the credit for this award.”

According to APPA President Jack Colby, assistant vice chancellor for facilities operations at North Carolina State University, UAB facilities division exemplifies excellence in all of the areas necessary to achieve the award: leadership; strategic and operational planning; customer focus; information and analysis; development and management of human resources; process management; and performance results.

“The University of Alabama at Birmingham very much succeeds in its mission to provide a quality environment conducive to the well being of students, patients, faculty, visitors, and staff, and to provide an environment which will enhance instruction, patient care, and research,” Colby said.

In addition to maintaining the daily function of UAB’s 83-block campus, the Facilities Division has coordinated several major construction projects in the past few years. In March, the Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building on University Boulevard opened. This state-of-the-art facility houses some of the most groundbreaking research being done on campus.

The work of the facilities division spans both the medical and academic sides of campus. Several projects combining the enhancement of residential and classroom space also have been undertaken, including two new parking garages and a new campus green, anchored by the new UAB Campus Recreation Center at University Boulevard and 15th Street South. Also just opened on the green are the new Dining Commons and Blazer Hall. A new academic building on the green will shortly be under construction.