Shops & Divisions
Physical Plant is divided into shops of various trades. In addition, Physical Plant has Administrative Support, Engineering, and Central Energy divisions.
Administrative & Maintenance Support Center
The Administrative & Maintenance Support Center of the Physical Plant is staffed from 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Maintenance Support Center staff is available to answer questions, assist with Maintenance Direct, and route calls and emergencies appropriately. The Maintenance Support Center can be reached by phone at 953-5550. Calls placed to this number after normal working hours are automatically routed to Central Energy.
Carpentry Shop
The Carpentry Shop is responsible for performing skilled carpentry work in the alteration, repair and maintenance of the College of Charleston’s administrative and academic buildings. The carpenters fabricate, alter, repair, install, and maintain doors, door frames, windows, window frames, moldings, ceilings, walls, sheetrock/paneling, porches, furniture, etc., as necessary, to preserve both the historically significant and new facilities on the College campus. The Carpentry Shop is responsible for general maintenance as well as renovations. They also construct and install cabinets and bookcases, as well as assemble/repair desks and furniture.
Central Energy Plant
The Central Energy Plant is responsible for providing the campus with steam and chilled water. The boiler operators are on site 24 hours per day 365 days per year to ensure safe and appropriate boiler operation and to receive emergency service calls placed after regular working hours.
Custodial Services
Custodial Services is responsible for the general cleaning of the academic and administrative buildings on campus, as well as, the grounds around those buildings.
The following duties are generally performed by Custodial Services on a daily basis:
- Empty trash cans in offices, classrooms, & academic/administrative common areas.
- Dust accessible furniture.
- Sweep floors. Mop spills or stains on floors as needed.
- Clean chalk boards and dry erase boards in classrooms.
- Clean glass doors.
- Clean bathrooms and restock paper products.
- Empty trash cans throughout the campus grounds.
- Pick-up trash/cigarette butts around buildings.
The following duties are performed by Custodial Services at least once per week (more often if needed or requested):
- Vacuum carpets
The following duties are performed by Custodial Services at least quarterly (more often if needed or requested):
- Strip and wax all tile common area and classroom floors.
- Shampoo carpets in common areas.
- Upon request, tiled office floors can be stripped and waxed and carpeted office floors can be shampooed. The cleaning time will be coordinated with the requestor.
Electrical Shop
The Electrical Shop is responsible for providing electrical maintenance, repairs, and renovation services to College facilities. The electricians perform emergency and routine work on electrical panels, switches, receptacles, light fixtures, electric heat, electric motors, campus street lighting, and temporary power and lighting for special events on campus. Electricians also provide electrical support to campus renovation and construction projects performed by Physical Plant.
Elevator Repair & Service
All Elevator repair, maintenance, and modernization services are performed by an outside contractor. All elevator problems should be reported to Physical Plant at 953-5550 immediately. Physical Plant is responsible for placing a service call to the contractor whenever elevators need service. In the event of an elevator emergency (entrapment), Public Safety must be contacted immediately at 953-5611.
Engineering Division
The Engineering Division is responsible for performing engineering services for the College. Engineers manage and inspect construction and renovation of existing and new facilities. In addition, the Engineering Division is involved in the planning of construction and renovation projects on campus.
Grounds Crew
The Grounds Crew is responsible for all maintenance and upkeep on the campus grounds and extensive irrigation system. Groundskeepers prune, transplant, plant, and seed as necessary to maintain the campus grounds. In addition, groundskeepers mow grass, apply fertilizer and pesticides, and water, as needed to maintain and beautify the grounds.
HVAC
The HVAC Shop is responsible for general upkeep, maintenance and repairs to mechanical systems in campus administrative and academic buildings. The HVAC technicians are skilled in the installation, maintenance, and repair of heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment. They also monitor contract work performed on the College’s mechanical systems.
Lock Shop
The Lock Shop is responsible for maintaining the security and keying system for the College. Locksmiths implement key/lock changes, make keys, control and issue keys, and repair locks as required.
Lost keys must be reported to Public Safety so a Lost Key Report (download PDF) can be completed. This report should accompany an Intra Department Transfer (IDT) to Physical Plant to request a replacement key. The IDT should have the name of the person who will be assigned the key and the department accounting data as well.
Only permanent employees are issued keys to buildings and offices upon request of an authorized supervisor. Temporary employees may be issued keys to offices.
Maintenance Shop
The Maintenance Shop is responsible for general building and equipment maintenance. Maintenance workers perform semi-skilled journeyman duties in the maintenance and repair of buildings and equipment. Such activities include painting, carpentry and building upkeep. In addition, maintenance workers replace window glass, ceiling tiles, and minor hardware. They also install cabinets and bookcases, as well as assemble/repair desks and furniture.
Paint Shop
The Paint Shop is responsible for the proper application of finishes to surfaces on the interior and exterior of College facilities. Painters prepare areas by washing, scraping and sanding to achieve a smooth surface. In addition, painters caulk and spackle, prime as necessary, and apply paint, varnish, or stain to a variety of different surfaces.
Plumbing Shop
The Plumbing Shop is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of general piping throughout the College Campus, as well as, maintaining mechanical equipment within various buildings. Plumbers troubleshoot all defects and malfunctions in piping and plumbing systems, initiate repairs, and eliminate defects. In addition, plumbers assemble and install cleanouts, perform preventive maintenance, and cut, thread, and assemble appropriate materials to install piping and plumbing fixtures. Plumbers check the operation of sump pumps on campus at least weekly and the storm drains at least twice per month as part of the preventive maintenance program.
Recycling
The Recycling Shop is responsible for removing recycled material from collection points on campus and transporting it to Charleston County’s Collection Facilities. Recycling specialists collect, sort, load, secure, and transport recyclable materials in such a manner as to ensure compliance with the Charleston County Recycling Program.
Special Events, Moving,
and Emergency Maintenance Services
Special Events, Moving, and Emergency Maintenance Services is responsible for event preparation, moving furniture, and providing maintenance support for emergencies. These trade specialists deliver, set up, arrange, and remove tables and chairs at various locations per event specifications. In addition, employees move, transport, and relocate furniture as requested.
During emergencies, these employees provide critical support to protect and minimize damage to College facilities, as well as, provide clean-up efforts to return the facilities to normal operation as quickly as possible.
It is important that requests for special events and moving are submitted at least one week prior to the date that the service is needed with the understanding that some events may require more than one week’s notice to allow time for coordination, equipment rental, or contracting of services when required.