WELCOME
From Executive Vice President David M. Greenberg
As I read through the University Facilities and Operations’ Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report and reflect on the year behind us, I am filled with pride for the dedication and excellence of our staff. This report offers the broader Columbia community a window into what we within Facilities and Operations know well — our collective strength in execution, adaptability, and service.
Our team has remained a steady hand and force for progress during a time that has presented challenges across higher education. Facilities and Operations advanced critical projects and initiatives while continuing to build on our “Achieving Excellence” framework — driving continuous improvement by leveraging data, strengthening communication, and instilling a deep commitment to our employees, who are the foundation of our success.
Several themes emerge throughout the report. Columbia is setting a new standard in campus housing, with modern finishes and amenities in both new and renovated residences for undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Sustainability remains central to our mission, as we continue our march toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050 — including the opening of our first all-electric housing and the implementation of energy conservation measures across campuses.
Improving the student and customer experience has been a clear priority. Our teams collaborated with the President’s and Provost’s Offices to support student group events, conducted focus groups to offer flexible catering options more aligned with client preferences, expanded the pre-delivery package program and smart locker access, and used customer satisfaction surveys to identify and act on priority areas. Across departments, technology is being leveraged to drive better outcomes — from Dining’s use of analytics to reduce food-related carbon emissions to Residential and IT teams collaborating to streamline the apartment refresh process.
Efforts to nurture employee engagement and professional development have been intentional and abundant. Public Safety completed customer service training facilitated by Ritz Carlton, project managers participated in a series of workshops led by construction industry experts, and Human Resources launched a multi-session class for emerging leaders. Giving back to the community provides an opportunity for employees to come together too, through events like Thanksgiving meal kit giveaways, park cleanups, and the back-to-school supply drive in Harlem. I’m especially proud of our Belonging and Engagement initiative – the program’s success is a direct result of the dedication and inspiration of members of our staff volunteering their time to organize events and bring colleagues across the organization together.
As you explore this year’s report, I invite you to join me in celebrating the remarkable efforts of our Facilities and Operations staff. Their tireless work continues to move Columbia forward — with purpose, integrity, and excellence.
FY25 in Snapshots
A visual journey of our milestones and achievements through Fiscal Year 2025
Achieving Excellence
Our ethos to continuously improve our service, focusing on leveraging data and technology, strengthening communication, and being centered on the employee experience
Leveraging Data
In Their Words
Our impact through the eyes of those we serve
"The Milstein Family Tennis Center is a world-class facility that has already made a tremendous impact on the success of our men's and women's programs and the New York City tennis community."
- Peter Pilling, Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education
"I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank Dayana and Justin for their exceptional kindness and courtesy. Their help in navigating a challenging registration situation was very much appreciated. It's always reassuring to encounter such good-hearted individuals."
- Columbia Housing resident
"My cards and envelopes look amazing. I'm very pleased with the finished product. I'd previously been using an outside vendor because the coordinator prior to me had been. Based on this order I no longer see a need to outsource our printing. Thank you all very much."
- Columbia Print customer
"It’s kind of honestly amazing that Robert Irvine has come back three years in a row [to judge Battle of the Dining Halls], and it’s probably my favorite campus tradition."
- Columbia Dining customer
"I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say THANK YOU (on behalf of the entire CVN and C+ teams) for [Columbia Transportation's] help in making last week’s École Polytechnique Executive Master Program a huge success. Everything transportation-wise went exactly as planned, and we couldn’t be more grateful."
- Columbia Transportation rider
"I am a resident on the 10th floor of Wien and noticed the great work by the staff... Great spirits, very professional and friendly. Great job!"
- Columbia Housing resident
"Tree lighting is really, really important to me and has been one of my favorite things throughout my college experience."
- Columbia University student
"As someone who started at Columbia in 2019, when there were only three dining options. I am very happy to see an expansion of dining options… I can definitely see how this has helped to alleviate some of the pressure from the 'classic' dining halls like John Jay."
- Columbia Dining customer
"Always have a good experience in the mail room. Friendly faces, good music, fast service. I can tell they have good teamwork."
- Columbia Mail customer
"I called to print two posters for a conference [the next day], and Daniel was excellent technically, as well as caring, patient and professional in his service throughout. He thoroughly made sure everything was done correctly: it really was a very smooth, efficient and pleasant experience."
- Columbia Print customer
"Just wanted to drop a note of thanks to you and your team - with everything that was going on with Commencement, you made it a lot easier on this team here at SEAS and I just wanted to thank you for communicating with us, keeping us in the loop and jumping in to assist [with lab support] where needed."
- Columbia University building manager
"My favorite menus are from Johnny's Food Truck. The food is always very high quality and tasty. And the line is never long! Always an easy and enjoyable experience."
- Columbia Dining customer
"I write to express my appreciation for the reliable and professional transportation services provided to the site visitors who were at the College of Dental Medicine these past three days for the school’s accreditation site visit. The van arrived on time every morning and also delivered the visitors to the medical center on time."
- Columbia Transportation rider
“The ability to have an accessible street-level location made a huge difference for the designers. We hope to come back to the Bollinger Forum."
- Janet Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of SoHarlem
"I’m always impressed by the service and effort the dining team puts in."
- Columbia Dining customer
"I would happily recommend Columbia Print as the job itself was beautiful and the customer service experience was top-notch!"
- Columbia Print employee
"Thank you to the Public Safety team [for helping get QR codes for our event guests]. The woman I spoke to on the phone was very kind and helpful, the Public Safety IT person responded promptly to my email and did get QR codes out prior to the start, and the gentlemen at the Wien Gate were very kind and helpful when I alerted them of the situation; many guests also complimented how great they were at helping them with access."
- Columbia University administrator
"I want to express our deepest gratitude for the quick response during yesterday's [urgent building issue]. Your prompt action and support made a significant difference, and we truly appreciate it."
- Columbia University building manager
"With any situation I have faced or worked with that has involved Sharon has been such a positive impact for my area and my team. Be it flood, complaint or resolving something together. ... Kudos to her for her tireless effort and dedication, we really appreciate working with her."
- Columbia University building manager
AWARDS
Awards we've received for our work
Columbia Dining was selected by the Princeton Review as one of the top 25 colleges for Best Campus Food. The rankings are based on student ratings of the food at their colleges.
Columbia Business School was selected as a finalist for the Project of the Year category in the inaugural Faces Of Our City Facades Awards ceremomy. The Faces of Our City Facades Awards celebrate facade design and its impact on architectural excellence and innovation by honoring the visionaries shaping New York City’s skyline.
Columbia University earned an Honor Award from Learning by Design for the Wang Pavilion in Lerner Hall. The award was received in the “Small Space” category as part of Learning by Design’s Fall 2024 Awards of Excellence competition which honors innovative and effective projects in K-12 and post-secondary education facilities across the country.
Among print shops based in a college or university, Columbia Print has ranked 13th in sales according to the trade publication In-Plant Impressions (IPI) for the most recent fiscal year.
Seven women who work for the Facilities and Operations team were recognized at the Women Builders Council (WBC) 19th Annual Champion Awards ceremony. The women from Facilities and Operations were honored in two categories: Champions of Change in Construction and the Outstanding Next Generation of Women Builders.
Champions of Change
Katrina Collins, Project Manager, Capital Project Management
JoEllen Bagayoko, Assistant Director, Administrative Services, Manhattanville Development Group
Lydia Hernandez, Project Manager, Capital Project Management
Sonya Chao, Project Manager, Capital Project Management
Santia N. Valerio, Project Manager, Capital Project Management
Lucy Riederer, Project Manager, Capital Project Management
Outstanding Next Generation of Women Builders
Lauren Fog, Senior Project Manager, Manhattanville Development Group
Columbia University signed onto the NYC Mayor's Office of Food Policy Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge in December 2023 as the first of 18 "inaugural signatories." In the first annual report released in August 2024, the Mayor's Office recognizes Columbia as a key participant.
In the News
Moments when our work was featured in the news
Architectural Record, July 1, 2024
