Loyola Facilities Department Drives Big Changes Behind the Scenes

It's hard to miss the big ways Loyola's campus is transforming, with new construction projects, including a new 7-story residence halland long-desired renovations to Buddig and Biever Halls, as well as exciting additions to the Danna Student Center this summer.

But some of the other ways the newly rebranded Loyola Facilities Department has quietly been reshaping campus might not have captured as much attention, even though its work will touch nearly every person who works, studies and lives on campus.

Formerly known as the Loyola Physical Plant, the department has undergone a dynamic transformation under the leadership of Kyle Gregore, who joined as director of facilities in January 2024. Since then, the team has been working hard to modernize its operations and tackle a staggering portfolio of responsibilities - all while lifting morale and saving the university hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"We're not just fixing things - we're building a more resilient campus," said Gregore, who came to Loyola after a career in the Air National Guard.

One of the department's most significant achievements in the past year is cutting the university's utility dependency by 9%, particularly in electrical usage, he said, marking a major win for sustainability, operational efficiency, and cost savings. Since August alone, the department has handled nearly 5,400 work requests, ranging from air conditioning repairs to plumbing issues and power outages. Of those, nearly 4,700 jobs have been completed, and many of them were resolved in-house-a move that's saving Loyola a significant sum because the work didn't have to be taken up by outside subcontractors. And Gregore has been hard at work to enact a new asset management and work order management system, which allows the department to not only be more efficient, but to do more preventative maintenance rather than spending more to build or buy new equipment.

And behind the metrics is a team that's never been more motivated. Thanks to restructuring and strategic hiring, 80% of the Facilities Department's 27 employees have received raises. With just a handful of open positions remaining, the department is nearly fully staffed and running at full strength.

The Facilities Department also led the charge in renegotiating the university's janitorial services contract with HES, advocating successfully for better compensation and staffing. Hourly wages for janitorial staff have increased by about 15%, Gregore said, and the team has expanded from 28 to 41 employees, all part of a renewed commitment to campus quality and operations.

"Morale is up," said Keith Duhon, director of facility operations, who has been working with the department in some capacity for more than 25 years. "We're making changes that are on the plus side, and the attitude on campus is a lot more upbeat. People see the changes and new things coming into place, and they feel like they're being heard."

The changes have set the team up for success when it comes to responding to issues quickly, particularly during hurricane season. When severe weather threatens campus, the team has to mobilize quickly to secure facilities, respond in real-time, and assess conditions in the immediate aftermath of a storm.

Gregore said the department's reinvigoration and cohesion were put to the test earlier this year when, late the night before Mardi Gras, the campus boiler went down after years of deferred maintenance. Just hours later, the backup boiler went down, too.

It took two weeks to get a 65,000-pound rental boiler to campus, which had to be installed with cranes while the team waited for replacement parts and pieces to be shipped in from out of state. Gregore said his team worked overtime, learning the new boiler system on the fly and getting creative with problem-solving. Now, the system that's in place is more energy efficient, reliable and resilient.

"This department has brought new energy and purpose to their work," said President Xavier Cole. "Their efforts are not only saving the university money and making our campus more sustainable and energy efficient, but they are also creating a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant environment for our students, faculty, and staff. I'm proud of the momentum they've built and excited for us all to see what comes next."