Custodial Service's mission to the university is to provide the
cleanest and safest facilities for use by its faculty,
staff, and students as well as visitors to the campus. This
service is to be provided efficiently, cost effectively, and helpful manner.
This mission will enhance the image of the university in the
minds of all who use university facilities, either on a daily
basis or only occasionally. Grounds Maintenance's mission
is to promote an image of excellence of the University of Houston through
the landscape by providing an attractive, enjoyable, safe,
and educational environment for students, visitors, faculty,
and staff.
In addition to maintaining the central campus
landscape, other areas maintained by the Grounds Maintenance
unit include the College of Pharmacy in the Texas Medical
Center.
The University of Houston's Grounds Maintenance
Department is comprised of 37 full time employees which maintain approximately
560 acres of campus grounds. Three (3) area supervisors with very
distinct areas of responsibility are charged with mowing operations, tree
and shrub care, and flowerbed maintenance on a daily schedule. Grounds
also have on a staff licensed chemical applicator irrigation technicians,
and a cement finisher. The department maintains its entire equipment
using on equipment mechanic. Through the primary duties are maintenance of campus ground the department
also has been involved with campus landscape improvements and construction
projects.
One recent notable project is the Moores Music
Wortham Theater Fine Arts Grove. This area started as not much more
than a grove of trees and a couple of sidewalks. A private landscape
architectural firm developed the original design modifying the walks and
benches but still didn't meet the aesthetic expectations of the university
community. The grounds department then developed an appropriate
planting design to soften the harsh architectural benches and provide
the users with a series of planting to welcome users to the now present
area. The softening affect was accomplished through in-house design.
One of the most notable changes and additions
to the campus took place during construction of the Moore's School of
Music. Seven large oak trees were transplanted from the building
site to the esplanade at entrance 14. Looking at the esplanade today
makes you forget the barren, clear area that it used to be. Significant
utilities were required to be moved to accommodate the tree transplanting due
to the large tree spade used to moved the trees. The improvements
in these areas and other areas have enhanced the aesthetic landscape
around campus.
Grounds also has a number of other landscape
renovations which have made a recognizable impact such as the Law Library
Plaza & Lizard Lounge, Cullen Engineering, McElhinney West Entry,
and numerous other small landscape renovation projects.
Our university has recently been recognized by
"The Park People"
as home to the oldest honey mesquite tree in Harris County. This honor is a direct result of grounds supervisors that recognized
the specimen and took measures to preserve and maintain it for the past
33 plus years.
The Grounds Department continues to provide the
university with top quality service rain or shine through it's diversified
personnel, dedication and commitment to excellence, which can be seen by
all that visit our campus. | 
