Welcome from the Senior Director

Robert (Bob) Olson is the Senior Director/University Engineer for the Energy, Engineering, and Sustainability (EE&S) Department.  Bob is responsible for providing leadership for and oversight of the Wade Utility Plant, Utilities Operations, Utilities Engineering, Building Systems, Energy Controls, Engineering, and Sustainability.

Utilities provides essential services  starting with the combined production of steam, electricity, and chilled water, potable water, compressed air supply and sanitary/storm water collection, to approximately 312 facilities on the West Lafayette campus. Steam, chilled water and a portion of campus electric supply is produced by the Heat & Power group which operates and maintains the Wade Utility and NW satellite chilling plant facilities.  Operation and stewardship of utility commodity distribution/collection systems throughout campus is performed by Utilities Operations Group comprised of High Voltage, Mechanical Utilities and Water Works teams.  Planning, operational engineering and technical support services for utilities organization is provided by Utilities Engineering support team.   

Engineering & Design Services includes the Project and Senior Engineering groups which serve as an internal engineering resource to Physical Facilities and the University at large for building system issues. The engineering groups serve as a resource and advocate for capital projects balancing engineering standards with project goals and parameters. In addition engineers serve in a stewardship capacity for the University, focusing on the development and maintenance of engineering standards, building condition assessments, repair and rehabilitation prioritization, and support of in-house design projects and maintenance and operations issues

Sustainability is a fundamental principle underlying the broad range of university academic programs, operations, and serves as one of the three overarching goals of the Physical Facilities Strategic Plan. Responsibilities include:

• Initiate, support, coordinate, and evaluate campus operational and academic issues related to sustainability.
• Advise and collaborate with operational units to implement best sustainability practices.
• Act as advocate, clearing house, and coordinator for academic initiatives related to new degree programs, course offerings, minors, research projects, etc.
• Participate in strategic planning with top-level administrators to infuse sustainability focus into operations, academics, building, and land-use for the campus.
• Coordinate sustainability efforts between campus, community, university, state, and peer institutions; serving as liaison to national and international sustainability groups.

The Building Systems Group is responsible for ensuring that the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in new and existing University facilities are properly controlled to provide indoor environmental conditions that are conducive for the educational and research mission of the university.  Building Systems also designs, troubleshoots, monitors and maintains the temperature control systems in the majority of buildings on campus and at the main control console workstations.