About
In addition to managing construction projects, EDCS assists customers in cost estimates, cost saving ideas and identifying which firms to work with that specialize in their area of need. Through the services offered, EDCS stays true to their mission of “building on greatness.” The department assists customers with build/renovation projects up to $10 million. EDCS works on main campus, the Health Science Center (HSC), RELLIS and System-owned properties. They also coordinate with various campus stakeholders such as Building Proctors, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Utilities & Energy Services (UES), CIS, Transportation Services and Telecom.
Construction Webcams
A live view of the Aplin Center construction project.The Construction Webcams page provides live and timelapse video feeds for major construction projects managed by Facilities & Energy Services on campus at Texas A&M University. This page serves as a public-facing dashboard where viewers can monitor progress on key capital projects in real time.
View Construction Webcams
Academic Building
Campus Projects
Campus projects involve construction and/or renovation with an anticipated investment of less than $4 million. They are reviewed and/or led by the Office of the University Architect to ensure compliance with university standards. As projects are further developed, depending on scope and/or dollar amount, approval from a dean or vice president supporting the project request may be required.
To submit a project in AggieWorks, go to Request Project and Billable Services and click New Construction and Renovation.
Capital Projects & Review Process
Visit the Office of the University Architect department page to learn more about campus construction, Capital Projects, the Capital Project Review Process, and the Program of Requirements.
University ArchitectFrequently Asked Questions
Construction/Renovation includes new building construction or a major repair, reconstruction, remodel, rehabilitation, restoration, or alteration of an existing facility.
Contact the AggieWorks Center at: aggieworks@tamu.edu if you have questions regarding your project and classification of the work.
Facilities Services can simplify the process for you using in-house painters or contract painters to ensure the least disruption to your university business functions and to protect the health and safety of building occupants. Facilities Services personnel will coordinate any required asbestos and lead inspections, ensure substrates are properly prepared/primed and ensure the proper paints and coatings specified for use comply with current indoor air quality regulations.
Some common project information required during development of the construction drawings and specifications is listed below. This list is not all inclusive and is presented to assist you with gathering information that may be required depending on the specific nature of your project.
- Council for the Built Environment approval (if required; provide link to CBE website).
- Schedule and budget constraints.
- Descriptions of functions or activities of each work center (hours of operation, shifts per day, days per week, number of people per shift, number of people per classroom, office areas and laboratories, etc.).
- Chemical Lists. List process services or chemicals used in your operations (e.g., vacuum systems, compressed air, nitrogen, de-ionized water, liquid oxygen, etc.). Include special air quality, temperature, pressure, and flow rate requirements (if known).
- Fume Hood Requirements.
- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC requirements for departmental equipment (manufacturers descriptive data).
- Hazardous waste generated; solid, liquid or gas.
- Special accreditation requirements (e.g., AAALAC).
- Requirements for special controlled environments and special/level of security needs for these areas (e.g., vaults, biological safety level laboratories, fuel laboratories, etc.).
- Identify areas requiring special shielding (e.g., radiation, x-ray, laser, magnetic fields, etc.).
- Special acoustic performance requirements.
- Vibration isolation requirements for each specific area and piece of equipment.
- Unusual floor loads (e.g., heavy equipment, library and file storage areas, forklift areas, safes, vaults, etc.).
- Clear span and height requirements.
- Special thermal performance requirements for temperature and relative humidity (average and tolerance range) for each area. State whether centralized or decentralized control is required.
- Special air quality requirements, in terms of ventilation rate, overpressure, or maximum particulates.
- Special air filtration, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning requirements. Provide equipment loads (heat rejection rate) that will impact air conditioning requirements and known ventilation or exhaust rates for specialized equipment.
- Special lighting performance requirements and any special electrical system needs like explosion proof fixtures, or unusual mounting height requirements.
- Earth grounds, dedicated equipment ground requirements, and acceptable resistance to ground.
- Special receptacle requirements (e.g., types, quantities, locations) include description; NEMA type and manufacturers model number.
- Special power requirements.
- Special task lighting requirements.
- Special lightning, surge, and static electricity requirements.
Sometimes individuals make a comparison with costs they have experienced in their own homes or private “non-institutional” construction. Construction and renovation in State owned public facilities may cost more depending on the projects scope and requirements. The projects scope and requirements many times “trigger” an array of Federal and State codes, regulations, standards, and statutory requirements that govern construction on campus.
Typically, when off-campus contractor pricing is compared to Facility Services pricing there are three major factors that can make off-campus pricing seem artificially low. (1) Contractors invited to do work on state property must meet minimum requirements for insurance and bonds (depending on the project's construction cost) and pay their workers mandated prevailing wage rates. (2) Many times, the scope of work used in the comparison is not equal. An example can include the requirement for institutional grade building materials (that usually must last for decades) in lieu of residential or commercial grade materials. (3) Requirements to meet life safety/building codes and accessibility laws mandated for State owned public facilities. Other factors that tend to escalate contractor costs for work on campus include restrictions on which days (or hours) work can be accomplished; phasing requirements, compressed construction schedules, limited space for staging and vehicular access to job sites and additional protection measures to provide a safe environment for the students, faculty, and staff.
Listed below are a few regulations, guidelines and laws that influence the cost of construction on campus:
- NFPA 101, Life Safety Code (National Fire Protection Association) – Means of egress, fire barriers, interior finish, exit lighting. (Texas Administrative Code, Title 28, Chapter 34.)
- IBC (International Building Code; International Code Council) – Minimum building code requirements.
- State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) and ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers) – State Energy Conservation Design Standard (ASHRAE 90.1), air changes and fresh air requirements.
- The State requires any public construction project estimated to exceed $8,000 and involves electrical or mechanical engineering designed by a Texas Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). A P.E. is also required when public money is involved but electrical or mechanical engineering is not required and the contemplated expenditure for the project exceeds $20,000. Also included are other buildings having more than one story, buildings that contain a clear span between supporting structures greater than 24 feet on the narrow side; and single-story buildings having a total floor area over 5,000 square feet. A P.E. must also provide construction observation. (Reference the Texas Engineering Practice Act).
- The State requires any public project used for education, assembly or office occupancy exceeding $100,000 for new construction or $50,000 for renovation (that alters or adds to an existing state-owned building and involves removal, relocation, or addition of a wall or partition or the alteration or addition of an exit) be designed by an Architect licensed in the State of Texas. The architect must also provide construction observation. (Refer to Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part 1, Chapter 1.)
- All construction, renovations, or modifications, in whole or in part, to any state-owned facility are subject to compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS). Projects estimated to cost $50,000 or more are also required to have plans and specifications submitted to the State for review and a post construction inspection to ensure compliance must be performed by a State licensed Registered Accessibility Specialist (R.A.S.).
The Facilities Planning and Construction Department is a Texas A&M University System Office and manages design and construction of new construction and renovation projects for eleven universities, seven state agencies and one Health Science Center in the Texas A&M University System. These are Capital projects with budgets greater than $10 million.
Contact Our Office
Facilities Services Building 1156
600 Agronomy Rd
College Station, TX 77843