Trades & Operations
Accomplishments
work orders completed annually
annual HVAC air filter replacements
Annual door lock battery replacements
clogged toilets fixed annually
Our services
Carpentry
The Carpentry Shop is responsible for routine repairs and installations as well as custom work such as cabinetry, wall partitions, and shelving.
Typical work requests include:
- Repairing/configuring office furniture
- Repairing torn carpet
- Repairing of door-related issues
- Replacing acoustical ceiling tiles
- Repairing molding and cove bases
- Installing chalkboards and whiteboards
- Repairing cracked or broken windows
Submit a work request
Manager: Jack McEvoy
Commissioning
Commissioning works closely with Design Teams, Contractors to verify and document that all Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection, and Building Envelope systems are properly installed, operating, and maintained. For more information on access control policies and requirements, visit the commissioning page.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Inspection of systems
- System operational training
Visit the commissioning page
Director: Carmen Lifrieri
Electrical
Northeastern’s electrical shop is responsible for the electrical needs of over 10.2 million square feet of multiple functional buildings. Service ranges from routine work orders to supporting special events to Scheduling and coordinating annual shutdowns for preventative maintenance service.
Typical service requests include:
- Electrical outlet repairs
- Minor electrical issues
- Lighting upgrades & repair
- 24 hour emergency service
- Lab-specific electrical installs
Submit a work request
Manager: Dean Miller
Emergency Power Systems
Northeastern’s Emergency Power Systems (EPS) team ensures that emergency generators and electrical transfer systems are always ready to support electrical utility outages and scheduled maintenance shutdowns. The team conducts weekly, monthly, and annual compliance testing as required by NFPA standards, ensuring reliable performance when it’s needed most.
Typical service requests:
- NFPA Compliance Testing
- Maintenance of 65 Building Generators on 3 campuses
- Generators sized from as large as 1 Megawatts to 15kw
- Service and Maintain 110 Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)
- Service and maintain 3 Backup portable generator
- 24-hour emergency service
Submit a work request
Manager: Greg Geyer
HVAC
The Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) team maintains over 15,000 tons of cooling equipment and is responsible for the environmental conditions of all offices, classrooms, laboratories, kitchens, dormitories, and conference spaces.
Typical work requests include:
- Temperature adjustments
(room too hot or cold) - Noisy/blowing air
- Ventilation cleaning
Submit a work request
Manager: Paul Luzinski
Lock and Key
The Lock and Key shop works with Access Control to ensure safe, secure, and convenient access to Northeastern’s owned properties. For more information on access control policies and requirements, visit the access control page.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Repairing broken locks
- Creating keys for staff and faculty
Submit a work request
Manager: Greg Geyer
Mechanical
The Mechanical Shop is responsible for maintaining and repairing the system supplying steam and hot water to over 5 million square feet of occupied space on Campus. The main source of steam is the largest low-pressure steam plant in New England. The plant has six boilers that generate 4,200 boiler horsepower at 15 PSI.
Typical work requests include:
- Pumps
- Burners
- Food service equipment
- Radiator controls and steam traps.
Submit a work request
Manager: Brandon Berthelette
Plumbing
The Plumbing Shop is responsible for providing the Northeastern community with the best sanitary conditions as well as safe, clean available water.
Typical service requests:
- Install/repair/replace plumbing fixtures and related equipment
- Repair clogged toilets
- Repair overflowing drains
- Clean or maintain grease traps
- Repair and replace fire suppression (sprinkler) system
- Repair sanitary and storm systems
- Monitor and report acid neutralization
Submit a work request
Manager: Brandon Berthelette
Sign Shop
The Sign Shop fabricates and maintains all temporary and permanent signage on the main Boston and suburban campuses. To learn more about available products and start a work order, please visit the Sign Shop page.
Typical service requests:
- Nameplates
- Signs
- Banners
- Vinyl lettering
- Frosted doors and windows
- Decal prints
Visit the sign shop page
Submit a work request
Foreperson: Christina Salvato
Suburban Trades
The Suburban Trades team carries out all trade maintenance at our Burlington, Nahant, and Dedham campuses. They are dedicated to ensuring these locations run seamlessly.
Typical service requests:
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- HVAC
- Carpentry
- Grounds
Submit a work request
Manager: Jeff Foti
Fire Safety Unit
The Fire Safety unit is responsible for operating, maintaining, testing, and inspecting all Life Safety systems in all buildings on the Massachusetts campuses. Services range from routine work orders to coordinating annual elevator, building, sprinkler, and fire suppression inspections as required by the local authorities having jurisdiction and the University’s insurance carrier.
Typical service requests:
- Testing elevators annually with state inspector.
- Inspecting buildings in conjunction with the Boston Fire Department.
- Performing egress drills in residential buildings quarterly.
- Managing contracted services for maintaining and testing fire alarms, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and fire suppression systems.
- Testing and inspecting sprinklers.
- Coordinating sprinkler, fire alarm, and hot work shutdowns for construction projects.
Submit a work request
Manager: Greg Geyer
Types of Service Requests
Be prepared to provide the location of the problem (building, floor, room number)
and a brief description of the issue.
Emergency Request
Immediate or imminent danger to life, health, safety, or security
Boston Campus:
NUPD 617-373-3333
SafeZone app
All other locations:
Dial 911
What is an emergency request?
- Fire
- Medical emergencies
- Threat of bodily injury
- Criminal activity
- Unattended items
- Suspicious behavior
Priority 1 response time:
Immediate
Urgent Request
Significant damage to buildings, equipment, or service disruption.
Call the Customer Service Center
617-373-2754
What is an urgent request?
- Elevator Entrapment
- Pipe leakage
- Power outages
- Toilet overflow
- Gas smell/leak
- Flooding
Priority 2 response time:
Within 4 hours
Routine Request
Non-urgent maintenance, repairs, or service requests
What is a routine request?
- Alterations
- Temperature adjustment
- Picture hanging
- Lightbulb replacement
- Pest control
- Moving furniture
- Snow removal
- Custodial service
- Cracked window glass
- Damaged walls or doors
Priority 3 response time:
Within 48 hours