FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
PDC FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Who do I call to start a renovation project?
- Contact the PDC Department at 745-8708. PDC is located at the ground level of Parking
Structure 1, at the rear of the Facilities Management doc area (for more detailed
information, see the Contact Us page).
- Why do I have to go through PDC?
- (See the WKU Quick Guide to Purchasing) It is the responsibility of the WKU Department of Planning, Design, and Construction
to administer and direct all renovation and building projects on the WKU main and
extended campuses. These responsibilities include coordinating with other departments
and the Commonwealth of Kentucky to ensure safe, efficient, and cost effective projects.
PDC is a professional service of the University and, as such, employs certified project
engineers and interior designers who are trained in the programming, development,
and construction of facilities.
For renovations that are expected to be $ 100,000 (or less), you can initiate a project,
or request for estimate, by submitting a Service Request (SR) form. If you have questions
about filling out the form, need a blank form, or have general questions, you can
always call Planning, Design and Construction at 745-8708.
- Are PDC and DFM the same?
- No, these departments are separate and perform different functions.
PDC is the department of Planning, Design and Construction. PDC directs all design
and project management activities and manages the design and construction program
for all WKU campus locations.
DFM is the Department of Facilities Management. DFM maintains campus buildings and
facilities and incorporates the Building Service Attendants (BSA), Maintenance (including
HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, etc.) and Campus Services (including grounds crews).
PDC and DFM are both under the direction of the Vice President for Campus Services
and Facilities. Both departments work closely together to create and maintain an attractive
and functional facility for the WKU family and visitors.
- Who do I call to check on the status of a Service Request?
- To check on the status of a Service Request (SR), the best person to call is your
assigned Project Manager (PM). If you have not been assigned a PM, do not know who
your PM is, or have general questions, you can call the main PDC office at 745-8708.
- Who will my Project Manager be?
- You will be assigned a project manager based on current work loads, areas of expertise,
and prior knowledge of the project scope. So, if you speak to a project manager prior
to submitting a Service Request, please note that when you fill out your SR form.
- Does PDC charge a fee for their services?
- PDC does not charge any fees for managing Service Requests. Capital projects $600,000
or greater are charged a fee based on a scale of magnitude
- Can I get an estimate without submitting an SR?
- To get an estimate for projects of $100,000 or less, you should always submit an SR
as the first step. If you aren't sure about the dollar figure, you can still initiate
the process in the same fashion.
- Is the SR form online?
- The SR form is not currently available online. You must submit a hard copy. If you
have a tight deadline, you can jump-start your project by sending a copy of the SR
form by e-mail or fax, or by hand-delivering the SR, but we always need the original.
Departmental and Dean's offices usually keep blank SR forms; however, if you do not
have access or need additional forms, please contact the PDC or DFM office. We can
campus-mail blank forms to you and they are available for pick up as well.
- How long does it take to get an estimate?
- To develop an estimate, your Project Manager will meet with you to develop a plan
to meet your needs. Projects require varying degrees of research, site investigation,
design, and estimating. With every project, PDC is obligated to file an Asbestos Management
Request form with the WKU Environmental Health & Safety Office to ascertain if there
are any hazardous materials that will be involved or disturbed by the project. This
process alone can take up to 10 days. So once PDC receives your SR, you should expect
about two weeks to receive an estimate for a basic scope without complications, and
longer for complex projects.
- How long does it take to start and complete a project?
- The complexity and size of your project plays a major role in determining how long
the process will take. Your Project Manager will schedule a meeting with you, gather
information on your needs, develop a plan, submit the plan for review if necessary,
develop and submit an estimate, await approval, encumber funds, requisition Purchase
Orders and place equipment and materials orders, and schedule construction. You should
discuss the specifics of your project with your Project Manager to develop a time
frame. Be sure to tell your PM about deadlines and events that you need to schedule
around. You should be aware that summer is a particularly busy time for renovations.
If you want your project to happen over summer, or during other academic breaks, you
should contact PDC well in advance. PDC will typically announce a cutoff in mid-semester
Spring for submission of SRs for consideration of summer scheduling.
