U W Plumbing Shop

- Service Bldg, 1217 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706

The U W Plumbing Shop, situated at the historic Service Building on University Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin, serves as a crucial component of the extensive Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M) Physical Plant for the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While primarily dedicated to the complex and diverse infrastructure of the university's more than 400 buildings and facilities, the shop's operational scope demonstrates a level of expertise and breadth of service that is second to none in the region. Licensed by the state, the highly qualified plumbers at this location are responsible for the vital functions that keep the entire campus running efficiently and safely. This includes everything from routine maintenance on water and sewer utilities to the installation of highly specialized laboratory and medical gas piping.

For any individual, business, or educational institution in Wisconsin seeking to understand the gold standard of comprehensive facility maintenance, the operations of the U W Plumbing Shop offer a powerful benchmark. Their work is a testament to the essential role that skilled tradespeople play in maintaining large-scale, intricate systems. The shop is not just a standard plumbing service; it is an integrated facility maintenance provider, coordinating with other trades like carpenters, electricians, and heating and cooling professionals within the Physical Plant to deliver holistic solutions.

The Physical Plant itself has a long history, with the Service Building at this address having been constructed in 1910 and later enlarged in 1921. For decades, the department, initially referred to by the term “physical plant,” has been responsible for the physical needs of the campus, a mission that continues today through the specialized and robust services offered by the Plumbing Shop and its associated units. This deep institutional history translates into a wealth of experience in managing both aging infrastructure and integrating new, modern systems.

The sheer volume and complexity of their service area, which encompasses a major research university, requires an exceptional level of technical skill and licensing. The maintenance of underground water and sewer utilities alone spans many miles. Furthermore, their expertise extends into regulatory compliance, such as backflow protection certification, a critical service for safeguarding the public water supply from potential contamination within building plumbing systems, a requirement enforced by the City of Madison Water Utility.

It is important for local Wisconsin users to recognize that while this entity is the internal service provider for the university, the comprehensive list of services offered reflects an industry-leading capacity for facility maintenance, encompassing both standard plumbing and highly technical utility management.

The shop’s staff comprises professional tradespeople, many of whom are organized under the Wisconsin State Building Trade Union or the Wisconsin State Employee Union, ensuring high standards of training, skill, and commitment to the craft. Their work is budgeted to support general campus maintenance as well as provide self-funded, charge-back services for specialized university departments and projects.

The U W Plumbing Shop is centrally located within the vibrant campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The exact location is:

The Physical Plant’s Service Building is a landmark of the university's facility operations. Being situated on University Avenue provides a high level of visibility and access in the Madison area, right in the heart of the city's key educational hub. For university personnel, the central location ensures that service teams can be quickly dispatched for maintenance, repair, and service calls across the expansive campus.

The U W Plumbing Shop and its associated Facilities Planning & Management teams offer an extraordinarily broad range of services essential for maintaining a large, sophisticated institutional environment. These services go far beyond simple pipe repair. The comprehensive list of maintenance, installation, and design services includes:

• Installation and maintenance of New Plumbing Systems and various Plumbing Fixtures.
• Comprehensive Maintenance And Repair, including routine General Maintenance and Preventive Maintenance programs.
• Management of underground infrastructure, including Water Lines, Water And Sewer utilities, and storm lines.
• Specialized system maintenance for Fire Protection systems and Fire Safety measures.
• Essential safety and compliance services, such as Backflow Protection Certification.
• Expertise in Heating And Cooling systems, including A/C, Air Conditioner, Air Conditioning, Fan Coil Unit maintenance, and general Temperature Controls.
• Specialized laboratory and healthcare systems, including Medical Gas Systems.
• Maintenance and service for recreational and large-scale water features like Swimming Pools.
• Facility management and support services such as Rubbish Collection, Pest Control, and Pest Management.
• Integrated facility support, including Planning & Development, Space Management, and Design services (including Design Design, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture).
• Other maintenance trades and logistical support, such as Camera Systems, Carpet Installation, Construction Service, Lawn Mowing, and general Service Calls.

The depth of these service offerings underscores a commitment to managing all facets of a building's functional and structural integrity, making them experts in complex, multi-system environments.

The U W Plumbing Shop stands out not just for the services it provides but for the professional rigor and institutional support behind its operations. Key features and highlights include:

• State-Licensed Plumbers: All plumbers are licensed by the state of Wisconsin and are highly qualified to meet the diverse and evolving needs of a major educational and research institution.
• Comprehensive System Coverage: Expertise covers a vast array of systems, including sanitary waste and vent systems, storm lines, hot and cold water lines, and various plumbing fixtures for both common and industrial uses.
• Utility Infrastructure Management: The team is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of many miles of underground water and sewer utilities, a major undertaking critical for the health and safety of the campus.
• Specialized Technical Skills: The shop offers high-level, technical services, such as the maintenance and installation of medical gas systems and laboratory piping, skills that are highly specialized in the plumbing industry.
• Full Life-Cycle Support: Services encompass estimating for new projects, remodeling of existing facilities, and installation of new plumbing systems, offering complete project support from design through to maintenance.
• Integrated Facility Management: Operating within the Physical Plant, the Plumbing Shop works seamlessly with other trades (Electric Shop, Steamfitter Shop, etc.) to offer cohesive and integrated facility solutions, rather than just isolated plumbing work.

For those needing to contact the U W Plumbing Shop, the primary contact details are:

Address: Service Bldg, 1217 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Phone: (608) 262-9633

Mobile Phone: +1 608-262-9633

While the U W Plumbing Shop is dedicated to serving the needs of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, the quality, scope, and professionalism of its operations make it an exceptional model of service in the Wisconsin trades sector. What is worth noting and what truly sets them apart is their dedication to maintaining a highly specialized and historic infrastructure. Choosing a service with this kind of institutional backing, even if you are a commercial or residential client seeking a separate provider, means selecting a partner whose operational standards are forged in the demanding environment of a major university.

The licensed professionals on the team are accustomed to working with complex systems, from backflow prevention and fire safety to medical gases and temperature controls. Their experience ensures all work is performed to the highest regulatory standards, a necessity when dealing with public health and safety on a large scale. When a plumbing shop’s mandate is the continuous, reliable operation of one of the largest institutions in the state, you can be assured that their commitment to quality, responsiveness for service calls, and comprehensive repair capabilities are paramount. The U W Plumbing Shop represents the highest level of professional, experienced, and multi-faceted facility plumbing and maintenance available in the Madison, WI, area, and their long-standing presence at the Service Building on University Avenue is a powerful symbol of their stability and deep local roots.

U W Plumbing Shop

Service Bldg, 1217 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706, USA