IdeasCityWS panel discussion: "From the Ground Up" and workforce development
In October 2019, Wake Forest University housekeeping staff, arborists, turf crew members, locksmiths and carpenters were among nearly 70 staff members who participated in “From the Ground Up,” an original dance performance held on Hearn Plaza. Directed by Allison Orr (’93) of Forklift Danceworks in Austin, the production elevated the dedicated people whose skillful work often goes unseen. 
To commemorate the anniversary of this groundbreaking event, IdeasCityWS will host a “Beta Bonfire” panel discussion on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m., looking back at the production through the lens of workforce development. Christina Soriano, associate provost for the arts and interdisciplinary initiatives associate professor, will moderate the virtual conversation.
Presenters include:
- Allison Orr, Founder and artistic director of Forklift Danceworks in Austin, Texas;
- John Shenette, Vice president of Facilities and Campus Services at Wake Forest University;
- Stephanie Poskin, Senior director of Wake Forest Facilities Support Services & Operations;
- Kobak Taylor, “From the Ground Up” performer and Wake Forest Facilities and Campus Services locksmith;
- Cynthia Wilson, “From the Ground Up” performer and Wake Forest custodial department team lead; and
- Matt Crawford, Senior theatre major from Austin, TX, and a student leader on the “From the Ground Up” project.
A documentary that captures the spirit of the performances is available for viewing as background for the discussion.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is available here.
Categories: Events, Faculty News, Staff News
Update on capital projects
The following message is shared on behalf of John Shenette, vice president, facilities and campus services, and Hof Milam, Executive Vice President:
As stated in the message to faculty and staff on April 8, the University is reviewing all capital projects to determine whether or not they should proceed. Projects that are deemed necessary for the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff, or are deemed critical to campus infrastructure are proceeding. Based on this guidance, the University has suspended most projects with the exception of the following:
- Bostwick and Johnson: Bostwick and Johnson residence halls (currently closed) and neighboring buildings on Gulley Drive (among the first original buildings to open on the Reynolda Campus) will receive new heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air quality and increase control of indoor environments. Work began on these structures the week of May 4 and will continue throughout the summer.
- Greene Hall: This project will focus on failing structural conditions and water infiltration issues. The project will include new water proofing, exterior wall panel replacement and repairs to the large skylight above the atrium. Two elevations of the building will be addressed: (1) east – facing the Athletics facilities and (2) west – facing Manchester Plaza. Access to the building will remain available. Phase One was completed over winter break. Phase Two of the project begins the week of May 18 and will continue throughout the summer.
- Chilled water line extension: The line runs underground along Carroll Weathers Drive past the Worrell Professional Center and will be extended from the Wake Forest Road/Carroll Weathers Drive intersection to Wellman Way. This is the final phase of the 2009 Campus Master Plan to connect the North and South Chiller Plants. This connector is intended to expand chilled water capacity to buildings on the eastern side of campus including Worrell Professional Center, Alumni Hall, Sutton Sports Performance Center/Shah Basketball Complex and Palmer/Piccolo. The extension will also greatly improve chilled water distribution challenges across campus. Intermittent road closures are likely during the project. Work began in early May and will continue throughout the summer.
- Sutton Sports Performance Center completion: The remainder of the natural turf practice field to the west of Sutton Sports Performance Center will be completed this summer. Completion of this project is necessary to return the construction staging site to its pre-project use and to provide proper storm water management for the area to the east of Manchester Athletic Center.
- Wake Downtown: The final phase of build-out for the Department of Engineering at Wake Downtown will be completed later this summer. This work is necessary to provide instructional spaces for the junior and senior classes and to meet accreditation requirements of the program.
- Renovation of Palmer/Piccolo: The renovation of these former residence halls began before COVID-19 and will be continued to provide much needed classroom, lab space and offices for the Department of Anthropology and The Museum of Anthropology.
Categories: Inside WFU, University Announcement
'From the Ground Up' showcased facilities staff and their contributions to campus
Housekeeping staff, arborists, turf crew members, locksmiths and carpenters were among the nearly 70 participants performing on Hearn Plaza in the original dance piece “From the Ground Up.” Performances were held on Oct. 3, 4 and 5.
Click here to download the program.
More than two-and-a-half years in the making, “From the Ground Up” was a collaboration between Wake Forest and Forklift Danceworks, a dance company based in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to use creative dance to build community. Cindy Gendrich, theatre professor and director of the University’s Interdisciplinary Performance and Liberal Arts Center (IPLACe); Christina Soriano, dance professor and associate provost for the arts and interdisciplinary programs at Wake Forest; and John Shenette, vice president, facilities and campus services, were the forces that helped move the project forward.
For more information and a video about the production, visit here.
Categories: Inside WFU, Staff News
Artists partnering with Facilities/Campus Services on large-scale performance
Dance company choreographer Krissie Marty, center, talks with landscapers Andrew Norton, left, and Chris Boston.
Wake Forest and Forklift Danceworks are co-creating “From the Ground Up” – a dance featuring the movement and stories of custodial, maintenance and utilities, landscaping, construction, and waste reduction employees.
Through a series of residencies, Forklift artists are partnering with Wake Forest Facilities and Campus Services staff on a large-scale performance to take place on Hearn Plaza on Oct. 4 and 5.
Wake Forest’s Interdisciplinary Performance and Liberal Arts Center (IPLACe) has been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New England Foundation for the Arts to help fund the interdisciplinary collaboration with Forklift Danceworks – a dance company based in Austin, Texas, that activates communities through a collaborative creative process.
More information is available here.
Categories: Events, Inside WFU, Staff News
March 2015 staff milestones
Congratulations to James Reid Morgan, senior vice president and general counsel, for 35 years of service to Wake Forest! Below is a complete list of March 2015 staff milestones.
Categories: Staff News
