Harry Wyatt, current executive director for Facilities Management, will succeed John Kotowski as associate vice president for Facilities, beginning May 12.

Kotowski, who will retire effective Sept. 30, will continue to oversee special projects.

Wyatt came to Ohio University in November 2006. He will make a $132,000 salary, a raise of $18,700.

Wyatt said he has been responsible for the planning, design, and construction of new facilities and renovations, including overseeing maintenance and operations for the heating plant, ground operations, and campus services.

In his new role, Wyatt said he will utilize energy-saving concepts into construction, following in the footsteps of Kotowski, who is an advocate for sustainability.  

“I am very interested in integrating the concept of sustainability into pretty much everything we do,” Wyatt said. “Not only in new construction but how we take care of buildings and operate buildings.”

Wyatt said there will be more energy conservation and awareness, such as lowering the target temperatures, or the optimal temperature, in buildings during the winter and higher target temperatures in the summer. He said that in broader terms Facilities will use materials that last longer and construction that is lower maintenance.

“One example would be the renovation of the former Baker University Center,” Wyatt said. “It is a wonderful opportunity to look at issues like that.”

For the next six months, he said Kotowski will help him transition by introducing him to contacts and helping to develop standards for less energy usage in building designs.

“I am very happy to take this on. I know it will be a challenge, but I think I will be up to it, and I look forward to the years ahead,” Wyatt said.

Dave Logan, union chapter president and Facilities employee in the Life Safety department, said he has a good relationship with Wyatt and he hopes to build on it, adding that the union’s attitude is to wait to see how he works out.
“During negotiations, he was pretty fair and made a lot of concession to the union,” Logan said. “I hope he is going to be all right.”