Scott Bernotas promoted to vice chancellor, facilities management

Scott Bernotas has been promoted to vice chancellor for facilities management at the University of Pittsburgh.

In this role, Bernotas will oversee the utilities infrastructure and more than 130 buildings on the 145-acre Pittsburgh campus, including maintenance, construction and renovations to support the 42,000-member University community, as well as partner with regional campus facilities teams. His responsibilities also include leading a team of more than 500 staff to provide vital frontline cleaning, sanitizing and HVAC air handling services during the pandemic.

He has built a strong safety culture that proactively integrates safety planning and follow-up audits into all construction and maintenance efforts.

Bernotas has championed diversity, equity and inclusion in the University’s construction and professional services activities, initiating mentor-protégé construction apprenticeships and additional programs to strengthen project team diversification and minority career pathing in construction, and developing construction diversity dashboards to quantify progress.

Additionally, he implemented a comprehensive Facilities Preservation Program that includes a long-range maintenance plan, facilities condition assessments and resources to support maintenance efforts.