The next time you’re at work, take a good look around. The building and all the equipment that enable you to do your job — lights, air conditioning, refrigerated cases, checkstands, landscaping and even fleet vehicles — are the responsibility of one department.

The facilities department was established in 1992 to support the growth and maintenance of company assets.

About 535 associates in the department perform a range of jobs including thedesign, construction, equipment procurement and maintenance of Publix retail buildings, as well as the initial design, construction and some equipment procurement of support buildings. They’re also responsible for cabinetry; landscaping; new equipment design and rollout; solid waste and recycling; signage and ADA compliance. It seems like an easy job until you realize just how much goes into it.

“We’re a behind-the-scenes department,” said Manager of Facilities Strategic Support Al Ebeling. “We also respond to crisis situations, such as the plane crash at #444, Deland, Florida, [now #1444] and natural disaster preparation and response.”
Most people might not realize facilities associates design and build liquor stores and standalone pharmacies, such as the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Pharmacy in Miami that opened in April. They also help in the acquisition and maintenance of acquired shopping centers.

Recycling by the numbers

For the first quarter in 2016, facilities worked with retail and support departments to

• recycle 200 million pounds of materials
• divert 21.4 million pounds of food waste (not including food donations)
• recycle 15.8 million pounds of bone and fat and
• achieve a recycling rate of 58.4 percent.