The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) recognized UGL Services and the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. with a Grand Award in the Society’s 2010 Green Star Awards competition. The award was given in the Athletic Fields category for exceptional grounds maintenance. Winners were honored during the Society’s 2010 School of Grounds Management held in conjunction with the GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 27-30.
“This is a great honor to receive,” said Chris Denson, UGL Services Athletic Grounds Manager at University of Miami. “It not only recognizes the efforts put in by our staff, but also UM’s commitment toward enriching their students’, staff and visitors’ lives through green spaces.”
The Green Star Awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence, complementing other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction. Overall, PGMS presented seven Grand Awards, its highest honor, as well as 14 Honor Awards and 12 Merit Awards in 13 categories of competition.
“Chris and his staff provide championship caliber playing surfaces to our athletic programs on a year-round basis,” said Kirby Hocutt, UM Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “We want to celebrate this achievement, as well as thank the athletics grounds crew for their exceptional service.”
This is not the first award for UGL Services’ Denson at Miami. In 2007, UM also won the Grand Award from PGMS. In 2006, the Sports Turf Managers Association named the Greentree Fields the College Football Field of the Year.
Denson and his staff maintain the grounds at the Greentree Fields, Alex Rodriguez Park (Baseball), and Cobb Stadium (Soccer & Track & Field).
Perhaps no practice field is more legendary than Greentree, which has been the home practice grounds to five National Championship teams. Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field has been home to four National Champions in baseball and one of the most impressive streaks in major college athletics history. The Miami baseball team has made the NCAA postseason a mind-boggling 38 consecutive seasons, which is an NCAA record. Cobb Stadium has been the training and competitive surface for countless All-Americans and a handful of National Champions under the watchful eye of current head track coach Amy Deem.
About UGL Services
UGL Services is a division of UGL Limited that provides Corporate Real Estate (CRE) and Facility Management (FM) solutions around the world. In North America, UGL Services delivers best-in-class, day-to-day facilities maintenance and management services, as well as industry-leading business real estate brokerage and consulting services. The comprehensive service platform enables UGL Services customers to delegate key facilities and real estate functions to a single entity to realize operational and strategic benefits. For further information about UGL Services in North America, call 888-751-9100 or visit www.ugl-unicco.com.
About UGL Limited
UGL Limited (ASX: UGL) is an engineering, maintenance and facilities management company operating in the rail, water, power, transport, resources and property sectors. It consists of four divisions – UGL Infrastructure, UGL Rail, UGL Resources and UGL Services. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, UGL Limited operates in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America and the Middle East employing approximately 43,000 people. For more information, visit www.ugllimited.com.