If you’ve walked past the Facilities Management building on campus recently, you might have noticed something unusual about the sign. While most campus buildings maintain consistent signage, the Facilities building has developed a quirky tradition: a regularly changing letter “I” that takes on different themes throughout the year.
What started as a practical solution to a construction oversight has evolved into one of UNBC’s most charming unplanned traditions, according to Katherine Fedyk, Facilities Assistant at UNBC.
“When the building was first built and we moved in, we did have an ‘I’ there, but it was a completely different color than all the rest of the letters,” Fedyk explained. “It was sent back to one of the contractors to be redone, and for the longest time it was just an empty space.”
Rather than leave the gap, Fedyk decided to get creative. “One day I was just like, ‘Oh, it would be funny for me to go and make an eye.’ I think the first ‘I’ I ever put out there, I constructed something with googly eyes because I thought it was funny,” she recalled.
What began as a simple joke evolved into a monthly tradition. The “I” has since taken many forms: a candy cane in December, snowflakes in January, a rose in February (which was mysteriously stolen), and a shamrock in March. During last summer’s wildfire season, the “I” was even transformed into a cigar—a humorous nod to the smoky conditions.
“It just kind of evolved into a theme for each month,” Fedyk said. “It’s honestly given this building more of a personality than just ‘new building.'”
The changing “I” has become something of a campus curiosity, with students and staff often wondering what will appear next. While most decorations have remained untouched, there have been a couple of exceptions. “The rose was like the second one [to be taken]. I was really surprised that nobody took the cigar because it was just there, stuck on the wall,” Fedyk noted.
Beyond the creative signage, Fedyk emphasized that Facilities Management does far more than most students realize. “Facilities literally keeps the campus running,” she explained. “Everything from making sure the lights and heat are on to fixing a broken lectern or desk in a lecture theater.”
The department’s responsibilities extend from day-to-day maintenance to major construction projects, including building spaces for new programs like physiotherapy and nursing. They also manage all campus access, handling both electronic and physical locks.
For those intrigued by the changing “I,” Fedyk mentioned that Facilities held a contest at orientation in September inviting students to design their own “I” for the building, though they didn’t receive any entries. Now, they’re extending the invitation to the UNBC community through Over The Edge.
Students interested in designing a future “I” for the Facilities building can send their creative ideas to facilities@unbc.ca.
Have you noticed the changing “I” on campus? Share your favorite design or submit your own idea for a future display!
