Get to know F&S: Antoanela Culcearu

In April, Antoanela Culcearu joined Facilities & Services as the new director of building services, grounds, & trades. With a career managing Toronto’s most iconic city assets like City Hall and Old City Hall, she brings with her over 25 years of leadership experience from both public and private sectors.

At the City of Toronto, Culcearu oversaw 1.5 million square feet of municipal office space and 10 acres of public space at Nathan Philips Square.

“You can probably imagine that a city hall is an important place,” she laughs. “It’s the seat of the municipal government; it’s where decisions are made that affect every resident. It’s also where people gather to learn and share information—and a public space for major community events.” These considerations required careful planning, coordination, and organization to ensure that all services were managed correctly—and to safeguard business continuity each and every day.

At City Hall, Culcearu faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic; continuing legislative business without a playbook for facility management during a global health crisis was daunting. “In the beginning, there was no information on how to move forward,” she recalls. “We had to develop and implement our own processes on the spot. Life at City Hall couldn’t—and didn’t—stop,” she continues. “We had to keep the city moving while providing a safe environment for those coming into the office. It was a challenging—but necessary—balancing act.”

At U of T, Culcearu is dedicated to maintaining campus facilities and services, and she feels that her experience at the City will serve her well. “I learned how to work under pressure with tight timelines, be adaptable, and be creative,” she says, “I also saw the importance of staying current in industry best practices and trends.”

Now, Culcearu plans leverage these skills to support her F&S colleagues and enhance the University’s operations. “I hope to identify efficiencies to improve our business, bring value to clients, and streamline internal processes,” she says. She sees herself as an enabler: for her colleagues to provide exemplary customer service, and for F&S to fulfill its stewardship of University’s assets. “Facility management  is vital to an organization’s success,” she adds. “I wanted to be part of something that would be of great, lasting value.”

For Culcearu, facility management is fundamentally about providing a strong foundation where communities thrive, and her future vision centres around innovation and sustainability. “Another goal dear to my heart is building an environment of inclusion, support, and belonging,” she says. “I want to cultivate a space where people can thrive and strive for success together. I want the team to know that I am here for them and will support them to achieve excellence.”

Outside of work, Culcearu enjoys baking, which she finds calming and fulfilling. “It’s a great stress relief and a way to connect my family, friends, and colleagues,” she says. She loves reading, working with chocolate, and spending time with her pets. Her zest for lifelong learning extends to her professional life, where she stays up to date on industry advancements.