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Beyond Facility Surveillance: The Rise of the AI ‘Video Supervisor’

For decades, video surveillance in facilities management has been a passive, “looking back” technology. We used it to investigate what had already happened—a slip-and-fall, a security breach, or a workflow bottleneck. But just as large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT redefined our interaction with text, a new generation of video language models (VLMs) is fundamentally […]

The Emotional Labor of Facilities Management: The Hidden Work No One Talks About

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor.  Facilities management is often defined by its technical responsibilities—HVAC systems, electrical distribution, preventive maintenance, capital planning, compliance. But anyone who works in FM knows the job extends far beyond equipment and infrastructure. It’s people […]

How Restroom Maintenance Shapes User Confidence and Facility Reputation

Public restrooms are among the most frequently used—and closely judged—spaces in any facility. Whether in office buildings, healthcare environments, airports, schools, or retail destinations, restroom conditions influence how visitors perceive the entire property. Findings from the annual 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Company highlight just how strongly restroom conditions shape user confidence and business […]

Is an Occupancy Data Gap Costing Your Office Space?

Four out of five commercial real estate (CRE), workplace, building management, and facilities professionals lack the data they need to make confident space-planning decisions, according to a new report. The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, interviewed 400 decision-makers in the U.S. for Butlr’s “Beyond Occupancy: The State of Office Space 2026” report. The results show […]

Common Overhead Door Failures That Create Safety and Compliance Risks 

Industrial facilities management isn’t just about keeping the lights on; it’s about ensuring the heavy machinery overhead doesn’t become a hindrance to safety or compliance. In high-traffic warehouses and logistics hubs, commercial doors serve as the primary gateways for revenue, yet they remain one of the most overlooked mechanical assets on the balance sheet. When these massive steel barriers fail, the impact goes beyond repair costs. Breakdowns can lead to […]

FEMA Awards $625M to Boost Security for FIFA World Cup 2026

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded $625 million to empower all 11 cities hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches to bolster security preparations ahead of the soccer tournament, in close coordination with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026.  This funding, administered through the new FIFA World Cup Grant Program, will enable state and local officials to hold operational exercises, […]

The Building Systems Nobody’s Securing

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. I was on a call with an operations director at a big ag plant. She’d been running the place for years, knew her equipment inside and out. Her question was one I hear in […]

Turning Vacant Big-Box Stores into Pickleball Facilities

Amid rising costs and increased competition from e-commerce, many big-box retailers have chosen to close stores across the country, leaving behind large, vacant spaces. As pickleball’s growth accelerates nationwide, former big-box stores have emerged as some of the most attractive—and challenging—real estate opportunities for indoor pickleball facilities. While these buildings offer scale, parking, and accessibility, […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of March 2026

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. UConn Stadium Makeover Among other things, March is known for the beginning of spring, Women’s History Month, and of course, college basketball. As both its men’s and women’s teams fought their way to the March Madness Final […]

5 Tech Strategies to Enhance Springtime School Maintenance

Spring brings a fresh set of opportunities for K-12 facilities managers to strengthen campus performance. As schools transition from cooler months and prepare for increased outdoor use, maintenance teams can use advanced technologies to improve efficiency, optimize resources, and support safe learning environments. By integrating tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence […]