Category: Design and Construction

Report: U.S. Office Demand Hits ‘Remarkable’ Post-Pandemic High

Despite anxiety over the current war in Iran and economic uncertainty at home, U.S. office demand posted sizable quarterly and annual gains in the first quarter, according to the latest VTS Office Demand Index (VODI) report. The increased growth in Q1 was primarily driven by finance, legal, and technology tenants—with quarterly and annual demand for office […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of April 2026

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Fully Electric Hospital To boost sustainability and energy savings, modern facilities are increasingly going fully electric. In Oregon, major healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente has broken ground on a new, all-electric hospital tower to replace its Sunnyside Medical Center, which […]

Back to Basics: Contractor and Temporary Worker Safety

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Many workplaces are staffed by workers with different employers—a host company, contractors, and staffing agencies. If you own or operate a facility, you have complete responsibility for the health and safety of your own employees and a […]

Green Building Groups Launch Coalition for Sustainable AI Data Centers

On Earth Day, nine of the world’s major built environment and sustainable finance organizations launched the Greening AI Data Centers Coalition (GADCC)—a new global initiative to set clear, credible standards for sustainable data center development as artificial intelligence (AI)-driven demand for computing power accelerates worldwide. According to the groups, the GADCC will develop transparent benchmarks […]

Skilled Trades Labor Shortage Reaches ‘Critical Inflection Point’

As the United States grapples with aging building stock and the need for infrastructure modernization, a critical workforce challenge threatens the commercial real estate sector’s ability to maintain, modernize, and operate the built environment. JLL’s latest skilled trades talent research reveals that by 2030, an estimated 2.1 million skilled trades positions for electricians, HVAC technicians, […]

Space Management Isn’t a Floor Plan Problem. It’s Bigger.

Facilities teams have invested heavily in booking platforms, occupancy sensors, and space-planning tools. Yet many organizations still face a common problem: empty desks reserved but never used, crowded collaboration areas midweek, and employees who bypass the system altogether. According to JLL’s Global State of Facilities Management Report, 38% of facilities leaders rank space utilization and […]

District Energy and Data Centers: A Strategic Partnership for the Future

Hyperscale data center growth is running headlong into real-world constraints—interconnection queues, transformer lead times, water stress, community scrutiny, and tightening climate policy. At the same time, the thermal profile of the data center sector is shifting decisively from air to liquid cooling, concentrating heat into a form far more useful than a plume of hot […]

OSHA Renews Heat Hazard Emphasis Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) renewed the agency’s Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards National Emphasis Program (NEP) on April 10. OSHA updated its 2022 NEP to protect workers from outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards, directing agency resources to where they can have the greatest impact by focusing inspections and outreach on industries and workplaces where […]

Lowe’s Foundation Commits $250M to Skilled Trades Training

Skilled trades are considered a strong foundation for a facilities management career. As the U.S. confronts a critical shortage of skilled trade workers, the Lowe’s Foundation announced an expanded $250 million commitment to help train and develop 250,000 tradespeople by 2035 through its Gable Grants program. This announcement follows a $100 million initiative from financial giant BlackRock to support the next […]

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 […]