Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) stands to change the mix of U.S. jobs, not necessarily eliminate a significant amount of them, according to a new report from CBRE. In fact, the report suggests AI will be a “net positive” for office demand. CBRE’s analysis, as applied to research by AI industry experts, found that […]
A new pickleball lighting system should not be accepted simply because every luminaire turns on. For a facilities manager, acceptance is the point at which design assumptions become operating reality. Light levels, uniformity, glare control, aiming, controls, documentation, and maintainability all need to be checked against the agreed project requirements. A structured commissioning process protects […]
A commercial restroom renovation can improve water efficiency, reduce maintenance, increase durability, support accessibility, and create a better experience for building occupants—especially when upgrades involve multiple restrooms. When one large office building planned renovations for 30 restrooms, the facilities manager consulted Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co. Inc., for recommendations on making the […]
Facilities managers are feeling increasing pressure to limit operational expenses and maintain aging buildings efficiently. Building information modeling (BIM) already serves as the digital underpinning for facility life cycle management. BIM, coupled with artificial intelligence (AI), is a more responsive technology that can analyze building data and support smarter decision-making. Why BIM Is Ready for […]
From construction sites and building maintenance to HVAC inspections and asset monitoring, drones are becoming valuable tools for facilities professionals. While adoption continues to grow, many misconceptions remain about what drones can do, where they provide the greatest value, and how they’re likely to shape the future of facilities management. For facilities professionals, the real […]
As the U.S. faces a historic skilled trades labor shortage, the Lowe’s Foundation has announced the Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition to help train and develop 1 million people for skilled trades careers by 2035. The national alliance is backed by over 75 American educators, businesses, workforce organizations, industry vendors, and stakeholders across the skilled […]
The engineered systems and infrastructure that regulate the environment inside a building are essential for the successful operation of a large facility. As technology, connection, compliance and customer expectations evolve, keeping those systems up to date becomes an urgent responsibility for today’s professional facility operators. Upgrading a facility’s mechanical systems to meet the highest standards […]
Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Astronomical SpaceX Investments Elon Musk, recently crowned the world’s first trillionaire, was busy highlighting two huge facility investments for his SpaceX company in August. (That’s in addition to crashing a SpaceX rocket into the moon.) In Louisiana, […]
In April, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its National Emphasis Program on heat-related hazards. The revised program directs inspections and outreach for 55 high-risk industries in both indoor and outdoor work settings, including “warehousing and storage” under NAICS code 4931. Why does this matter for facilities managers? Because workers in warehouses, manufacturing […]
Renovation and expansion projects are massive undertakings that require a coordinated effort across service providers, from construction crews that build these structures from the ground up to interior designers responsible for finishing touches. While these projects are essential for keeping facilities functional and efficient, they generate large amounts of waste that can result in project […]