Category: Design and Construction

Facilities Projects Your College Should Tackle Over Summer Break

Once students leave campus, the window opens for projects that are impossible to complete safely or efficiently during the academic year. Empty halls and classrooms create the perfect environment for overhauls and cosmetic updates. The big challenge here is often identifying which projects to prioritize. While every campus has unique needs, facilities managers should aim […]

Facility Planning: When Prefab Beats Stick-Built for Industrial Expansions

When a warehouse hits capacity or a maintenance shop can’t keep up with fleet growth, facilities managers face a decision that shapes the next decade of operations. The traditional path is a stick-built expansion, where general contractors frame and finish a structure on-site from raw materials. The alternative is a prefab metal building, where major […]

Twenty-Four Percent of Unoccupied Office Space Will Be Air Conditioned this Summer

That’s right, 24% of under or unoccupied office space will be blasting air conditioning for nobody this summer. At the end of each day, these same vacant, cooled spaces and unused bathrooms will be cleaned by the maintenance crew. The obvious contributing factors are summer vacations, hybrid schedules, and team outings. The less obvious and […]

How Smart Storage Design Can Improve Safety and Efficiency in Industrial Facilities

Industrial facilities are vulnerable to an assortment of challenges related to storage and layout. Rather than allowing these challenges to persist, facilities can address the most critical issues through strategic design decisions that enhance safety, efficiency, and overall performance. Quick remedies are a well-planned layout, good organization, and specialized storage solutions.  Optimize Warehouse Layouts  Poor warehouse layout design is the cause of many problems that might […]

Designing Fitness Amenities: A Facilities Manager’s Guide to Better Gym Spaces

Fitness amenities have become a staple in many types of facilities, from corporate campuses and multifamily housing to universities, healthcare centers, and municipal recreation buildings. However, maintaining a fitness space that is safe, efficient, and well-used can be a complex responsibility for facilities managers. The goal can no longer be simply providing a room with […]

Where Are the Greenest Stadiums in North America?

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched the Sustainable Stadiums Interactive Map, a new tool that helps fans, media, venue operators, and city leaders explore LEED- and TRUE-certified stadiums across North America—alongside LEED-certified hotels, restaurants, and other buildings located near participating venues. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one of the most widely used green building rating […]

From Static Space to Strategic Asset: Designing Offices That Perform

In a world where employees can log on from anywhere, what role should the office play? With more than half of Fortune 100 companies now implementing return-to-office policies, leaders are working to answer this question. Pressures are rising for office environments to deliver distinct connections and energy that home workspaces can’t replicate. Modern offices have […]

Worker Health Hazards at Large Construction Worksites

Large commercial building projects, such as data centers, warehouses, distribution centers, and office parks, can be among the most complex and hazardous worksites. The leading safety hazards in construction are well known. The industry’s “fatal four” safety hazards are caught-in or -between hazards, electrocution, falls, and struck-by hazards. (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of May 2026

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. New NFL Stadium NFL games might be over for now, but a number of football teams (including the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars) are currently working on major stadium projects during the offseason. In Ohio, the Cleveland […]

5 Strategies to Improve Hospital Security on a Budget

Hospitals face unique physical security challenges stemming from their complex layouts and round-the-clock operations. Unlike traditional office buildings, healthcare facilities must balance stringent access control with the need for rapid emergency response. Facilities managers can protect staff, patients, and assets through strategic, budget-conscious security measures that address the sector’s distinct vulnerabilities without compromising operational efficiency. […]