Category: Maintenance and Operations

Cleaning Staff Retention Is Your Secret Weapon for Operational Excellence in 2026

By Katrin Ferge, Tork Feb 6, 2026 FM Perspectives

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

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. Ask facilities managers about their biggest operational challenges, and staffing consistently ranks near the top. Cleaning teams face unique pressures—and the consequences show up everywhere, from inconsistent cleanliness to rising costs to guest complaints. […]

N.J. Awards Facility Upgrade Grants to Colleges and Universities

By Joe Bebon, Editor Feb 6, 2026 Design and Construction

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education has awarded $244.4 million in capital facilities grant funding from two state-backed, revolving bond programs for higher education. A total of 92 projects across 23 colleges and universities have received funding to address deferred maintenance, enhance campus safety, and upgrade student facilities. Sheryl Stitt, executive […]

How Unified Facility Data Can Transform University Operations

By Brad Stevens, Wesco Feb 5, 2026 Access Control

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

University campuses generate data from countless sources—A/V and lighting systems, HVAC equipment, cameras, and various other sensors. Yet many of these technologies operate in silos, forcing employees to monitor them individually across multiple platforms. The result is slower response times, added complexity, and limited visibility into overall campus operations. When data is unified, employees gain […]

VA Announces Nearly $5B to Improve Healthcare Facilities

By Joe Bebon, Editor Feb 3, 2026 Design and Construction

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will spend $4.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 to modernize, repair, and improve healthcare facilities as part of the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) program, which makes infrastructure improvements to healthcare facilities to ensure safe and effective patient care. This is the largest single-year NRM […]

Which Countries Are LEED-ing the Way on Green Buildings?

By Joe Bebon, Editor Feb 2, 2026 Design and Construction

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the global developer of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the independent body that administers LEED certifications, have announced their annual Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED ranking outside the United States for 2025. While the U.S. remains the […]

The ‘Non-Compliance Tax’: How to Turn Regulatory Checks into ROI

By Shirley Gao, Envoy Feb 2, 2026 Access Control

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Not being compliant isn’t some clever cost-saving strategy. Regulators are not only watching; they’re charging more than ever. For example, new penalties announced at the beginning of 2025 for International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) violations are now capable of reaching more than $1 million per incident, and that’s before you even think about legal […]

International WELL Building Institute Unveils Two New Ratings

By Joe Bebon, Editor Jan 30, 2026 Building Controls

Updated: Jan 30, 2026

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the organization behind the WELL healthy building certification standard, has revealed two new ratings designed to help real estate owners and operators deliver on investor and tenant demands for healthier buildings. Now open for enrollment, the WELL Real Estate Rating focuses on enhancing base building infrastructure while the WELL […]

IFMA Applauds Survival of ENERGY STAR Program

By Joe Bebon, Editor Jan 29, 2026 Energy Management and Lighting

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Once on the Trump administration’s chopping block, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program lives on after Congress recently approved $33 million to fund the program for fiscal year 2026. The bill, H.R. 6938, was signed into law on Jan. 23, following bipartisan approval from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The […]

Rethinking the Modern Office: How Smart Lighting Tech Can Help Drive Productivity

By Dan Hollenkamp, Toggled Jan 29, 2026 Building Controls

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Five years into the remote work era, the push to bring employees back to the office continues. But the modern workplace can’t simply revert to its pre-pandemic state. With 14% of U.S. office space still vacant, return-to-office mandates remain a tough sell. In fact, 46% of employees have said they would consider leaving their job […]

Data Privacy Day: 5 Best Practices for Physical Security

By Joe Bebon, Editor Jan 28, 2026 Access Control

Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Observed annually on Jan. 28, Data Privacy Day (also known as Data Protection Day) serves as a reminder that protecting personal data is a shared and ongoing responsibility. For physical security teams, adopting clear strategies, resilient technologies, and trusted partnerships can help ensure privacy and keep security objectives aligned as risks and regulations continue to […]