Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
When something goes wrong in a building, the facilities team isn’t always the first to know. Often, it’s an administrative assistant, business services officer, executive assistant, or local office employee who sees the problem first. They hear an alarm. They discover a leak. They know employees can’t get through a door or that a scheduled […]
When facilities managers look for operational savings, they typically focus on HVAC systems, lighting, water usage, and preventive maintenance. These systems generate continuous streams of data, making it easier to identify inefficiencies and measure improvements over time. Commercial kitchens, however, have historically operated with far less operational visibility, despite being among the most resource-intensive spaces […]
Every facilities manager has lived the same sequence. The cleaning contract is signed in January after three competitive bids, the first month is flawless, and by April the complaints start arriving in your inbox: restrooms stocked late, trash cans spotted full at 5 p.m., a lobby that somehow always looks clean except when a tenant […]
Editor’s note: This is the second article in a two-part series. The first article is available here. Part I of this series covered water management regulations and infection prevention at senior living communities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. In addition to controlling pathogens and reducing the risk of infections in showers and other points-of-use, […]
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 […]
Editor’s note: This is the first article is a two-part series. The second article is available here. Few environments house more medically vulnerable individuals than senior living communities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. Across the United States, approximately 32,000 assisted living communities provide housing and supportive services for an estimated 1.3 million residents. Facilities […]
Facility teams are beginning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to search manuals, summarize work histories, and assemble operating context. Retrieval can make those systems more useful, but it can also make a wrong answer look unusually credible. An authentic policy, equipment export, public page, and manager note can all be relevant without having equal authority, […]
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 […]
By the end of 2026, manufacturers are projected to spend $16.7 billion on artificial intelligence (AI). Many manufacturers have approached AI with the mindset “if we build it, they will come,” which, in this context, becomes “if we buy it, it will get used.” However, the 2026 Asset Lifecycle Report from Asset Management Software, Siemens […]
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 […]