Category: Maintenance and Operations

When Buildings Start Talking: How AI Turns Historical Data into Proactive Building Intelligence

By David Duncan, Johnson Controls Jul 6, 2026 Green Building

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Facilities management is entering a new phase with intelligence, foresight, and strategic value at the forefront. As buildings generate more data than ever before, facilities leaders now have the opportunity to turn that information into competitive advantage. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a practical way to transform fragmented building data into proactive operational intelligence. More importantly, […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of June 2026

By Joe Bebon, Editor Jul 1, 2026 Building Controls

Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Smart Factory for Futuristic Planes JetZero, an aerospace startup developing futuristic “all-wing” commercial and military aircraft, has broken ground on a massive smart factory on more than 600 acres in North Carolina. The 8 million square-foot facility represents […]

Facilities Projects Your College Should Tackle Over Summer Break

By Zac Amos, Contributing Writer Jun 30, 2026 Access Control

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

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 […]

World Refrigeration Day Highlights Growing Role of Intelligent Cooling

By Joe Bebon, Editor Jun 26, 2026 Building Controls

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has joined organizations, governments, and industry partners around the globe in recognizing World Refrigeration Day (WRD 2026) on June 26. This year’s theme, “Cool Intelligence,” showcases the innovation, expertise, and advanced technologies that are transforming refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems to operate more efficiently, […]

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

By Honghao Deng, Butlr Jun 25, 2026 Design and Construction

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

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 […]

Fire Door Inspections Are Rising—But Most Buildings Aren’t Ready

By Lori Greene, Allegion Jun 24, 2026 Access Control

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

As we recently closed out Building Safety Month in May, it served as a great reminder for facilities managers to evaluate their passive fire protection systems. While active systems like sprinklers and alarms often get the spotlight, passive defenses—specifically fire door assemblies—are equally important for compartmentalizing smoke and flames to save lives. Over the past […]

Drought in the United States: How Facilities Managers and Tenants Should Respond

By Klaus Reichardt, Waterless Co. Inc. Jun 19, 2026 Maintenance and Operations

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

With so many pressing challenges facing the world today, the worsening drought crisis in the United States deserves far more attention. As of late May 2026, more than half the country was experiencing drought conditions. Data shows that roughly 51% of the United States, including Puerto Rico, and about 61% of the contiguous forty-eight states […]

Why Modern Facilities Management Must Pivot from Manual to Automated Fire Safety

By James Pecz, Ramtech North America Jun 18, 2026 Data Centers

Updated: Jun 18, 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.  For decades, facilities management has remained relatively static: protect the building envelope, manage HVAC, and ensure critical safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, are maintained. However, the landscape is shifting. As infrastructure becomes more […]

The Fundamentals Still Win: What New IAQ Data Means for Facility Leaders

By Audwin Cash, GPS Air Jun 17, 2026 Heating and Cooling

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Facilities managers know the drill. The thermostat complaint arrives before the morning coffee gets cold. Someone is always too hot, someone else is always too cold, and the ticketing system fills up with grievances about stuffy air and odd smells. It can feel like an endless, unwinnable battle. A new national survey suggests those complaints […]

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

By Todd Timm, HDCI Storage Jun 16, 2026 Design and Construction

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

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 […]