Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
What constitutes a zero-emissions building? The Biden administration is working to create a national, standardized, and verifiable definition for all stakeholders. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed Part 1 of a draft national definition for zero-emissions buildings and is now seeking feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders through […]
The Seattle Convention Center (SCC) announced that its Summit building has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as part of the council’s New Construction (v3) rating system. Opened in January 2023, Summit nearly doubled the center’s capacity by adding 573,770 square feet of event […]
While sports fans know that the University of Connecticut (UConn) is known as the “Basketball Capital of the World,” the university has recently been recognized on the national level for its ongoing commitment to sustainability by being ranked as one of the top 25 schools on The Princeton Review’s Top 50 Green Colleges list for […]
Calamities can happen at any time. They put everything at risk—people, buildings, you name it. Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are changing things for the better though. Take the 2015 Nepal earthquake, for instance. UAVs were used for search and rescue, mapping, and strategizing relief efforts. Fast-forward to 2023, the University of Maryland has […]
As facilities managers or field experts, new challenges arise as the world grows more interconnected and data-hungry. These include the need to handle massive volumes of data, increase efficiency, and embrace cloud computing. Since the world is moving more quickly, businesses that do not adapt risk losing their ability to succeed and the possibility of […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Before Jack Frost comes knocking on their doors, facilities managers should ensure their commercial facility’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are in tip-top shape. A failed HVAC system can not only lead to discomfort […]
Air quality in the office may affect our level of creativity at work, according to scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore). Working with global air filter manufacturer Camfil on a shared research project, the NTU scientists found in a study that high levels of volatile organic compounds—gases released from products such as detergents, pesticides, perfumes, aerosol […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding $66.2 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to airports in 23 states and Puerto Rico. The 66 projects are the latest to be funded under the law’s Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program. In total, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 billion over five years for the program. […]
Looking to visit extraordinary facilities around the country that will get you in the holiday spirit as we get ready to close out 2023 and celebrate the new year? Facilities Management Advisor has a gift for you: We’re exploring some of our favorite destinations across America where facilities professionals play a key role in helping […]
Columbia University announced that it has achieved Fitwel certification for 600 W. 125th Street, its new 34-story building to house graduate students and faculty members on the southwest corner of 125th Street and Broadway in New York City. The building earned three stars—Fitwel’s highest standard—in Fitwel Version 2.1 Multifamily rating for its design, construction, and sustainability principles as well as its commitment to resident health and well-being. The […]