Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Smart buildings do much more than automate routine tasks. Today, facilities management teams can combine smart sensors with artificial intelligence (AI) to create workplaces that operate more efficiently, safely, and intelligently. This combination is known as the […]
Carpet covers a lot of ground in commercial facilities, but it doesn’t always get the same level of attention as hard surfaces. While floors can be quickly mopped and look fine, carpets need more specialized care—especially in high-traffic areas where dirt and wear build up fast. Too often, maintenance becomes reactive, with issues addressed only […]
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. HVAC is fundamental to keeping commercial spaces safe, comfortable, and productive. Yet with soaring energy bills, increasingly erratic weather patterns, and much tougher building performance benchmarks, facilities managers must balance strict temperature and air-quality […]
The built environment is entering a machine-first era: According to a recent report by Johnson Controls, 67% of facilities managers are already using AI to improve the operation, utilization, and maintenance of their buildings, while 61% say they plan to implement or expand the use of AI in 2026. With this widespread adoption of AI […]
Despite anxiety over the current war in Iran and economic uncertainty at home, U.S. office demand posted sizable quarterly and annual gains in the first quarter, according to the latest VTS Office Demand Index (VODI) report. The increased growth in Q1 was primarily driven by finance, legal, and technology tenants—with quarterly and annual demand for office […]
As the United States grapples with aging building stock and the need for infrastructure modernization, a critical workforce challenge threatens the commercial real estate sector’s ability to maintain, modernize, and operate the built environment. JLL’s latest skilled trades talent research reveals that by 2030, an estimated 2.1 million skilled trades positions for electricians, HVAC technicians, […]
Facilities teams have invested heavily in booking platforms, occupancy sensors, and space-planning tools. Yet many organizations still face a common problem: empty desks reserved but never used, crowded collaboration areas midweek, and employees who bypass the system altogether. According to JLL’s Global State of Facilities Management Report, 38% of facilities leaders rank space utilization and […]
Four out of five commercial real estate (CRE), workplace, building management, and facilities professionals lack the data they need to make confident space-planning decisions, according to a new report. The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, interviewed 400 decision-makers in the U.S. for Butlr’s “Beyond Occupancy: The State of Office Space 2026” report. The results show […]
Amid rising costs and increased competition from e-commerce, many big-box retailers have chosen to close stores across the country, leaving behind large, vacant spaces. As pickleball’s growth accelerates nationwide, former big-box stores have emerged as some of the most attractive—and challenging—real estate opportunities for indoor pickleball facilities. While these buildings offer scale, parking, and accessibility, […]
As the spring flooding season returns, commercial, rental, and private property owners face more than visible water damage. Hidden contamination in air, building materials, and water systems can create health risks, regulatory issues, and tenant concerns if not properly addressed. Targeted environmental testing after a flood helps: In this post, we highlight five key areas for facilities managers to evaluate during post-flood cleanup. […]