Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has officially launched LEED v5, the latest version of its flagship LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification program. The USGBC released the first draft of the highly anticipated update in late 2023. In 2024, the group held two public comment periods, receiving more than 7,000 […]
Rising costs and concerns about inflation have turned tenants and guests into savvy, budget-conscious consumers. Whether managing multifamily properties, office buildings, or hotels, facilities management professionals face increasing pressure to justify every dollar spent on amenities. Every offering must deliver real, measurable value that convinces tenants their money is well spent, regardless of the property […]
Office vacancy rates have climbed sharply in the wake of the pandemic as many firms downsized office space due to remote work. Nationally, the United States office vacancy rate hovered around the high teens by late 2023 (nearly 17%–20%, up from roughly 9% pre-pandemic). Major city centers have been hit especially hard. These elevated vacancies […]
On the surface, 2025 has not shaped up to be an easy year for facilities managers. Economic uncertainty continues, and skilled labor shortages and budgetary restrictions are making it difficult to improve building performance. These challenges are especially prominent in older buildings with outdated systems and aging infrastructure. At the same time, external forces beyond […]
In the food and beverage industry, facilities managers face the daunting task of balancing tight profit margins with the need to deliver high-quality, sustainable, and affordable products. For food processors, the net profit margin is just 6.01%, while beverage companies have a net profit margin between 9.29% and 14.07%. Rising energy prices, evolving consumer demands, […]
Following the mass work-from-home movement triggered by COVID-19, office spaces are filling up again. In fact, a recent report found that 73% of companies with return-to-office (RTO) policies are expected to require three or more days in the office by the end of 2025. In light of this, the commercial cleaning industry is on track for […]
Trenton C. Patterson, a director of FM operations at CBRE, is proud to be part of the facilities management industry and urges insiders, company leaders, and the world at large to recognize just how crucial FM work is. In his role, Patterson manages North American properties for a global beverage company on behalf of CBRE. […]
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has teamed up with software company Autodesk to launch the Building Lifecycle Management Initiative (BLMI). With a global focus spanning North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and LATAM, the new initiative is a technology-agnostic, standards-aligned endeavor that aspires to unify commercial real estate stakeholders—from owners and facilities managers (FMs) to architecture, […]
In a year when data centers faced their toughest power challenges yet, the industry didn’t just survive—it thrived. JLL’s new North America Data Center Year-End 2024 Report reveals a sector charging full speed ahead, with colocation vacancy plummeting to a record low of 2.6% and absorption levels doubling in just two years. But beneath the surface of […]
New research found that 34% of businesses plan to increase the number of in-office days in 2025. This trend is prompting enterprises to enhance their use of artificial intelligence (AI) and cross-platform data analytics to better manage workplace occupancy and ensure a balanced employee experience throughout the workweek. That’s according to Eptura’s latest annual Workplace […]