Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
For years, the phrases “skilled trades” and “manual labor” have been synonymous with one another, making electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and HVAC technicians professions one would not associate with advanced technology or artificial intelligence (AI). However, this perception is evolving as more trade workers experience the tangible benefits of advanced technology. An August 2025 survey from […]
For administrators and trustees of higher education institutions, rising construction costs and other market forces combined with shrinking annual budgets mean putting the brakes on new construction projects. Capital investments these days are focused more often on making the most of existing campus facilities, with splashy new athletic centers, technology hubs, and other prestige projects […]
A new report from HID reveals how organizations worldwide are fundamentally reshaping their approach to identity management, which plays a major role in access control and security in facilities. Based on insights from more than 1,500 security and IT professionals, end users, and industry partners, the 2026 State of Security and Identity Report shows that […]
For years, sustainability in manufacturing lived in slide decks, pledges, and long-range targets. As the industry moves into 2026, that era is ending, and what lies ahead is far more concrete, technical, and operational. Sustainability is no longer something companies or facilities promise; it is something they must prove. The industry is moving away from […]
Disasters rarely arrive with warning, and their aftermath can escalate quickly without the right response. Tornadoes, for example, strike Texas more frequently than almost any other state, often with devastating results. In one recent year, these storms caused over $229 million in damage across the U.S., with many commercial properties hit especially hard. Businesses that […]
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Schools National Network (GSNN) have announced the recipients of the 2026 Best of Green Schools Awards. The awards recognize 11 U.S. schools, districts, organizations, or individuals for advancing environmental stewardship, creating healthy learning environments, and promoting education for a sustainable future. “America’s students deserve […]
Think of a busy construction site and equipment. What comes to mind? Cranes? Bulldozers? But if you don’t include drones in that mental image, you should. Drone use in construction ranks second-highest among all other industries. Construction sites spent $4.8 billion on the technology in 2024 and are predicted to spend $6.2 billion by 2030. […]
The North American data center market has “entered hyperdrive,” and the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) demand, hyperscaler expansion, and grid constraints is fundamentally reshaping where digital infrastructure gets built. That’s according to JLL’s new North America Data Center Report – Year-End 2025. The North America data center industry has reached an inflection point, with vacancy […]
Although facilities management often gets pigeonholed, the all-encompassing job goes well beyond maintenance. As Keri Steers, a regional facilities manager at Dutch Bros Coffee, explains, “Facilities management isn’t just about fixing things; it’s about supporting people, protecting a brand, and driving efficiency.” Steers has worked in the FM industry for nearly a decade and joined […]
On February 4, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a new safety video on its investigation into the fatal combustible dust explosions and fires at the Didion Milling facility in Cambria, Wisconsin, on May 31, 2017. Five of the 19 employees working on the night of the incident were killed. The other 14 were […]