Tag: Workplace

Faces of Facilities: Jackie Riegel Kittek from CAI

Jackie Riegel Kittek, a facilities manager at global services firm CAI, is passionate about women’s empowerment in the industry. According to her, “When we celebrate women role models, we inspire the next generation to pursue a career in this field.” It’s an important goal, given that women account for only 25% of the FM workforce […]

The Importance of Air Conditioning and Air Quality in a Workplace

It’s Monday morning in the summer. You shuffle into the office, your laptop’s fan kicking in to do its best impression of a struggling jet engine. The air feels thick, the windows are fogging, and the thermostat might as well be set to “uncomfortable.” Suddenly, the whole day feels heavier. It’s no secret—air quality and […]

JLL Report: $1 Trillion Needed to Revitalize Office Space at Risk of Obsolescence

Of the 776 million square meters of existing office space across 66 markets globally, about half of that space, or 322-425 million square meters, is likely to require substantial investment to remain viable in the near term—an investment of approximately $933 billion-$1.2 trillion in spending. That’s according to JLL’s latest research, “Opportunity Through Obsolescence.” The […]

They’re Back, but Is Your Workspace Employee Friendly?

Remember the days when many team members were in the office? Well, they’re back, and it may come as no surprise they’re not always excited about returning to their old/new workplaces. Almost every day, there’s another headline covering a CEO calling employees back to the office. Even the U.S. Department of Labor ordered its remote […]

The Rise of Office-to-Amenity Conversions in Commercial Real Estate

Offices are increasingly vacant. According to Moody’s Q2 2024 CRE trend report, office vacancy rates have exceeded 20% this year as businesses reduce their space or leave the office entirely, driven by the continued demand for hybrid work. In response, building owners and facility leaders are under increased pressure to offer enhanced amenities, to help […]

Expert Q&A: Controversial Return-to-Office Mandates and the Future of Work

Return-to-office (RTO) mandates have become a hot topic, with major corporations like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Dell insisting employees work on-site. However, Amazon’s hardline policy on returning to the office or else is being met with resistance, and other companies are considering their options. In a recent Q&A released by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business, Tim […]

The New Era of Office Security: Leveraging Technology for Safety and Efficiency

Today’s workplaces are always changing. With decentralized offices, increasing visitor numbers, and constant security worries, facilities managers have their hands full. Manual processes and old-school security systems just can’t keep up, leading to vulnerabilities and bottlenecks. Traditional tools create blind spots in data and security, limit space optimization, and hinder effective resource planning. Thankfully, technological […]

Time to Update? Tech Office Spaces in the Hybrid Work Era

North American tech companies, once the vanguard of workplace innovation, are still catching up to new work patterns. With average peak utilization not exceeding 34% in tech offices, up to $40 million in rent costs are wasted annually on underused space. That’s according to a new report from international design practice Hassell and workplace analytics company Density. The State […]

How FCA Designed Its New Philadelphia HQ for Employee Wellness

The pandemic forced us to focus on the health and well-being of our bodies. Now as we look ahead to the future of work, the same focus should also be placed on our environments. While it is an individual pursuit, wellness is significantly influenced by our physical, social, and cultural environments. The Global Wellness Institute […]

Report: Top Workplace Challenges Include Tech Adaptation and Physical Security

Ninety-six percent of organizations are encouraging or mandating on-site work with some regularity, highlighting a significant shift back to physical workplaces, according to new research from Envoy. However, organizational leaders face challenges in measuring success and managing their workspaces. The research found that organizations often lack the data and technology to ensure physical security, optimize […]