Category: Design and Construction

10 Warning Signs of Foundation Problems

Facilities professionals should regularly inspect the inside and outside of their commercial properties to look for problems with their foundations. Keep in mind that commercial foundations are built differently than residential foundations so they can support the weight of the structure. According to Forbes, commercial property foundations can fail because of saturated or frozen soil […]

Pennsylvania Offers $175M for School Facility Upgrades and Safety Projects

Pennsylvania officials have announced a total of $175 million will be available through two grant programs to help schools make facility upgrades and environmental repairs. Recognizing that students cannot learn, grow, and thrive without access to safe and healthy school facilities, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced $75 million in funding through the Public […]

Lessons in Sustainability: Three Universities Creating Green Campuses

Higher education plays a key role in how we address the challenges of climate change—not only in our scientific understanding of the cause and effect of carbon emissions, but also in how our built spaces can adapt. Because many college and university campuses feature historical (even outdated) infrastructure, many are taking opportunities to build new […]

EPA Names First ENERGY STAR-Certified Auto Dealerships

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing eight vehicle dealerships for being the first to earn its ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy performance. Vehicle dealerships that earn the ENERGY STAR use significantly less energy—and contribute fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—than their peers. “Reducing energy use in commercial buildings is an essential part of […]

Allegiant Stadium: MVP for Super Bowl LVIII

Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada—home of the Las Vegas Raiders—will host Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11. There’s plenty to celebrate in this 3 ½-year-old venue, as it’s the first time the National Football League’s (NFL) biggest game is coming to Allegiant Stadium and the first time the Super Bowl is coming to […]

Exterior LED Lighting Upgrade Takes Off at Milwaukee Airport

Energy use is a significant percentage of an airport’s operating costs—as much as 10-15% of these facilities’ entire operating budget. Upgrading to LED luminaires greatly reduces airports’ energy consumption because, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, they use up to 75% less energy than traditional luminaires. LED luminaires also reduce maintenance costs because they […]

Survey Shows How Americans View Handwashing and Public Restrooms

According to the Healthy Handwashing Survey conducted by Bradley, Americans implement handwashing on an “as-needed basis.” Case in point, 74% wash their hands more frequently or more thoroughly in response to seasonal virus outbreaks and 54% increase their handwashing activity when they’re sick. In addition, 77% make it a point to wash up when on […]

The Future of Open Floor Plans: Achieving Flexibility Without Employee Backlash

Cubicles and closed-off spaces in workplaces are outdated. Today, many businesses prefer open floor plans over private work zones. While open spaces are great for collaboration, they also have some drawbacks. How can you enhance the flexibility of open floor plans, boost employee well-being, and mitigate the drawbacks? Here are some ideas to consider. The […]

AI Adoption Creates ‘Unprecedented Demand’ for Data Centers: JLL Report

As the global economy continues to rapidly adopt artificial intelligence (AI), infrastructure to support these systems must keep pace, according to a new report from JLL. Consumers and businesses are expected to generate twice as much data in the next five years as all the data created over the past 10 years. This growth presents […]

FAA Awards Over $240 Million in Airport Infrastructure Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $243.7 million in Airport Infrastructure Grants under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $243.7 million includes 150 grants in 37 states to modernize airport infrastructure and improve runway safety. “We saw a record number of passengers fly during the recent holiday season, and we can […]