Category: Design and Construction

International Code Council Kicks Off Building Safety Month

Following a presidential proclamation in the U.S., the International Code Council (ICC) kicked off its 43rd annual Building Safety Month on May 1st. The campaign aims to raise awareness among individuals, families, and businesses about the importance of constructing and maintaining safe and sustainable structures around the world. On April 28, President Joe Biden signed a […]

How the CSU Facilities Management Team Is Handling Supply Chain Issues

Remember the shortage of toilet paper during the pandemic and, more recently, the shortage of eggs in grocery stores? Facilities Management leaders at Colorado State University (CSU) say they are still feeling those same effects—but for different products. They are seeing supply chain issues and worker shortages causing longer wait times when trying to acquire […]

Back to Basics: PSAP and EOC Facilities

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. With April being Emergency Communications Month, let’s spotlight facilities that are vital in responding to emergencies. Public safety answering points (PSAPs) and emergency operations centers (EOCs) are critical facilities that provide essential services to the community […]

7 Ways to Safeguard Facilities Against Tornadoes

2023 has already been a very active year for tornadoes, and facilities professionals should know how they can protect their facilities and their occupants from being victims. Tornadoes are the most destructive atmospheric phenomenon, and most tornadoes hit the United States in May and June, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A tornado […]

Chicago Cubs Hit Home Run with Modern Security at Historic Wrigley Field

When talking about Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, it’s hard not to think of the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. With a history spanning more than 100 years, the Chicago Cubs are one of the most recognized teams in professional sports. Every season, over 40,000 passionate and loyal fans flock to 81+ […]

Under Construction: LEGO Group’s $1B Carbon-Neutral-Run Factory

The LEGO Group has broken ground on its new carbon-neutral-run factory in Chesterfield County near Richmond, Va. The 340-acre site is the size of 260 American football fields, and the project represents a $1 billion investment. Sustainability When completed in 2025, the factory will include tens of thousands of rooftop and ground solar panels to […]

FMA Shorts: What’s a Major Weak Link in Facility Security?

On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Jamie Hamilton, senior building security, energy, and branding consultant at NGS, explains why windows are a security weakness at facilities. This clip was taken from a recent webinar panel session titled “How to Improve Building Sustainability, Resilience, and Aesthetics at the Same Time.” The full session is available […]

New Streamlined Process for LEED and WELL Building Certifications

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), and the International WELL Building Institute pbc (IWBI) have released a streamlined process for projects pursuing certifications for the LEED green building rating system and the WELL Building Standard. The process streamlines documentation for projects that are pursuing both certifications at the same time […]

PUMP Act Compliance: How to Create Lactation Space at Your Facilities

On Dec. 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act, a.k.a. the PUMP Act. This new legislation requires employers of all kinds to provide break time and adequate facilities for employees to pump breast milk. This means that workplaces—from retail stores and restaurants to warehouses and […]

K-12 School Leaders Converge on D.C. for Clean Energy Symposium

More than 50 school leaders from 16 states recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for the first-ever Clean Energy Schools Symposium—a national meeting of school decision-makers who have flipped the switch to clean energy and are actively inspiring and supporting other schools across the country to do the same. National clean energy nonprofit Generation180 hosted the […]