The Latest

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  September offers window for cheaper, faster HVAC work

  Between August and October, when the need for heating and cooling overlap, HVAC service calls hit a lull, meaning less demand and cheaper prices for repairs or maintenance, Samsara says.

  Operations

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  Opinion

  NYC’s Safe Hotels Act, with its staffing mandates, signals a shift for operators

  Whether the law delivers meaningful improvements in safety and labor standards remains to be seen, but its early effects on staffing and costs have created challenges for hotels.

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  Caterpillar warns of $1.5B tariff hit as machinery prices slide

  The construction and mining equipment giant is expecting higher trade-related costs in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, AI data center demand is driving growth in the power generation business.

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  Remote sensors touted as HVAC ‘check-engine’ light

  Having real-time data on the temperature, voltage, vibrations and sound of each HVAC unit lets facility managers anticipate problems, says Impact Service Group.

  Technology

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  Atlanta Public Schools, facing enrollment drop, eyes repurposing some buildings

  Closing and consolidating buildings are also under consideration, the organization says. 

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  Vulnerability found in Axis video surveillance cameras

  Attackers could monitor or shut down the video feeds, one cybersecurity firm says. Axis has made patches available and urges users to upgrade systems.

  Technology

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  JLL sees continued demand for increasingly scarce energy efficient assets

  Strong growth in workplace, property and project management drove an increase in the firm's real estate services revenue during the second quarter. 

  Corporate/Finance

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  Congressional appropriators move to maintain Energy Star funding

  The likelihood of the program going away eases as lawmakers on the House and Senate committees that allocate funds direct the administration to fund it.

  Sustainability

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  Casual dining real estate faces perfect storm and high vacancies

  Property sales for some footprints collapsed as fast casual formats grew, leaving landlords with few buyers and costly renovations.

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  It’s not the addition, it’s the size, say critics of White House ballroom

  Construction of the structure is scheduled to start in September to replace a tent and walkway that facility staff put up when the president hosts events of more than 200 people.

  Development

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  Cushman & Wakefield sees success in services retention, leasing in Q2

  The firm has benefited from a flight-to-quality in office and industrial markets, with companies continuing to make deals despite tariff-driven volatility, CEO Michelle MacKay says.  

  Corporate/Finance

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  As higher ed ramps up modular construction, easier maintenance could follow

  Standardization and a factory-like quality control process could lead to fewer problems once buildings are put into service, a general contractor executive says.

  Development

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  How AI drives operation and maintenance improvements at warehouses, distribution centers

  The technology holds potential to ensure efficiency at scale by automating manual processes, unifying tools and improving data analysis, specialists say.

  Technology

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  Colliers engineering segment grows 67% in Q2

  The firm secured contracts for infrastructure development and large-scale projects in the private sector and expects leasing to tick up.

  Corporate/Finance

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  Slow contech adoption could stymie data center projects: report

  Without broader technology use, the construction sector risks becoming a bottleneck in the global artificial intelligence race, according to a new white paper.

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  Data centers drive Schneider Electric gains as tariffs bite

  The company expects its pricing power to help it offset tariff impacts and inflation over the next quarters.

  Corporate/Finance

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  Perception more important than reality when it comes to clean air: survey

  Odor, stuffiness and dust guide decision-making by building occupants, suggesting facility leaders should showcase their indoor air quality efforts, GPS Air says. 

  Technology

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  Data center demand buoys Johnson Controls’ Q3 earnings

  Tariff impacts were noticeable but manageable on strong internal execution, the company says. Looking to the fourth quarter, it’s taking a conservative view.

  Corporate/Finance

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  Employers’ emphasis on skilled trades lost on Gen Z: Harris poll

  Young workers don’t realize going into the trades can offer good pay more quickly than pursuing a college-based career, the report says.

  Labor

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  Q&A

  The accidental facility manager: Robert Alemany

  With a background in teaching and business, the private school facilities manager relies on people skills to meet his challenges — including making an old building efficient under NYC's Local Law 97.

  Updated July 30, 2025

  Operations

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  Stanley Black & Decker to raise tool prices

  The world’s largest toolmaker is tweaking its supply chains and moving forward with cost reductions as it navigates $800 million tariff impact.

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  Municipal codes, financial incentives are driving a building retrofitting boom: report

  Nearly half of building executives surveyed believe retrofits meet urban space needs better than new construction, but many cities lack the policy muscle to make them scalable.

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  CBRE’s building operations, project management and leasing segments surge

  The firm’s resilient businesses, including facilities management, grew faster than transactional revenue, which also performed well as companies executed growth plans.

  Corporate/Finance

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  How Cal State is betting on shared services amid funding cuts

  Construction projects and janitorial services are among the services that will be shared among campuses. 

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  Nuclear specialist Oklo inks data center partnerships

  The fission power company has been courting data center companies. Two partnerships announced last week could sharpen its advantage.

  Technology

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