Artificial intelligence, innovation highlighted in PropTech awards

Several winners have been acquired by large enterprises as the industry prioritizes technology to improve cost efficiencies and reach decarbonization goals. 

By Joe Burns • Aug. 21, 2023

Healthcare facility managers walk a tightrope of tech, space and labor challenges

“You can’t have an HVAC unit not function for a day. You can’t have the lights in a surgery room go out,” one industry exec says. “We have people’s lives at stake.”

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 21, 2023

DHL leans into automation in new Chicago e-commerce facility

The Illinois facility includes a loop sorter from Honeywell equipped to process up to 40,000 parcels and packages per hour.

By Alejandra Carranza • Aug. 17, 2023

For stretch energy codes, Massachusetts gets nearly $4M DOE grant

The grant will provide field-based training to local building code officials and help communities share regional best practices.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 16, 2023

Office-to-residential, other adaptive reuse construction reaches record high

Remote work has driven the office market to a state of limbo, while hotel conversion deliveries have peaked at their highest level in five years. 

By Mary Salmonsen • Aug. 14, 2023

Wint clinches $35M to meet water tracking, leak detection demand

Climate change and damage costs have led to a strong demand for water management solutions across the real estate, construction and insurance industries. 

By Joe Burns • Aug. 11, 2023

Nuveen joins rush to use tenant experience data for building operations insight

Cove’s agreement with Nuveen follows a partnership with Cushman & Wakefield, and comes amid an industry scramble for information that could drive operational efficiencies and return-to-office strategies.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 11, 2023

Insufficient data impacts return-to-office strategies, Envoy finds

Eighty percent of business leaders and building managers surveyed said they would have approached their policies differently if they had better insight into office usage.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 10, 2023

The life sciences sector needs facility staff to match continued growth

Good Manufacturing Principles and specialized processes are straining employers’ abilities to fill building service roles.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 9, 2023

CBRE earnings boosted by facility outsourcing, technical services demand

The firm’s expansion of technical labor across the U.S. has driven the growth of its facility services and project management segment.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 7, 2023

Jacobs tapped for 10-year renovation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

The project aims to modernize a 50-year-old concourse, helping airport staff meet soaring demand and boost energy efficiency.

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 4, 2023

HUD grant for commercial building conversions could create more facilities management jobs

The authority seeks to fund case studies of recent conversion projects to provide practical commercial conversion guidance to operators and local agencies.

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 3, 2023

Building infrastructure in Pennsylvania? You could get a piece of $400M to train workers.

A workforce development grant announced by Gov. John Shapiro aims to help commercial real estate firms and builders manage the shortage of skilled labor.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 2, 2023

JLL GPT brings conversation-based generative AI to commercial facilities managers

The firm says the technology will provide building operators more efficient access to space utilization and portfolio optimization insights.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 2, 2023

Federal government lags behind in facilities upgrades, maintenance

Performing much-needed repairs and upgrading public spaces is key to retaining talent amid increasing return-to-office mandates, a JLL report says.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 1, 2023

Upskilling may be the answer to hiring and engagement woes

Nearly a quarter of U.S. employers say they're facing a major skills gap in their companies, according to a Salary.com report.

By Carolyn Crist • July 31, 2023

These 5 cities aim to cool down by scaling up ‘smart surfaces’ in coming years

A Baltimore analysis showed that cool roofs, green roofs, porous pavement, tree cover and similar investments could provide value of more than 10 times their cost.

By Ysabelle Kempe • July 28, 2023

Energy-efficient buildings save lives during extreme weather events: Department of Energy

Meeting or exceeding current codes can improve habitability by up to 140% during extreme heat events, a report found.

By Joe Burns • July 25, 2023

Federal agencies struggle with office utilization, excess space

Officials noted that reconfiguration costs and uncertainty over in-office attendance policies are roadblocks to effective space utilization.

By Joe Burns • July 24, 2023

Northwestern Mutual taps Gilbane, CG Schmidt for $500M office renovation

The contractors have posted bid packages to renovate the 540,000-square-foot North Office Building at the insurance giant’s Milwaukee campus.

By Matthew Thibault • July 24, 2023

New York completes state’s largest rooftop solar project atop Medline distribution center

Governor Hochul says the 7.2-megawatt community solar project is expected to power over 1,600 homes and reduce energy costs for both Medline and local residents.

By Joe Burns • July 21, 2023

Amtrak looks to upgrade maintenance facilities in 4 major cities

The rail company has issued Requests for Qualifications for Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., as part of a push to modernize facilities across 20 U.S. sites.

By Joe Burns • July 20, 2023

South Richmond approves $1M fire training facility despite initial rejection

A zoning appeals board has greenlit the construction of the proposed building amid air quality, pollution concerns.

By Nish Amarnath • July 18, 2023

Department of Energy awards ASHRAE $2.85M building code training grant

The initiative is expected to save four partner states more than $18.5 million by providing officials training to boost compliance with building energy codes.

By Joe Burns • July 17, 2023

Northampton mulls adoption of energy efficient opt-in stretch code

The Massachusetts city is weighing the pros and cons of embracing a specialized stretch energy code to dissuade fossil fuel use in new building construction.

By Nish Amarnath • July 13, 2023