Magazine

Updated definitions enable different industries and professionals to communicate in a common language. The World Health Organization (WHO) released new airborne pathogen definitions in April that apply to environmental services departments in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The pathogens covered include those that cause respiratory infections, including COVID-19, influenza, measles, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS),…

While the environment initially took a backseat to security after 9/11, facility managers soon embraced LEED  All year we’ve been celebrating Building Operating Management’s 70th anniversary by covering each decade. Check out the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Now we look at the 2000s.   The 2000s started with tragedy and ended in hard…

Door manufacturers discuss features that are a help in emergency scenarios. When an emergency strikes a healthcare facility, occupants can be sent into a panic quickly. They may even scramble for the doors, trying to get out or in. If the doors do not work properly, it can spell chaos for the facility. Fortunately, there…

What does the research space of the future look like? And can it be housed in older buildings (or does it require new construction)? In a previous article, I laid out a series of concerns that need to be considered when designing for the future of higher education research spaces. On the one hand, I…

Moving healthcare services to retail locations and supporting them with digital technologies presents a promising approach to healthcare’s future. The shift toward retail healthcare facilities is a strategic response to the need for stability and flexibility in healthcare, rather than simply an embrace of innovation. These facilities aim to create a healthcare ecosystem that supports…

Detroit schools lawsuit included claims that building maintenance issues created an environment that was not conducive to learning   July 3, 2024 For decades, maintenance and engineering managers have known something that the general public only now is starting to understand — deferred maintenance in buildings creates conditions that affect the health and performance of occupants….