Magazine

When left unattended, complex building systems can be vulnerable to a host of cyberattacks that interfere with operations. Commercial and institutional buildings more than ever rely on connected technologies, such as access control systems, cameras, sensors and building automation systems. While these systems and devices can be a boon to operations, their interconnected nature poses…

  A month after construction hiring was reported to have fallen to its slowest rate on record, contractors reversed course and increased hiring in March, collectively adding an estimated 26,000 positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ April 3 report. As they’ve done in the past, specialty contractors led the jobs spree, adding an…

  Sustainability may be experiencing scarcity these days, but one thing remains abundant: sustainability certifications. With more than 450 listings on the Ecolabel Index, a global directory of environmental certifications, there have never been more choices for companies to dress up their brand. As the leader of a nonprofit that administers sustainability certifications, I’ve seen…

I was on a call with an operations director at a big ag plant. She’d been running the place for years, knew her equipment inside and out. Her question was one I hear in every industry now: “Why does a dairy farm need cybersecurity?” Her facility converts manure into biogas—methane that powers generators and feeds…

Amid rising costs and increased competition from e-commerce, many big-box retailers have chosen to close stores across the country, leaving behind large, vacant spaces. As pickleball’s growth accelerates nationwide, former big-box stores have emerged as some of the most attractive—and challenging—real estate opportunities for indoor pickleball facilities. While these buildings offer scale, parking, and accessibility,…

In a profession that generally involves maximizing the performance of aging, compromised facilities, Joe Brothman and his team achieved the rarest of rare accomplishments — designing and taking charge of a brand new, state-of-the-art, all-electric facility. Brothman, who is director of facilities and general services with UCI Health in Irvine, California, knows just how rare…