Magazine

In 2026, the skilled trades are facing a reality check that is impossible to ignore: A significant rift has opened between the priorities of organizational leaders and the priorities of their employees, especially as it relates to professional development. Recent survey data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reveals that 54% of trade workers…

Facilities management often includes landscaping and other outdoor maintenance. If you’ll be working outside this season, beware: Ticks are making their return fast and furiously. During Tick Awareness Week (May 3-9), the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is warning about the potential health threats ticks pose and the best ways to keep these parasitic pests away…

Flash flooding in Wisconsin put one Milwaukee-area park at risk. Dave Simpson, director of public works for the city of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, was on vacation when he got the dreaded call: The city was flooding, and there was no sign of the rain stopping anytime soon. In August 2025, Milwaukee and surrounding communities experienced flash…

  Two iconic Kansas City, Mo.-based enterprises, the Kansas City Royals and Hallmark Cards, are teamed on a $3-billion multi-use development that would feature a new $1.8-billion stadium for the Major League Baseball team, a new headquarters for the greeting card, art supply and media company and retail, entertainment and public space. The Royals would…

Fully Electric Hospital To boost sustainability and energy savings, modern facilities are increasingly going fully electric. In Oregon, major healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente has broken ground on a new, all-electric hospital tower to replace its Sunnyside Medical Center, which opened in 1975. The seven-story, 615,000-square-foot upgrade will feature expanded capacity, advanced robotics, and modern patient amenities. When…

  An integrated approach to envelope design can create more comfortable and energy-efficient hospitals. One might assume that a hospital’s envelope, which keeps out bad weather and pollution, is important. But in healthcare design, the building envelope is a small portion of the overall space. High-performance design usually focuses on a hospital’s ventilation needs. Building…