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Natural disasters — including hurricanes, wildfires, coastal flooding and severe thunderstorms — have become more frequent and severe in recent decades, and the resilience of institutional and commercial facilities is being tested. Recent severe storms inflicted damage on several skyscrapers in San Francisco, and the city’s building owners and managers now face increased scrutiny and…

Online programs, both remote and hybrid, are capturing a wider share of higher education across the world. Much of the growth in recent years was driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced campuses to close suddenly and switch to remote classes. But many students, especially those trying to balance work with study, are gravitating toward…

Skilled building trades qualify for the express lane to permanent residency under new guidelines for Canada’s immigration application system. The category-based selection process is expected to be in place this summer, targeting prospective immigrants with either French language proficiency or work experience in one of five designated occupational fields. “Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud…

Though the return on investment for onsite solar is increasingly attractive, facility managers have more options than ever before to take advantage of solar. Solar is coming in hot! After a brief pandemic-induced dip, solar installations are beginning to rebound. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, solar accounted for more than half of new…

Prompt site assessment of wind damage from major storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes is a crucial step in determining the extent of property loss. The assessment of wind damage is important for both property owners and insurers because it helps to identify the extent of damage, necessary repairs, potential safety hazards, and facilitates progress toward eventual…

As the weather gets hotter and summer approaches, there are many maintenance workers who need to spend their days in the hot sun to do their jobs. When does the heat become a concern? According to Environment Canada, the optimal temperature range for comfort should be 23 to 26 °C with 50% relative humidity in…