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Access control is a critical component of the safety and security of any institutional or commercial building, which makes proper implementation of an access control system crucial, since virtually everyone in the organization will interact with its components. Facility managers first must identify the root problems an organization hopes a physical access control system will…

Hastings College will tackle a backlog of deferred maintenance thanks to a $9 million donation specifically for facility maintenance.   August 27, 2024 Higher education facilities regularly receive donations. They receive them for new buildings, for scholarships, for endowments. But they never, ever receive them for deferred maintenance.  Until now. Hastings College will soon be tackling…

Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning has invested more than $500 million into its facilities, student housing and academic programming. This includes $100 million-plus for upgrades to the Waterloo campus, enhancing student support services, creating a wellness centre, and adding over 150,000 square feet of learning space.  In Cambridge, nearly $300 million will…

ASHRAE has opened a portal to comprehensive guidance for data centre design and operations. The new special section of its website is a hub for technical resources, including standards, guidelines, research papers and best practices for maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels. “With the rapid growth of digital infrastructure, the demand for cloud computing, AI…

The health department in Stamford, Connecticut, recently found evidence of a mice infestation throughout the Stamford Government Center.   August 26, 2024 Pests who infiltrate institutional and commercial facilities present maintenance and engineering managers with a range of potential problems. They annoy occupants, they damage furnishings, they leave droppings behind, and in some cases, they carry…

Healthcare facilities managers can use assessments to benchmark their facilities and assess the financial impact of conservation measures. A building’s energy costs are typically its largest operating expense, and, as expected, hospitals and similar medical facilities operating 24/7 use more energy per square foot and typically have a higher energy cost than commercial facilities. To…

The six-level, 96-bed facility will replace the current hospital in La Crosse. Mayo Clinic leaders and community officials celebrated the completion of a new Mayo Clinic Health System hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin. With patient comfort and safety as top priorities, the new $215 million, six-level, 96-bed facility replaces the current hospital and features: Spacious…

Urban projects often face challenges such as limited space, congested environments, and the need for efficient construction timelines, which are all critical to improving urban living. In such scenarios, traditional construction methods can be inefficient and time-consuming. This is where the concept of top-down construction comes into play, offering a solution that is gaining traction once…

Convenience store chain Circle K faces a $16,131 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine after a store cashier in Orlando, Florida, suffered a serious gunshot injury, the agency announced August 14. OSHA inspectors learned that two unidentified men entered the Circle K location on Silver Star Road shortly after 1 a.m. on January 19, 2024; pointed firearms;…

On July 29, 2024, Cal Water, the third largest water utility company in the country serving half-a-million customers in California, announced that it has helped its customers reduce their water bills by 20.5% in the last 15 years. This is compared to what they might have been charged without water conservation and water efficiency efforts…