Maintenance & Operations


Maintenance / Operations

How Data Increases Community Confidence in School Facilities

In school districts across America, the start of a new school year is met with optimism and new beginnings. But as the back-to-school excitement wears off, it recedes to the reality that many school facilities are in the same state of infrastructural decline that they’ve faced for years, if not decades, as these facilities deteriorate.

Facility Management

Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Facilitron Partner for Facility Management

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) recently announced a partnership with facility management systems provider Facilitron, according to a news release. MDCPS has about 350,000 students across 400 campuses and is the 19th Florida school district to use Facilitron’s platform.

Facilities Management

IFMA Releases AI Guide for Facilities Managers

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) recently released a guide to understanding and using AI in built environments, according to a news release. “Gamechanger: A Facility Manager’s Guide to Building a Relationship with AI” is available to IFMA members through IFMA’s Knowledge Library.

Sustainability

Fellowes Announces Sponsorship of Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Program

Fellowes, a worldwide provider of WorkLife needs product solutions, recently announced that it will be a Platinum sponsor of the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges program, according to a news release. The program from the Healthy Schools Campaign is intended to help facility professionals improve the educational experience for students and staff through sustainable facility operations and green schools.

Healthy Schools

Get an A+ in Restroom Maintenance

Clean school restrooms are vital for students’ wellbeing and education. Research shows unclean restrooms can amplify the spread of bacteria and viruses. lllness is a main cause of student absenteeism, which can lead to poor school performance and potentially school dropout.

Facilities

Utica University Partners with ABM for Facilities Management

Utica University in Utica, N.Y., recently announced a ten-year partnership with facilities services, infrastructure solutions, and parking management solutions provider ABM, according to a news release. The ABM Performance Solutions model offers a unified approach to the higher-education campus’ wide variety of required facilities services.

Student Housing

Student Housing Operator Receives Awards for Work at Five Higher Ed Institutions

Corvias Property Management recently announced that it was awarded the SatisFacts “Community Award for 2023” for its work at five colleges and universities, according to a news release. The awards are measured through annual or point-of-service surveys designed to recognize outstanding property management providers and student communities.

Cleaning & Maintenance

APM Steam Provides Heat Exchanger Assessment, Testing Services for Higher Education Facilities

APM Steam recently released a press release emphasizing its Heat Exchanger Assessment and Testing Services for the maintenance of steam systems at colleges and universities. The comprehensive exam is intended to enhance energy efficiency, operational integrity, and safety in facility steam systems.

Maintenance & Operations

TAMIU Partners with Greystar for Residence Hall Management

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo, Texas, recently announced a partnership with Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC, for Greystar to manage its Office of Housing and Residence Life, according to a news release. Greystar will take over the operations for the university’s two student housing communities, University Village and the Residential Learning Community.

Campus Spending

Gordian Report: Investments in Higher Education Facilities Up 26%

Data-driven solutions provider Gordian recently released its latest State of Facilities in Higher Education report, which revealed that higher-education institutions ramped up their reinvestment in facilities by more than 26% year-over-year during 2023, according to a news release.



Maintenance & Operations

APM Steam to Offer Steam Trap Surveys to Colleges and Universities

American Plant Maintenance (APM Steam) recently announced the launch of steam trap survey services, which a news release reports can document the operational status of and provide repair recommendations for steam traps in a facility’s steam system. The survey can increase operational integrity, energy efficiency, and safety in a steam distribution system.

Predictions

Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2024 Predictions for Educational Facilities

We’re inviting our readership—administrators, facilities managers, architects, engineers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors—to chip in on their predictions for educational facilities in 2024.

Maintenance

REMEDI8 Spotlights Dust Control Mobile Containment Unit

Fire protection and compliance solutions provider REMEDI8 recently spotlighted one of its dust containment units for use in construction and other heavy-debris environments, according to a news release.

Campus Infrastructure

Enabling the Future of the Campus Experience

This strategy for campus renewal and modernization was top of mind for the University of New Hampshire (UNH) as it embarked on one of its most significant infrastructure improvements in recent history––relocating a substantial portion of its utility distribution network connected to the Combined Heat & Power Plant (CHP).

Facilities Maintenance

Tennant Launches Two New Walk-Behind Floor Scrubbers

Cleaning equipment and solutions provider Tennant Company recently launched two new products—the T260 and the T391—to add to its fleet of walk-behind floor scrubbers, according to a news release. The products will be available to order in October 2023.

Facility Management

Brain Corp Launches ‘Site Maps’ for Automated Robotic Operations

Robotics artificial intelligence solutions provider Brain Corp recently launched a new feature in its line of autonomous robots, according to a news release. The BrainOS software now features “Site Maps,” which grant facility managers new insight into site operations to ensure efficiency and provide a clearer picture of proof of work.

Campus Operations

Rhode Island K–12 District Partners with ABM Industries to Optimize Operations

The Providence Public School District in Providence, R.I., recently announced a partnership with ABM Industries to enhance the custodial, grounds, and maintenance operations of its 37 schools, according to a news release.

Facility Management

IFMA Releases White Paper on Emerging Topics in Facility Management

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has announced the release of a new white paper, according to a news release. “Evolution is Never Finished: Insights From IFMA’s Emerging Topics Working Group on How Six Key Topics are Transforming the FM Industry” discusses the implications of six high-impact issues, drivers, and trends in the facility management industry.

Facility Maintenance

Can Outsourcing Solve Higher Education’s Operational Challenges?

Today’s higher education institutions are faced with a myriad of operational complexities in the pursuit of academic excellence. Staffing, student well-being, maintenance, sustainability, and operations management challenges have only been amplified by the pandemic, decreasing enrollments, aging infrastructure, and funding constraints. The operating environment of educational facilities has undoubtably become more stressful.

K–12 Infrastructure

How Smart Asset Management Can Keep Students Healthy

Although the U.S. has officially declared an end to the COVID public health emergency, the concept of a healthy educational facility has taken on a new meaning, especially as Hurricane Hilary impacts daily life in Southern California, leaving flood watches and warnings in its wake.

Flooring

Flooring Innovations Offer Eco-Friendly and Durable Options

Renewing and maintaining school floors is friendly on the budget and environment.

Emerging Technology

AMR Scrubbers Free Up Staff for More Human-Centered Duties

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) are the future; Isaac Asimov and the rest of classic sci-fi have been telling us this for decades.

Sustainability

ABM Offers $3.7M in Energy Savings to Georgia School District

Facility solutions provider ABM recently announced that it will be partnering with the Dooly County School System in Vienna, Ga., to form an Energy Performance Contracting program. The program will save the school district about $3.7 million in energy and operating cost savings over the next 20 years, according to a press release.

Healthy Schools

CloroxPro Launches Online Commercial Cleaning Education Program

CloroxPro recently announced that it has launched an online learning platform to help educate and train commercial cleaning professionals. CloroxPro HealthyClean is intended to help boost the knowledge and skills of cleaning and maintenance staff as these workers’ responsibilities have skyrocketed during the last two years.

OhmniClean UV-C Disinfection Robot

Healthy Schools

OhmniLabs Debuts UV-C Cleaning Robot

Robotics company OhmniLabs recently debuted an autonomous cleaning robot that uses UV-C light to disinfect spaces. OhmniClean is capable of disinfecting a 3,000-square-foot space in less than 15 minutes and was designed for use in schools, hospitals, hotels and other spaces that require deep cleaning of high-touch surfaces.

Stimulus Funding and School Infrastructure

COVID-19 and Schools

How Stimulus Funding Can Tackle School Infrastructure Updates

As schools and universities prepare for the return of students and faculty after nearly a year of remote learning, many are faced with growing concerns around how to keep facilities safe in the post-pandemic world. This is doubly true when considering that crucial HVAC and building management systems (BMS) are often outdated and in need of replacement.

Partnerships

KBS Announces Acquisition of Olympus Building Services

Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, LLC (KBS), which partners with facility managers at more than 75,000 locations around North America, has announced the acquisition of Olympus Building Services, a leading provider of facilities services in higher education.

New Construction

Ala. School Board Plans $98M in Capital Projects

Members of the Hoover school board in Hoover, Ala., met this week to discuss a series of upcoming capital projects totaling $98 million.

CU Denver South facility

Adaptive Reuse

University of Colorado Puts South Denver Facility on the Market

The University of Colorado announced that it is partnering with commercial real estate firm JLL for the sale of the CU South Denver facility in Lone Tree, Colorado.

Schools In Focus: Talking Campus Security with Mitch McKinley

Podcast

Schools In Focus: Best Practices for ID Card Issuance

K–12 schools and colleges issue ID cards to students, faculty, staff, and sometimes even visitors to campus. The logistics of creating and printing these cards—especially Smart Cards with technical capabilities—are more complicated than you might think. Sponsored by HID Global.

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