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How Are Sustainability and Resilience Linked?

An article in the June issue of Building Operating Management profiles a new VA hospital in New Orleans called Project Legacy. In addition to its LEED Silver certification, the hospital has implemented several strategies that make the building more resilient against floods like those caused by Hurricane Katrina. Indeed, sustainability and resilience are linked in many ways, but there are also a few ways they may be at odds. For our July cover story, I'm working on a story on exactly this idea — where are sustainability and resilience complementary, and where may they not be? And if they're not, how do you evaluate the tradeoffs? Where have you seen green building and resilience reinforce each other? Where have you seen them conflict? Leave a comment or contact me directly.

     Greg Zimmerman, Be the first to comment

Design with Fire Safety in Mind

A burst of innovation has been altering the ways that buildings are designed, operated, and used. Those innovations have brought a variety of benefits, but it's essential that buildings make fire and life safety top priorities. That can be a challenge when new designs and technology are used. This article highlights some of the changes in buildings that raise fire and life safety issues, and offers advice about ensuring that buildings remain safe.

     Ed Sullivan, Be the first to comment

How Did I Get Here? An FM Career Explained

How did you end up in maintenance and engineering management? Some managers came from the military or trades contractors. Others came from trade schools and degree programs. Still others come up through the facility ranks, starting as front-line technicians. No matter where you started or the road you chose to arrive in management, the key consideration now is using your skills and experience to continue your journey. Click through to read or listen to the latest Management Track podcast. Chris Walinski, building operations manager with Munich Reinsurance America in Princeton, N.J. describes his experiences, and he suggests strategies managers can use to continue and expand their career journeys.

     Dan Hounsell, Be the first to comment

The Impact of Ceilings on Space Dynamics

How much thought do you give your ceilings? I was recently in the Atlanta airport and, as I was recovering from my refreshing sprint from my arrival gate to my departure gate, I noticed the waiting area felt... odd. Quickly I saw that the ceiling was missing, all the fixtures sported bright flags to assure the passersby they were affixed to the deck, regardless. So, while my fellow travelers stared down at their mobile devices, I stared up, tracing the network of cabling, conduit, and piping, and reflecting on the weirdness that the lack of ceiling tile created. With no reflective surface overhead, the space was darker than it should have been, more cave-like. Had the exposed ceiling been done on purpose, with the fixtures arranged to suit, I'm sure the effect would have been industrial chic. But this, project mid-stride, was oddly poetic and dislocating, at least to my eye.

     Naomi Millán, Be the first to comment

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