Building Systems
New standards for sustainable material use
A new set of standards defines minimum sustainability criteria for high-volume materials used in architecture and interior projects.
Reconciling through design at Centennial College
A look at the recently completed $112-million expansion project at Centennial College built on Indigenous values.
Patient safety during hospital flood events
When a flooding event occurs, either weather-based or mechanical, the effects can be swift and devastating.
Rooftop solar photovoltaics spark safety advice
Rooftop solar PV installations pack a potentially lethal electrical charge, necessitating vigilant monitoring and maintenance of the many system components.
CRE industry reveals data-driven demands
Canada’s top commercial real estate players have identified the growing importance of visualizing indoor building activities in real time as the use of space becomes less predictable and tenant needs evolve.
Probing the impact of renos on dementia patients
The quality of life awaiting future residents within the country’s institutional-like care facilities is facing scrutiny as researchers closely examine how these spaces are being reimagined for the better.
Archival preservation facility is a net-zero first
Library and Archives Canada’s new preservation storage facility opened as the first net-zero carbon archival centre in the Americas,
How digital twin technology can transform FM
Innovation in digital twin technology— virtual representations of physical objects—has the potential to create operationally rich, continuous data feeds across workplace, asset, and inventory systems.
Refurbishing waste equipment in a circular era
Recycling tends to take all the glory and centre-stage of sustainability narratives in the media. Garbage, on the other hand, is a significant problem that is rarely discussed.
Canadian buildings scrutinized in OECD review
As part of a biennial review and benchmarking of Canada’s economic performance, a new OECD report looks at progress toward the interim 2030 target and 2050 goal for net-zero carbon emissions.
A supermarket becomes Meaford’s new library
The adaptive re-use project relocates Meaford Public Library from an inaccessible three-storey building to a one-storey facility.
Accessible public bathrooms show bad form
Low-cost investments and practical adjustments to the configuration of fixtures could improve safety, convenience and assurance for people with disabilities.
New oversight regime set for Ontario elevators
A new oversight regime for Ontario’s elevators and escalators will come into force on March 1, bringing shorter timelines for rectifying an extensive list of designated high-risk deficiencies.
A path to barrier-free buildings: Facility assessments and strategic accessibility plans
A pressing issue facing facility managers is the crucial impact that barrier-free accessibility can have on a strategic renewal plan.
Innovations in health care monitoring technology
There are so many innovative ways to use surveillance technology and equipment beyond traditional security.
Minding mould in LTC and hospitals
Air exchanges and mechanical systems that were sufficient when buildings were constructed may be considered undersized today, allowing fertile ground for mould growth.
A recap of IFMA’s World Workplace
In the past, cleaning suppliers, landscapers, and pest control companies dominated FM shows. Not anymore.