By APPA contributors
As we approached the one-year anniversary of the campus shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we asked several APPA members to share with us what they learned from the experience, how the pandemic affected their institution and their staffs, how they responded, what was lost, and what glimmers of hope and positive outcomes they perceived […]
By David Kang
The realization began setting in for University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) leaders in early April 2020 as the chaotic early days of the COVID-19 pandemic finally allowed for an opportunity to look forward: How, in just four months, would we be able to bring students back to campus in the fall amid physical distancing […]
By Joe Lauria
How can a facility owner or project manager determine which product is best for the job, and for the budget? “Total cost of ownership, or TCO, is a holistic approach that allows owners to make the best decisions,” says Ana Thiemer, associate director of planning and project services at the University of Texas at Austin. […]
By Steve Glazner
By now every publication, news organization, association, and government agency has produced its own review of the last year of living and working under COVID-19 restrictions and their accompanying economic fallout. APPA is no different with this issue of Facilities Manager. We asked 12 APPA members to share a memory, a success or innovation, or […]
By APPA Regions
ERAPPA—Eastern Region By Jessica Abbott ERAPPA President Wolcott Public Schools 2020 started off like any other year—I had three months under my belt as ERAPPA President, and I was very excited for the year ahead. As we were gearing up for our Mid-Year Meeting in March 2020, where our ERAPPA committees meet face-to-face […]
By Kimberly Case-Nichols
As facilities managers, we have a tremendous influence on the health and wellness of employees and students, as we are responsible for providing them a safe, secure, and functional environment. We notoriously talk about taking a holistic approach to assessing our buildings for overall functionality and performance impact. Heating, cooling, ventilation, cleanliness, and lighting are […]
By David Handwork
The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is the prevalent national model energy code for most American states and local jurisdictions. The IECC is part of the code suite managed by the International Code Council (ICC), which also manages the recognizable model codes including the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), International Mechanical Code […]
By Ernie Beck, CTS-D, and Matt LeFeber, CTS
As we optimistically approach a post-pandemic world, some campuses will consider responsive and adaptive facilities as key to a successful future. Many APPA members are familiar with the promise of intelligent buildings to deliver the triple bottom line of energy savings, operational efficiency, and increased user satisfaction. But many campuses are unclear about how to […]
By Lindsay Wagner, Ph.D.
[Ed. Note: Matt Adams, president of Adams FM2 and creator of and longtime contributor to this column, passed away on November 27, 2020.] Dear Matt: For me, one of the hardest parts of losing someone is being left with unspoken words. You were an amazing mentor, but I never told you. I never said “thank […]
By Eddie Rogers
With over 10,000 graduate and undergraduate students and an expanding campus, a private university in Tennessee had a unique opportunity to make a tremendous environmental impact. In 2014, the institution outlined a broad set of behavioral and operational standards across the campus, designed to reduce energy costs and consumption. The policy included many common-sense provisions, […]
By Hemant Sarma
Internet of Things (IoT) technology is a game changer for facility managers facing the unique challenges of maintaining the complex array of residential halls, labs, libraries, classroom buildings, and dining halls that comprise a campus. IoT-empowered sensor technology can assist facilities managers monitor buildings for vulnerabilities to water damage and changes in humidity and temperature, […]
