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The Building Industry Stands at a Pivotal Moment

William Attardi on February 5, 2026

Rapidly changing technology, growing environmental awareness, and a host of other factors are impacting the building industry—in a time of unprecedented transformation, the built environment is at a pivotal moment. Facility managers and building operators face difficult maintenance and service challenges and decisions that point to a clear reality—buildings must evolve. As a key contributor to driving success and achieving goals, your building is central to these challenges and solutions, so understanding technological advancements and trends is crucial. Is your building ready for what’s ahead? DOWNLOAD THE REPORT AT: The Future-Ready Building: 8 Business Drivers Advancing Building Technology | Trane Commercial HVAC

5 Trends That Will Transform the Building Industry in 2025 by Michael Westerfield and Brent Lowe

William Attardi on March 14, 2025

Keeping up with building industry trends is essential for reducing costs, streamlining operations, and improving equipment efficiency. Commercial building management is undergoing seismic change as advanced technology with deep-data analysis becomes more affordable and available. Analystsestimated the smart building software market at nearly $7.3 billion at the close of 2022 and forecast it to reach $11.8 billion by 2028. This change affects everything in the building management space. We track shifts carefully through our conversations with systems integrators and facility executives, and these are five trends we expect to gain traction throughout this year:

  1. Cybercrime Will Make Digital Security A Priority For Facilities Managers In 2025
  2. Shrinking Labor Pool Will Drive Consolidation And Out-Sourcing
  3. Leveraging Technology To Navigate Compliance Costs
  4. Energy Efficiency Will Increase As A Selling Point In Office Spaces
  5. Preparing For Fluctuating Energy Costs

5 Trends That Will Transform The Building Industry In 2025

Remembering the Solemn Purpose of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. The holiday traces its roots to the years immediately following the American Civil War (1861–1865), which caused massive casualties—roughly 620,000 soldiers dead, about 2% of the U.S. population at the time. Communities across the North and South began spontaneously decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags, a practice that gave rise to the original name: Decoration Day. On May 5, 1868, Major General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—a powerful Union veterans’ organization—issued General Order No. 11. This proclaimed May 30, 1868, as a nationwide “Decoration Day” to honor those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American service members who died in any war, not just the Civil War.  In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to create more three-day weekends for federal employees. This moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, effective in 1971, when it was also officially named “Memorial Day.” As one 1868 quote put it: “That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.”