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Creating High-Performance Facilities Through Integration

William Attardi on August 5, 2026

High-performance facilities are no longer defined by individual systems operating efficiently in isolation; they are defined by how well those systems work together. In offices, healthcare, education, and data centers, integrated lighting, controls, and life safety systems are becoming the backbone of operational performance, safety, and sustainability. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that lighting typically accounts for around 15% of electricity use in commercial buildings, making it a key lever for optimization. The real transformation, however, comes when efficient luminaires, intelligent controls, and life safety assets form a connected ecosystem rather than separate projects. Integrated systems create an ecosystem in which LED lighting, lighting and HVAC controls, and life safety equipment (let’s not forget inverters) work together on a shared infrastructure.  Creating High-Performance Facilities Through Integration | Buildings

Successfully Incorporating AI Into Building by Gretchen Catlin

William Attardi on June 4, 2026

Operations Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as one of the most practical tools: not as a replacement for skilled staff, but as a workforce multiplier that captures knowledge, sharpens decisions and extends the capacity of the teams we have. Key Takeaways:

  • With a large portion of the facilities workforce nearing retirement, AI can help preserve critical institutional knowledge before it is lost.
  • AI can improve facility operations by supporting predictive maintenance, analyzing data and streamlining everyday tasks such as communications, documentation and capital planning.
  • Organizations can successfully adopt AI by starting with small, practical applications while addressing cybersecurity, cost and workforce training considerations.

Successfully Incorporating AI Into Building Operations – Facilities Management Insights

Walmart Enters the Facility Services Industry by Elaina Myers

William Attardi on June 3, 2026

Walmart is stepping into the facility services arena. Known for running one of the largest retail operations in the world, the company is turning the maintenance experience behind its thousands of stores into a commercial service for businesses nationwide. Upstream Facility Serviceswas launched in April 2026 and will use the same systems and technician network Walmart uses to maintain its stores and Sam’s Club locations. Upstream will offer HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, electrical and general maintenance services combined with urgent repair responses and preventive and predictive strategies. The goal is to reduce downtime, extend asset life and improve operational consistency, according to the company. Because of the high volume of Walmart locations, they will be able to deploy technicians close to customer locations nationwide. This density could offer faster response times than other regional vendors.  Walmart Enters the Facility Services Industry – Facility Management Maintenance & Operations Quick Read

The Creator of Baby Ruth Actually Sued Babe Ruth –The Baby Ruth candy bar was created by the Curtiss Candy Company in 1920 — the same year that baseball legend Babe Ruth hit a then-record 54 home runs. But the Great Bambino was irked that the company was selling a candy bar with such a similar name to his own without offering him any royalties. Rather than take the Curtiss Candy Company to court, the Sultan of Swat decided to make his own candy bar, and in 1926 he debuted Ruth’s Home Run bar. The Curtiss Candy Company responded by turning the tables and taking Ruth to court. They accused the slugger of trying to steal their trademark and capitalize on the success of their brand. In a 1931 deposition, Curtiss founder Otto Schnering insisted the candy was named after “Baby Ruth” Cleveland — the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.  He also attested that the company came up with the name in 1919 before the baseball player had become a household name and that the name was merely coincidental. While the validity of those claims is disputed to this day, the court nonetheless ruled in favor of the candy company, forcing Ruth to end his foray into the world of candy.