What is the era of Facility Management like?

After many years of promoting specialization in the building sector, today a term with which we at Árgola Arquitectos feel especially identified is resurfacing strongly: Facility Management.

This discipline emerges as a holistic approach to new construction projects. Many architects are considering various questions surrounding this topic: How does it integrate with existing infrastructure? What about safety and functionality? How should the coherence of spaces be maintained to ensure they are habitable? How can we be more sustainable?

Ultimately, facilities management is the set of tools and services that support the functionality, security, and sustainability of buildings, properties, and infrastructure. Its advantages are countless—want to learn about some of them? Keep reading our article!

Advantages of Facility Management

Productivity and ease of use

This refers to when the project takes into account that employees, staff, and general users of the building can perform their work effectively, whether it is an office or a commercial building, and use the space.

Provided that the same level of efficiency is guaranteed as it would be designed for if it were a residential building, it is necessary to ensure that the space is clean and tidy, but also that the equipment and facilities are functioning properly.

Comfort and safety

Facilities management services include ensuring that the building is comfortable and safe for its occupants. This means ensuring that buildings, equipment, and facilities are regularly inspected to meet safety standards, which is essential for reducing risk and liability. Therefore, this point must be carefully considered when planning a hospital building project, as it will not only house staff and visitors, but also long-term or terminally ill patients.

Profitability

This point is more closely associated with the investment needed to carry out the project, because while it is true that efficiency, productivity, safety and comfort must be maintained, asset management is also very important, which, even though it is the longest and most expensive stage, is through which facility management can reduce unnecessary operating costs.

Modularity

This means taking into account the cutting-edge nature of the building, because whether it is a project for offices, commerce, or hospitals, its management must keep up with the frequent changes that affect the work environment, and modularity is a key factor to facilitate adaptations and/or expansions.

Sustainability

We have already discussed sustainability in other articles, but it is true that facility managers have a social responsibility to promote asset management practices that are as environmentally friendly as possible.