Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Ty DuPass can attest to this idea.
DuPass, a 2025 Facility Champion, is the deputy director of property management for the Free Library of Philadelphia. Given the buildings he manages and a career background that includes time at the New York City Department of Buildings, it’s safe to say that DuPass has a career filled with some historic and interesting facilities in his background.
But when asked what his list of best career accomplishments would include, he reveals two developments that would make any maintenance and engineering manager blush.
The first accomplishment was developing a digital portable inspection reporting system when he worked in New York, helping his department boost productivity and achieve cost savings while improving reliability and efficiency.
The second achievement he noted was the establishment of a general mechanic position at a Philadelphia community college to conduct minor renovations and improve efficiency in maintenance areas.
Two low-profile actions that produced big results. Improved maintenance practices at facilities are one of the reasons that helped lure DuPass away from a career in the construction industry into facilities.
“I realized that the real longevity and success of a building weren’t just in its construction, but the ongoing operational safety and maintenance,” he says. “The transition from simply building or inspecting to ensuring the long-term functionality strategic performance of complex facilities was a natural and compelling draw.”
DuPass has earned success in his career by placing an emphasis on strong relationship building. As is commonplace in local government, facility managers often need to go through many hoops and answer a number of different people and agencies to get things done, but DuPass works hard to build genuine connections with people across the city.
“Complex property-related challenges are rarely solved by a single department,” he says. “My experience has shown that building and maintaining strong relationships with internal departments, city officials, community organizations, vendors and tenants is essential for achieving shared objectives and successful project delivery. It’s the difference between a project being merely completed and it being truly embraced by the community it serves.”
Making the lives better of the people he serves in his community is clearly a priority for DuPass, something that’s not lost on him. It’s a personal and professional challenge that he continues to embrace.
“What motivates me is the direct, tangible impact I have on the lives of people who live, build, work, and play in the city,” DuPass says. “My work is fundamental to public safety and service, whether it’s ensuring students facing food insecurity receive nourishment, or guaranteeing the operational safety of residential halls. As a facility management professional, I am motivated by the continuous challenge of enhancing asset performance, lowering operational costs, and supporting an organization's mission through a high-performing built environment.”
DuPass is the seventh of eight 2025 Facility Champions who will be profiled on FacilitiesNet leading up to the webcast, “FM Innovation and Evolution: A Facility Champions Discussion,” that will honor the recipients. The webcast will air on November 6 at 1 p.m. ET on FacilitiesNet. You can register to view the webcast here.
Dave Lubach is the chief editor of the facilities market.
