2025 has been an interesting year to say the least. Between welcoming a new presidential administration, extreme weather events, the rapid adoption of AI and shifting industry standards, the editors of FacilitiesNet constantly had their finger to the pulse of any industry news that would inform our readers on how to do their jobs better. Sure, saying goodbye to such a tumultuous year will be easy, but there are some articles that are harder to leave behind.
FacilitiesNet editors were asked to round up their favorite articles of the year, ranging on topics that are currently impacting the industry. These articles offer insights and information to help managers progress throughout the course of the year and give managers a head start on what to expect in 2026.
Fate of EPA’s Energy Star Hangs in Balance - What Facility Managers Need to Know
This popular program appeared to be on the chopping block during the earlier stages of 2025, but seems to have survived thanks to overwhelming disapproval of that idea from all walks of industry and politics. I wanted to re-emphasize to our readers the importance of the Energy Star program though this article, and hope I accomplished that.
Marriott Facilities Executive Brings Human Touch to Profession
I could have written double the amount of content I did when profiling Jim. His story went beyond the systems and energy savings that are so closely connected to the facility management profession and focused on the human touch it requires to be an effective leader at the executive level. Jim's stories -- and the stories about him from his peers -- enabled this one to write itself.
Florida Magnet High School Forms Net-Zero Blueprint for K-12 Districts
We love to write about trends on FacilitiesNet, and this article highlighted a school in Florida that provides a shining example of what K-12 schools can be in the future. I had a chance to tour this school before writing about it, and was so impressed by the detail of the new construction, and the efficiency of how it was operated.
From finding the most appropriate data on facilities operations to gathering and storing it effectively and developing strategies for producing tangible results from the process, challenges have often thwarted building owners’ efforts to put critical data to work. The article offers owners a clear path to understanding the benefits and challenges of data analysis and taking full advantage of data as an essential resource.
Strategic Planning Can Combat Legionnaire’s Disease
Legionnaire’s disease might not get the attention from the general public that it did in 1976, when 149 Legionnaires and 33 other persons were afflicted by the illness in and near a Philadelphia hotel. But nearly 50 years later, the illness remains a problem for many institutional and commercial facilities. The article offers building owners guidelines for taking steps that will detect and prevent the growth of Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease.
Stirring Things Up on Indoor Air Quality
The International Well Building Institute’s Healthy Buildings Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., saw panelists discuss a range of efforts to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in facilities. One key talking point among panelists emphasized that such efforts are apt to go nowhere unless the process includes the participation of facilities management teams in the targeted facilities. One panelist stressed the critical role of “people that are in charge of the building. I’m not talking about the asset managers or the VPs of whatever. I’m talking about the guys and gals that are turning wrenches that are really responsible for a building. If they don’t buy in, you can have the best building ever that’s WELL platinum and everything else, and in three years, it’s all for naught.”
Facilities in Focus: How Joplin School District Recovered After the 2011 Tornado
When I was approached with hosting the Facilities in Focus podcast, I knew that I wanted to cover emergency preparedness and the lessons our industry learned from these events. I immediately thought of Dave Pettit, director of facilities of Joplin Schools and how the district was able to recover from a devastating tornado in 2011. So much of our conversation was centered around how grief can motivate an entire community to overcome. It was a touching interview that I think back on often.
How the Caesars Superdome Rebuilt After Hurricane Katrina
2025 marks the 20 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and to demonstrate how far the city of New Orleans has come since the tragic event, the Super Bowl was held there. I was able to talk with Doug Thornton, executive VP of stadiums and arenas at ASM Global on how he was able to hold onto hope and rebuild the Caesars Superdome and bring the Saints back home the following season.
Safety Recommendations for the Traveling Facility Manager
I’ve had to do a lot of traveling for work this last year, and safety is always at the top of my mind. When something uncomfortable happened to me on one of my work trips, I knew that I had to put together some type of guide on how people – especially women – can stay safe while on the road.
Symbolism and Sustainability Shape New Chabad Center
This one was came about as a reinvention of the former "Visualizer"-style articles that were on FacilitiesNet. Instead of a written format, we decided to go with a video format to showcase the visuals in a more engaging way. Ever since this one, we've been regularly doing Visualizer videos and I love creating them, so I'm thankful this one kickstarted it all.
3 Major Threats to Data Center Operations
Technology has long been a passion of mine, and data centers are no exception to that. It was great getting to let my fascination with these types of facilities come out in this video all the while weaving a mini-documentary style narrative together too.
The Key Role Facilities Play in Mental Wellness
Another passion of mine is wellness and supporting well-being, and unsurprisingly, the facilities we work in play a huge role in our mental health. Getting to explore how facility managers and their buildings can help promote better health and well-being was exciting.
Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
