Tracing 70 Years of Facility Management History

In honor of Building Operating Management’s 70th anniversary, we’re looking back at seven decades of industry history and the milestones that helped define facility management.  

When Building Operating Management magazine was launched in 1954, the Post World War 2 Baby Boom and rise of the suburbs meant that new schools and hospitals were needed throughout the country. The expanding interstate highway system also fueled demand for new hotels. And a rebounding economic market had commercial companies searching for new, larger, taller facilities.   

This demand for new construction also put pressure on older facilities to renovate in order to remain competitive. Upgrades meant focusing on comforts the American public was familiar with at home, such as air conditioning.  

In the 1960s, more women were entering the workforce and it quickly became apparent that older facilities had notable design flaws in need of upgrades, especially in the restroom (or lack of them!).  

Related Content: Celebrating 70 Years of Building Operating Management Magazine

Up until the 1970s, facility managers predominantly were behind the scenes, influencing these design choices to attract tenants and keeping buildings looking pristine. However, the decade’s energy crisis thrust facility managers into the spotlight. When the oil embargo doubled fuel prices, building owners and managers invested in computerized control systems and building automation to program the most effective use of HVAC, lights and elevators. 

Energy conservation efforts meant buildings were better insulated with less circulating fresh air, tighter fitting windows and better sealing doors. As a result, contaminants, such as chemical VOCs, bacteria and dust stayed inside, leading to poor indoor air quality and Sick Building Syndrome problems in the 1980s. Occupants with prolonged exposure would feel fatigued, suffer headaches and nausea, leading to lower productivity and higher absenteeism.  

The ‘90s was when the green movement finally started to take hold thanks to the GreenLights Initiative, Energy Star ratings and the formation of the U.S Green Building Council. In the new millennium, the concept of green would eventually broaden holistically to sustainability and later ESG. 

Occupant health was never more important than during and since the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Facility managers won’t soon forget the shutdown of facilities all across the country, and the social distancing and hybrid schedules that followed. And, even though the pandemic is behind us, infection prevention remains a priority for facility managers in schools, hospitals and offices all across the country.   

Watch our other videos: 

• 3 Trends Challenging Facility Managers Today 
• 4 Ways AI Will Benefit Facility Managers 

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