BFFs - Best Friends in Facilities

I spoke at Oregon Society of Healthcare Engineers a couple weeks ago. I wasn't the only speaker determined to have an honest discussion about how design engineers and facilities engineers can do a much better job of making each others' lives easier. The questions from the facilities engineers there were fair, mostly: Why should I stick my neck out during the design phase when I know I will be ignored, and possibly punished for speaking up?

So, design engineers, architects, construction PMs, and department directors can we make an early 2016 resolution? Let's stick together and make the case for the most maintainable and energy-efficient designs. Let's listen intently to each other. We all have to live within the budget and schedule realities, but we can combine forces so much better.

Construction PMs, hold your right hand up and say, "I (your name) swear to include my BFFs as early as possible in the scoping phase, listen to their maintenance needs for the new space I'm building, and incorporate their ideas into the business case and design for new and renovated spaces."

Also, let's drink more beer together. That always helps.