|
Global events change the game for facilities
How FMs can prepare before the first fan arrives
| |
Read the Article
When a global event like the FIFA World Cup arrives, the spotlight is on athletes, fans and host cities. Stadiums fill. Public spaces overflow. Infrastructure is pushed to its limits. Behind every seamless experience is something far less visible and far more critical: facility management. And when the world is watching, there’s little room for error.
As Seattle prepares to host 6 World Cup Matches, be prepared:
HELPFUL OFFICIAL RESOURCES
| | |
May Lunch & Learn
Painting in Facility Maintenance: A Comprehensive Review
May 29, 2026 | 11:30AM - 1:00PM
| |  | |
T-Mobile Park Facility Tour
June 5, 2026 | 12:30PM - 2:00PM
| | | |
June Roundtable
Performance and Quality | Facility Professionals Only
June 12, 2026 | 10:00AM - 11:00AM
| | | IFMA Seattle Expo a Resounding Success | |
The IFMA Seattle Expo was an incredible success, bringing together a full day of valuable education, networking, and industry connection. The new technical track focused on building systems was especially popular, drawing strong attendance and engagement throughout the sessions. The expo hall was busy and energetic all day, creating great opportunities for exhibitors and attendees to connect. Attendees also enjoyed excellent food at lunch during our State of the Chapter address and a fun, lively happy hour that provided the perfect way to wrap up the day. Overall, it was a great reflection of the strength and enthusiasm of the facilities management community and our chapter.
Thanks again to our event sponsors!
| | Lunch, Check In & Badge Sponsor | | | | |
Free Memberships:
IFMA Seattle is partnering with IFMA HQ to give away 5 free base memberships! If you are interested in learning more or would like to be considered, please reach out to office@ifmaseattle.org.
| IFMA Greater Seattle Chapter Leadership Attends Facilities Fusion | |
The IFMA Greater Seattle Chapter was well represented at IFMA’s Facilities Fusion, with the Chapter’s Membership Co-Chair and Executive Director attending alongside a total of 11 Seattle Chapter members. Facilities Fusion provided a valuable opportunity to connect with IFMA leaders and peers from across the country while gaining insights to support and strengthen local chapter activities.
During the conference, attendees participated in several key events, including the IFMA Leader’s Reception, speaker luncheons, the Welcome Reception, and Power Speakers breakfast and lunch sessions. These sessions offered perspectives on leadership, member engagement, and emerging trends impacting the facilities management profession.
A highlight of the experience was a dedicated session led by the Sacramento Chapter, which generated several takeaways that could be applied to future initiatives in Seattle. In addition, Seattle Chapter members gathered for a small chapter meetup on Wednesday evening, creating space for connection and idea sharing.
Overall, Facilities Fusion offered a strong mix of learning, networking, and collaboration. The insights gained will help inform future programming and engagement efforts, ensuring the IFMA Seattle Chapter continues to deliver value to its members.
| |
Member Highlight:
BetterBricks Industry Voices: Adam Thordarson, Stage 2 Facility Management
Our Chapter’s Immediate Past President Adam Thordarson’s firm Stage 2 Facility Management shares how advanced energy controls enhanced a Northwest medical center’s energy performance and comfort, reduced operating costs, and kept the building ahead of building performance standards—all while avoiding the costs and downtime of major system replacement.
Read more here
| |
Member Highlights:
We love spotlighting our members and the work you are doing to transform the field of Facilities Management. Want to be highlighted or know someone doing awesome work? Email us at office@ifmaseattle.org.
| |
Looking to hire in the Facilities Management field?
Looking to hire in the Facilities Management field? We’d love to help spread the word! Share your job posting with us, and we’ll feature it on our Career Center page.
Contact us at office@ifmaseattle.org
| |
Mentorship Program
The Greater Seattle Chapter of IFMA Mentorship Program creates pathways to career success through the collaborative engagement between experienced and early career FM professionals.
In alignment with the greater strategy of the Greater Seattle Chapter of IFMA and Education Committee Charter, the Mentorship program serves as a member benefit, with shared value for both Mentors and Mentees. This program pairs Mentees with knowledgeable Mentors, providing tenured FM’s an opportunity to share their valuable knowledge to enhance the development of the next generation of industry professionals.
Participants also serve as IFMA Ambassadors, speaking to the benefits of a career in FM, IFMA credentials/programming, and connecting purpose with this line of work.
Interested in becoming a mentee or mentor? Visit https://www.ifmaseattle.org/mentorship-resources for more information!
| | | |
Supporting Women In Trades!
Our chapter supported the annual WA Women in Trades Event in May!
| | The Puget Sound Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction host a variety of events each year. Looking to get involved? Head to their website for more information: https://www.nawicpugetsound.com/events/ | | |
Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standards & Seattle Energy Code for existing buildings: What BEPS & SEC requirements apply to your building?
Webinar Date: June 8th , 2026
Time: 12 pm to 2 pm
Cost: Free
| | |
Please join us for the webinar “Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standards & Seattle Energy Code for Existing Buildings: What BEPS & SEC Requirements Apply to Your Building?” hosted by the Smart Buildings Center and Building Potential, the Building Operator Certification (BOC) program, and the City of Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment.
This session is intended for anyone impacted by these policies, including building operators and facilities professionals, building owners, property managers, and service providers. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how BEPS and Seattle Energy Code requirements apply to existing buildings and what to expect for compliance.
| |
|
A regional non-profit, Literacy Source, offers training in English language skills for employers of non-native speakers or incumbent workers developing their reading, writing, math, or digital literacy skills. The students serve in custodial, M&O, or other front-line positions and can benefit from improved literacy for reading signs, instructions for garbage handling, workplace safety, and some customer communication. The school is running programs at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Port of Seattle and would like to build on their work to serve additional employers in the 4-county area but at this stage is just looking to have a conversation about how other facilities handle this.
To learn more about their employer partnerships, visit https://www.literacysource.org/partnerships.
Complete the form on the web page to request a follow up from the instructional staff.
| | |
The City of Bellevue is helping owners of large buildings (20,000+ square feet) comply with state clean buildings standards. Start compliance work now to improve building performance and comfort, save on energy and operating costs, and avoid fines. The cities of Bellevue, Issaquah and Redmond have partnered to offer this expanded program.
Free building energy services are available to a limited number of buildings and include:
- Education about Clean Buildings compliance requirements
- Support completing required building energy benchmarking
- Development of required Energy Management Plans
- Development of required Operations & Maintenance Program
- Guidance on accessing available incentives
Complete an application form to get started!
Help Desk Contact Info
Energy Benchmarking: EnergyBenchmarking@seattle.gov | 206-727-8484
Building Tune-Ups: BuildingTuneUps@seattle.gov | 206-727-8863
Clean Buildings Performance Standard
The Smart Buildings Center’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard Technical Assistance provides statewide benchmarking assistance, support, resources, and trainings to assist building owners in reaching compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard.
The service is being sponsored and made possible by the Washington State Department of Commerce and participating utilities.
| | |
Energy Benchmarking
Benchmarking Deadline is June 1st!
We are less than 2 weeks away from the Data Year 2025 Energy Benchmarking Compliance deadline on June 1 – check your building’s status today on the Benchmarking Compliance Lookup Tool.
OSE is proud to announce that we are making up to $4 million available to building owners through the 2026 Building Decarbonization Grant program! We plan to begin accepting applications on May 20.
Seattle is Implementing a New Technology for Benchmarking & BEPS
In July 2026, OSE will launch the Touchstone IQ platform as the new data management tool for Energy Benchmarking compliance. This tool is used by many other cities and integrates with users’ ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® accounts. Then, beginning in early 2027, OSE will update its Touchstone IQ platform to add features for Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) compliance. Here are some additional key points:
- Buildings that are in benchmarking compliance prior to the June 1, 2026, deadline will not need to take any additional steps for Data Year 2025 reporting.
-
Buildings that remain non-compliant after the June 1st deadline will be required to achieve compliance under the new process established with Touchstone IQ.
- Moving forward, building owners will continue to use ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® to collect energy and buildings data. However, Touchstone IQ will become the hub for compliance, reporting, and technical assistance for benchmarking and BEPS.
- All covered buildings will need to comply with energy benchmarking for Data Year 2026 by June 1, 2027, via the Touchstone IQ platform. Subsequently, all BEPS compliance activities will occur in the Touchstone IQ platform.
Please stay tuned to future bulletins and monitor seattle.gov/energybenchmarking for more information on energy benchmarking compliance, trainings, and the launch of Touchstone IQ.
It’s Time to Get Ready: Join a Building Emissions Navigator Coaching Cohort
Beginning in 2027, the Seattle Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS) will require owners of large buildings to verify their building energy benchmarking data and to submit a Greenhouse Gas Report that outlines their plans for meeting future emissions targets. With these new requirements on the horizon, 2026 is the right time to begin preparing for BEPS.
The Seattle Building Emissions Navigator offers free group training and customized technical assistance for your building to get ready for compliance — and it’s available to building operators, owners, and property management teams.
Email cleanbuildings@seattle.gov to find out more!
| | |
International Facility Management Association
5727 Baker Way NW Suite 200 | Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 265-3042
https://www.ifma.org/
| | | | | |
