HOW AI WILL ELEVATE THE ROLE OF C BY JIM LARKIN
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n many ways, academia is at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI). With higher education institutions facing unprecedented cost pressures, heightened competition for students and donors, and ever-rising expectations for campus experiences, college leaders have been actively exploring AI’s transformative impact. While much of the discussion to date focuses on challenges and opportunities related to teaching, research, and administration, another area poised for significant change is facilities management. The FM operational efficiencies, cost savings, and campus enhancements possible through AI are promising, to say the least. But what does AI mean for facilities managers and leaders themselves? How will it affect them and their roles?
OPPOSITE AI analytics reveal system trends and alerts, empowering smarter, proactive FM decisions. 22
AI will serve as that force multiplier: automating routine work, surfacing insights from complex datasets, and providing predictive capabilities that inform critical decisions. It will transform the FM role from one focused primarily on day-to-day problemsolving into one with much broader strategic influence.
Intuitive, Data-Driven Actions Modern campuses generate vast amounts of data—from energy usage and environmental sensors to foot traffic and occupancy patterns— and more and more data will continue to come online as institutions implement the latest technologies. To date, much of this data has been untapped or not acted upon because of a lack of time, skills, or resources. AI enables facility managers not only to leverage all that data, but also to consume it via actionable insights that are presented in intuitive AI as a Strategic Partner, Not a Replacement dashboards that highlight trends, anomalies, Facility managers bring a wealth of and opportunities for improvement. experience, institutional knowledge, and interpersonal skills that cannot simply be For example, AI might reveal that a particular replicated by algorithms. The complex dormitory consistently consumes more energy challenges they handle require judgment, than other comparable buildings, prompting empathy, and creativity. Whether responding further investigation into insulation, HVAC to emergencies, negotiating with vendors, performance, or occupancy behaviors. Foot dealing with students and faculty, or guiding traffic analysis can identify underutilized teams through unexpected issues, their classrooms or common areas, informing human insight is irreplaceable. FMs and their decisions about space allocation, renovations, staff are needed to evaluate and verify many or resource prioritization. Insights like AI-powered actions and decisions. Rather these will empower facility managers to than fearing AI, campus facility managers make evidence-based decisions, justify should view it as an amplifier. The next decade expenditures, and communicate measurable will not be about replacement, but about outcomes to administrators and stakeholders. elevation. Those who integrate AI into daily operations will expand their influence from Over the next five years, universities reactive problem-solvers to strategic leaders will increasingly deploy virtual models driving institutional performance. of campus infrastructure that update in real time. These systems will allow FMs A Force Multiplier to simulate operational changes, forecast AI adoption will accelerate a shift toward energy outcomes, and optimize maintenance outcome-based service models, where success schedules before acting. AI-driven twins will is measured not by labor hours or work orders, become the foundation of predictive campus but by more quantifiable results. A focus shift management. is already occurring toward system uptime, indoor air quality, and student, faculty, Streamlined, Proactive Campus Operations and researcher experiences. The ability to AI technology is starting to be integrated prove value with data will redefine the FM into FM equipment such as HVAC systems, function as a core strategic partner to campus sensors, and computer maintenance leadership. management systems, with the promise of