Rapid changes in building technology. Outdated infrastructure. The move toward sustainable and energy-efficient structures. Such challenges require the know-how of a facility management professional. In response, the University of Minnesota’s College of Continuing Education recently launched a new facility management degree track.
Part of the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in construction management, the facility management program takes a comprehensive, “cradle-to-grave” approach. Students study the complete building life cycle, from design inception and construction to maintenance/re-commissioning and demolishment.
“Instead of just looking at the planning of a building (architecture), or the construction of it, we look at everything from the purchasing of real estate to the building’s inception/design; from construction and maintenance/recommissioning, all the way to demolition,” explains Peter Hilger, a construction management faculty member and FM project spearhead.
The FM degree is the only one of its kind in the Upper Midwest, and fills a demand for management and leadership training from one of the fastest growing career fields today.
August 10, 2012
Training