You’re a Facility Management professional. How can you collaborate with architects?

1 Understand their vision

Architects are creative and visionary professionals who have a unique perspective on how spaces can be designed to meet the needs and expectations of the users, clients and stakeholders. They often have a strong attachment to their projects and want to see them realized as they envisioned them. As a FM professional, you need to understand their vision and respect their design choices, while also communicating your own insights and feedback based on your expertise and experience in managing facilities. Try to establish a common ground and a shared language with architects, and appreciate their contributions to the built environment.

3 Share your data

Another key aspect of collaboration with architects is to share your data and information with them. As a FM professional, you have access to valuable data and insights on how the facilities are used, maintained, operated and improved over time. This data can help architects to evaluate and improve their design solutions, and to learn from the feedback and experiences of the users and managers of the facilities. You can share your data with architects through various channels, such as reports, dashboards, surveys, interviews and site visits. You can also use digital tools and platforms, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) and Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS), to facilitate data sharing and integration.

4 Learn from them

Collaborating with architects is not only a way to improve the FM outcomes, but also a way to enhance your own professional development. Architects can offer you a different perspective and a new set of skills and knowledge that can complement and enrich your FM expertise. You can learn from architects about the latest trends and innovations in design, technology, sustainability and user experience. You can also learn from their creative and problem-solving approaches, their communication and presentation skills, and their project management and leadership abilities. By learning from architects, you can broaden your horizons and expand your capabilities as a FM professional.

5 Support them

Finally, collaborating with architects means supporting them throughout the FM process, and beyond. You can support architects by providing them with constructive and timely feedback, by acknowledging and celebrating their achievements, by advocating for their interests and needs, and by maintaining a long-term and respectful relationship with them. You can also support architects by joining and participating in professional associations, networks and events that bring together FM and architecture professionals, such as the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the World Architecture Festival (WAF). By supporting architects, you can strengthen your collaboration and create a positive and rewarding FM experience for both parties.