After a great weekend in DC at this year's APPA conference, we're excited and inspired by the dedication and achievements of so many leaders in the educational facilities arena. In this article, we discuss Solutions for Higher Education and key takeaways from the event.

Key Takeaways from APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities

CEO and co-founder Steven Warshaw at the APPA 2018 Conference.

Total Cost of Ownership

In the context of higher education facilities management, total cost of ownership (TCO) encompasses all the costs associated with acquiring, operating, maintaining, and eventually disposing of campus facilities and infrastructure. 

This holistic approach goes beyond initial capital expenditures, factoring in long-term operational costs such as utilities, maintenance, repairs, and potential upgrades. By considering TCO, higher education institutions can make more informed decisions that optimize resource allocation, enhance budget planning, and ensure sustainable campus operations. Implementing advanced solutions like Intellis’s Foundation System can significantly reduce TCO by improving efficiency, extending the lifecycle of assets, and preventing costly emergency repairs, ultimately leading to a more cost-effective and well-maintained educational environment.

It's essential that the educational facility manager continually seek out inventive ways to reduce operating expenses while improving occupant efficiency. Through a transparent, efficient, and holistic approach to Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with the help of Building Information Modeling (BIM), it is possible to provide comprehensive life cycle data about all your assets. This includes land parcels, facilities, structures, infrastructure systems, and other equipment that require capital investments.

The Foundation System

With the help of capital investment software, implementing the principles of TCO will ensure that you can schedule essential repairs and replacements of physical assets throughout the fiscal year, allowing you to maintain your short-term and long-term budgetary needs.

Schedule a demo with us to learn more about capital investment software.

Thermographic Technology

An essential topic among experts at APPA was the importance of using thermographic technology to monitor building envelopes and swiftly detect any deficiencies. It's why we offer it on our platform!

Thermographic technology in the Foundation system is utilized for roof thermal imagery, particularly using drones for thermographic surveys. This technology is applied to assess the condition of building roofs, identifying issues such as damage or leakage. The process includes capturing thermal images and photo images of the roofs, which are then analyzed to provide insights into the roof's condition. The imagery and any computer outputs from the analysis are provided to the clients, offering a detailed view of the roof's status and helping in strategic planning for maintenance and investment.

This application of thermographic technology is part of Intellis's comprehensive approach to facility condition assessment. Data is collected and accessed from a single cloud-based source, allowing for efficient evaluation and prioritization of facility needs.

Contact us to learn more about how we use thermographic technology.

Dedicated Leaders

The best part of attending APPA was meeting many intelligent and dedicated leaders in the education sector. We're proud to support higher education with enterprise software that helps you achieve your goals.

Congratulations to this year's APPA award winners!

The Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA) offers educational facility leaders informational resources, continued learning programs, and many opportunities to connect and network with fellow facilities professionals. Talk to us directly to learn more about Intellis software for strategic facility capital planning!