Tag: building operations

Mid-Summer Facility Check: Is Your Building Ready for the Season’s Toughest Challenges?

Posted on by Jessica Marcantuono

From extreme heatwaves and heavy rainfall to severe storms and flooding, facilities across the United States have already faced a wide range of weather-related challenges this year.

These conditions serve as an important reminder that changing weather patterns can place significant stress on buildings and their critical infrastructure. When facilities aren’t properly maintained, seasonal conditions can quickly expose vulnerabilities in roofing systems, HVAC equipment, drainage systems, and other essential building assets.

By mid-summer, many HVAC systems have been operating at peak capacity for weeks. Energy consumption is often at its highest, and minor maintenance issues that may have gone unnoticed earlier in the year can develop into costly repairs or unplanned downtime.

That’s why mid-summer is an ideal time for facility managers and building owners to take a step back and assess the health of their buildings.

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Why a Mid-Season Facility Check Matters

Preventive maintenance is one of the most effective ways to improve reliability, reduce operating costs, and extend the life of critical equipment.

Facilities that wait until a system fails often face higher repair costs, operational disruptions, occupant complaints, and avoidable safety concerns. A proactive approach helps identify small issues before they become larger problems.

Conducting a mid-summer review can help uncover:

  • HVAC performance concerns
  • Roofing and drainage issues
  • Water intrusion risks
  • Deferred maintenance backlogs
  • Energy efficiency opportunities
  • Safety and comfort concerns for building occupants

Key Areas to Inspect

HVAC Systems

Summer places significant demand on HVAC equipment. Review system performance, inspect filters, verify temperature control, and ensure preventive maintenance schedules are up to date.

A well-maintained HVAC system can help improve occupant comfort, reduce energy consumption, and minimize the risk of unexpected failures during peak demand periods.

Roofing and Drainage Systems

Heavy rainstorms can quickly reveal weaknesses in roofing systems and drainage infrastructure. Roof inspections should focus on ponding water, damaged flashing, clogged drains, and signs of leaks or deterioration.

Addressing these issues early can help prevent water damage, costly repairs, and disruptions to facility operations.

Building Envelope

Doors, windows, seals, and exterior walls should be evaluated for signs of wear or water intrusion. Even small gaps can impact energy efficiency and allow moisture to enter the building.

Emergency Preparedness

Seasonal storms are unpredictable. Ensure emergency procedures, backup power systems, and communication plans are current and ready to support operations if severe weather occurs.

The Value of Preventive Maintenance

The best time to address a problem is before it becomes an emergency.

A proactive maintenance strategy helps facilities:

  • Reduce unplanned downtime
  • Extend equipment life
  • Improve energy efficiency
  • Enhance occupant comfort
  • Support business continuity
  • Lower long-term operating costs

As weather conditions continue to challenge facilities across the country, preventive maintenance remains one of the smartest investments a building owner or facility manager can make.

Don’t Wait for a Failure to Take Action

Summer isn’t over yet, and the hottest weeks of the year may still be ahead.

Whether you’re managing a commercial office, healthcare facility, industrial site, educational campus, or mixed-use property, now is the perfect time to evaluate your building’s readiness for the remainder of the season.

A mid-summer facility check can uncover risks, improve performance, and help ensure your building continues operating safely and efficiently when occupants depend on it most.

Don’t Let Deferred Maintenance Become an Emergency

Every season puts new demands on your facility, but waiting until equipment fails can lead to costly repairs, business disruption, and unhappy occupants.

GSH helps organizations stay ahead of issues with comprehensive preventive maintenance, engineering support, and integrated facilities management solutions designed to maximize uptime and building performance.

Whether you’re managing a single facility or a nationwide portfolio, our team can help identify risks, improve reliability, and keep your operations running smoothly through every season.

Schedule a facility assessment with GSH today and discover how proactive maintenance can save money, reduce downtime, and protect the assets that matter most.

GSH Appointed by Bidwells

Posted on by Jessica Marcantuono
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We’re pleased to announce that GSH has been appointed by Bidwells to provide engineering and Hard FM services across a multi-site property portfolio.

The partnership brings together two businesses with long histories and a shared commitment to doing things the right way. Bidwells was established in 1839, and GSH has been serving clients since 1895. While both organizations have deep roots, the focus of this partnership is firmly on the future and how we can work together to deliver great service for clients and occupiers.

Over the coming months, our engineering teams will work closely with Bidwells to support the portfolio, helping ensure buildings operate reliably, efficiently, and safely. Our approach is built on strong communication, practical solutions, and being responsive when clients need us most.

Built on Similar Values

What makes this partnership especially exciting is the alignment between our two organizations.

Both GSH and Bidwells believe in building long-term relationships, taking ownership, and continually looking for ways to improve. Those shared values create a strong foundation for collaboration and, ultimately, better outcomes for clients.

As Matt Mannion, Regional Business Development Director at GSH, explained:

“We are genuinely delighted to begin this partnership with Bidwells. At more than 130 years old, GSH does not often get to be the younger business in the room, but Bidwells has a comfortable 56-year head start on us.

More importantly, there are real parallels between the two organisations: strong heritage, personal accountability, long-term thinking and a determination to keep evolving without losing the values that made each business successful in the first place.

We are proud to support this portfolio and excited about what we can build together.”

Rob Richardson, Head of Facilities Management at Bidwells, added:

“GSH’s engineering-led approach, technical capability and focus on practical, responsive service make them a strong fit for our managed portfolio.

We are pleased to welcome the team and look forward to working closely together to deliver consistently high standards and long-term value for our clients and occupiers.”

Looking Ahead

This partnership is about more than maintaining buildings. It’s about supporting clients, creating positive experiences for occupiers, and building a service model that delivers day in and day out.

We’re excited to be working alongside the Bidwells team and look forward to developing a strong relationship built on trust, collaboration, and shared success.

Looking for a Facilities Partner Who Feels Like Part of Your Team?

The best facilities management partnerships are built on trust, communication, and a shared commitment to doing the right thing for clients and building occupants.

At GSH, we bring more than 130 years of experience, engineering expertise, and a hands-on approach to every property we support. Whether you’re responsible for a single building or a complex portfolio, our team is focused on helping you improve reliability, enhance the occupant experience, and achieve your operational goals.

Let’s talk about how GSH can support your portfolio with responsive engineering services and facilities management solutions tailored to your needs.

Behind the Scenes at 180 East Ocean

Posted on by Jessica Marcantuono

During the 2026 BOMA International Conference & Expo in Long Beach, California, GSH had the opportunity to welcome students and industry professionals to 180 East Ocean as part of the conference’s featured building tours.

Owned and managed by The Orden Company, 180 East Ocean provided visitors with a firsthand look at what it takes to operate and maintain a Class A commercial office building. The tours focused on the systems, infrastructure, and day-to-day operations that help keep the property running efficiently while providing an exceptional experience for tenants and visitors.

Attendees explored both front-of-house and behind-the-scenes areas of the building, gaining insight into the collaboration required between engineering, property management, and service partners to support a high-performing facility.

A special thank you goes to GSH’s John Stock, Chief Engineer, and Charles Mendiola, Certified Journeyman Engineer, who guided visitors through the building’s critical mechanical systems and shared their knowledge of building operations and engineering best practices.

Visitors also had the opportunity to learn more about the property’s recent enhancements, tenant spaces, and shared amenities from Heather Schultz, Senior Property Manager, Cate Sanchez, Property Coordinator, and Rick Martin of Clear Thought Corporation.

Events like these provide valuable opportunities to share knowledge, showcase industry best practices, and introduce future facilities management professionals to the work that takes place behind the scenes every day.

Thank you to BOMA International, The Orden Company, everyone who participated in the tours, and the many team members who helped make the experience a success.

Great Buildings Don’t Run Themselves

Behind every successful property is a team of engineers, property managers, and facilities professionals working together to deliver a safe, comfortable, and reliable environment for tenants and visitors.

At GSH, our engineering-led approach helps building owners and property managers maximize asset performance, improve operational efficiency, and elevate the occupant experience.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your engineering program, improve building performance, or support a portfolio of commercial properties, GSH has the expertise to help.

Connect with GSH today and discover how our engineering and facilities management teams keep buildings operating at their best, every day.

A Little Extra Care Goes a Long Way at Newark Penn Station

Posted on by Jessica Marcantuono

When thousands of visitors travel through New Jersey for major events, places like Newark Penn Station become more than transportation hubs. For many travelers, they are one of their first impressions of the area.

Recently, the GSH team took the opportunity to add a little extra color to the station by refreshing the large planters surrounding the property.

It wasn’t part of a special request. The team simply saw an opportunity to make the space look better and took the initiative to do it.

That kind of attention matters.

Taking Pride in the Places We Care For

Facilities management often involves work that most people never see. It’s keeping equipment running, responding to issues, maintaining safe spaces and taking care of the countless details that keep a busy facility moving each day.

But the way a property looks matters too.

A well-kept entrance, clean public spaces and even something as simple as fresh landscaping can change how people experience a facility.

For our team, refreshing the planters at Newark Penn Station was a small way to show pride in a place we help care for.

Creating a Positive First Impression

Properties like Newark Penn Station serve thousands of people from the surrounding community and visitors from much farther away. During major events, even more people make their way through the region.

That makes the details especially important.

The GSH team knows that maintaining a facility isn’t only about what has to be done. It’s also about noticing what could be done and taking the initiative to leave a place better than you found it.

We’re proud of the team for doing exactly that.

Sometimes, a few flowers and a little extra effort are all it takes to make a difference.

Welcome to New Jersey, and enjoy the game!!

Air Quality Message From Steve Wallis, GSH CEO USA

Posted on by Jessica Marcantuono

This week, the sky over our offices has been filled with an orange-grey haze due to Canadian wildfire smoke, pushing the AQI into “very unhealthy” territory across NYC and Jersey. This situation makes indoor air quality feel much more tangible.

Most people don’t consider air quality once they step inside a building. However, behind this assumption lies a building automation system that determines whether to pull in outside air or recirculate it, along with filtration systems working to keep PM2.5 out, all monitored by an engineering team in real time.

Days like this remind us of the true purpose of facilities management. It’s not just about maintaining lighting and comfortable temperatures; it’s about making real-time decisions to protect the people inside. This includes tightening outdoor air intake, upgrading filtration as necessary, and running purifiers in high-traffic areas.

This week, our GSH teams have been actively monitoring conditions and adjusting building systems across client sites, ensuring that occupants remain unaware of the hazardous conditions outside.

Clean indoor air is often taken for granted until the outside world looks like this. I am grateful for the teams who work diligently to maintain it.

SteveW

Steve Wallis, GSH CEO USA