Introduction

Resilient design is essential in today’s facilities management landscape, as it addresses the need for buildings and infrastructure to withstand and recover from various challenges, including climate change, natural disasters, and unexpected disruptions. This course explores how resilient design principles can be integrated into facilities management to ensure that facilities not only meet current operational demands but are also prepared for future risks. Participants will gain a deep understanding of how resilience impacts facility operations, from disaster preparedness and recovery to sustainability and adaptability. This course emphasizes practical strategies and real-world examples to equip FM professionals with the tools necessary to enhance the resilience of their facilities.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of resilient design and its importance for facilities management.
• Identify the risks and challenges that facilities face, including environmental, operational, and social risks.
• Develop strategies for incorporating resilience into building design, systems, and operations.
• Learn how to conduct risk assessments and vulnerability analyses for facilities.
• Create plans for business continuity, disaster recovery, and adaptive reuse.
• Explore real-world case studies and best practices for resilient facility management.
• Utilize technologies and innovations that contribute to resilient design in FM operations.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Facilities Managers responsible for managing and maintaining the resilience of buildings and infrastructure.
• Designers and Architects interested in incorporating resilient design principles into building projects.
• Operations Managers focusing on improving facility continuity and preparedness.
• Sustainability Managers and professionals looking to integrate resilience into sustainability strategies.
• Project Managers overseeing the development of new facilities or renovations.
• Risk Management Professionals aiming to understand how resilience applies to facility and operational risks.

Day 1: Introduction to Resilient Design and Its Importance in Facilities Management

• Understanding Resilient Design
  • What is resilient design? Key principles and goals.
  • The importance of resilience in today’s facility operations: Why resilience is critical for FM professionals.
  • How resilient design differs from traditional design and risk management approaches.
• The Impact of Environmental and Social Risks on Facilities
  • Climate change: Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and their impact on facilities.
  • Social risks: Urbanization, population growth, and infrastructure demand.
  • The role of facilities in supporting community resilience: Health, safety, and social equity.
• Resilience in the Context of Facilities Management
  • The role of FM professionals in ensuring facility resilience.
  • Resilience vs. sustainability: How they intersect and support one another.
  • Benefits of resilient design for long-term facility performance and cost savings.

Day 2: Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis for Facilities

• Identifying Risks and Vulnerabilities
  • Understanding different types of risks: Natural hazards (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes), operational risks (failure of systems, equipment), and social risks (economic downturns, security threats).
  • Conducting vulnerability assessments: Identifying potential weaknesses in facility design, infrastructure, and operations.
  • Tools and methodologies for risk assessment in FM: Hazard analysis, SWOT analysis, and risk matrices.
• Evaluating Facility Resilience
  • Key factors to consider when assessing facility resilience: Structural integrity, energy systems, water systems, and emergency response capabilities.
  • Using resilience indicators to assess a facility’s ability to withstand and recover from disruptions.
  • Case study analysis: Vulnerability assessment in different types of facilities (e.g., hospitals, office buildings, schools).
• Developing Risk Mitigation Strategies
  • Prioritizing risks and vulnerabilities: How to determine which risks need immediate attention.
  • Developing mitigation strategies for physical and operational risks.
  • Best practices for incorporating resilience into new facilities and renovations.

Day 3: Designing Resilient Facilities: Principles and Strategies

• Designing for Resilience: Core Principles
  • Flexibility, redundancy, and adaptability in building design.
  • Designing for climate resilience: Incorporating passive design strategies, sustainable materials, and climate-responsive solutions.
  • Designing for energy and water resilience: Strategies for managing resources during disruptions.
• Resilient Building Systems and Infrastructure
  • Enhancing infrastructure resilience: Reinforcing building envelopes, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and backup power systems.
  • Integrating technology for real-time monitoring and automated responses (smart building systems, IoT).
  • Ensuring structural integrity: Incorporating seismic, wind, and flood-resistant features into building designs.
• Passive vs. Active Resilience Strategies
  • Passive design strategies: Natural ventilation, thermal mass, and resilient landscaping.
  • Active strategies: Backup generators, water harvesting systems, and automation systems for emergency situations.
  • Balancing cost, functionality, and resilience in facility design.

Day 4: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning

• Developing a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) for Facilities
  • What is business continuity, and why is it critical for facilities management?
  • Key components of a BCP: Risk analysis, impact assessment, emergency procedures, and recovery strategies.
  • Best practices for creating a comprehensive BCP for urban, commercial, and industrial facilities.
• Disaster Recovery Planning
  • Developing a disaster recovery plan (DRP): Steps to ensure operational continuity following a disruption.
  • Key recovery strategies: Prioritizing recovery of critical systems and infrastructure.
  • The role of communication in disaster recovery: Ensuring stakeholders are informed during a crisis.
• Real-World Disaster Recovery Case Studies
  • Case study analysis: Successful recovery strategies following natural disasters or major system failures.
  • Lessons learned from failures: How resilient design and planning could have mitigated impacts.

Day 5: Implementing Resilient Design and Innovation in Facilities Management

• Integrating Resilience into FM Operations
  • Day-to-day resilience management: Ensuring ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and adaptation of resilient systems.
  • How FM professionals can contribute to a culture of resilience within their organizations.
  • Building a resilience-focused FM team: Roles and responsibilities for implementing resilience across facility operations.
• Innovations and Emerging Trends in Resilient Design
  • The role of innovation in improving facility resilience: Smart cities, IoT, energy storage, and adaptive reuse of buildings.
  • Future trends in resilient design: Modular construction, autonomous systems, and decentralized infrastructure.
  • Incorporating climate adaptation strategies into FM operations.
• Assessing and Measuring Resilience in FM
  • Key performance indicators (KPIs) for resilience: How to measure the effectiveness of resilience initiatives.
  • Using resilience audits and assessments to track improvement over time.
  • Continuous improvement: Adapting and evolving facility designs and operations to changing conditions and risks.

Course Methodology

• Interactive Lectures and Presentations
• Hands-on Workshops and Practical Exercises
• Case Study Analysis of Resilient Facilities
• Group Discussions and Strategy Development Sessions
• Technology Demonstrations of Resilient Systems
• Expert Q&A Sessions and Industry Insights