Supporting biodiversity is becoming an increasingly important part of modern facilities management. A cultural venue shows how FMs can balance operational demands with protecting wildlife through planning, partnerships and smart risk management.
Biodiversity as Part of Building Operations
At the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, facilities management extends well beyond building maintenance. The site is home to around 200 nesting kittiwakes and rooftop beehives housing hundreds of thousands of bees, making biodiversity an integral part of daily operations.
As highlighted in an interview with Ameera Ahmed, Head of Facilities and Environmental Lead, by Facilitate magazine, this means combining compliance, health and safety, maintenance and environmental stewardship into a single strategy.
The centre has preserved its long-standing kittiwake colony while expanding its environmental work through a partnership that introduced rooftop beehives, alongside educational programmes, honey harvesting workshops and community engagement initiatives.
Balancing Nature and Maintenance
Supporting wildlife comes with operational challenges. The beehives are located more than 30 metres above ground on a roof with restricted access, which requires specialist training, inspections, and strict permit procedures before maintenance can take place.
Seasonal nesting also affects building maintenance. During the seven-month breeding season, access to parts of the façade is heavily restricted, while extensive rope-access cleaning is required once the birds leave.
Rather than treating wildlife as an obstacle, the facilities team integrates ecological considerations into maintenance planning and risk management from the outset.
Partnerships Deliver Results
The project demonstrates the value of collaboration between facilities teams, universities, charities and community organisations. By combining technical FM expertise with ecological knowledge, the partners have created a programme that supports biodiversity while offering education, volunteering and skills development.
Environmental committees within the organisation also help identify opportunities and coordinate projects across departments, ensuring sustainability remains embedded in everyday decision-making.
Small Steps Can Make a Big Difference
Ahmed encourages other facility managers to begin by identifying biodiversity opportunities already present around their buildings instead of launching large-scale projects immediately. Simple operational changes, careful maintenance scheduling, and cross-departmental collaboration can often deliver meaningful environmental benefits without disrupting business activities.
The experience at BALTIC demonstrates that effective facilities management and wildlife conservation are not competing priorities. With thoughtful planning and the right partnerships, buildings can become valuable assets for both people and nature.