APPA (Leadership in Educational Facilities)

Our Story

APPA (formerly the Association of Physical Plant Administrators) is the association of choice serving educational facilities professionals. An international association dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and promoting the quality of educational facilities, APPA represents more than 1,500 learning institutions serving over 4,700 individuals.

APPA's membership includes facilities professionals from public and private, two-year and four-year colleges and universities; community and two-year technical colleges; medical and law schools; seminaries; public and private K-12 schools and districts; museums and parks; military installations; federal, state, and city-county governments.

Founded in 1914 as a learning forum for those engaged in the improvement and maintenance of educational buildings and grounds, APPA has a long history of effectively meeting the needs of its members and acting as a catalyst to their growth and advancement. Through the years, APPA has provided the forum in which its members collaborate, learn, and create a vision for a better future.

APPA elevates educational facilities professionals into higher performing managers and leaders, and helps them transform their institutions into more inviting and supportive learning environments. This furthers the recognition and value of the field, highlighting the direct impact facilities have on the recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff.

APPA promotes excellence in the administration, planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations of educational facilities. In addition, APPA serves the entire education community by conducting research, providing learning opportunities, producing publications, developing guidelines, and serving as a central information source on educational facilities issues.