Like so many other things, buildings are getting smarter. Intelligent buildings use an array of Internet of Things devices to monitor various building characteristics and generate insights to give their inhabitants and managers more control over the building’s environment and operations.
Here are five smart buildings using innovative technologies to improve their owners and occupant’s lives:
The Edge (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Touted as one of the most connected and greenest workplaces, the Edge offers connectivity options and design, combined with smart and advanced technology, resulted in a 98.36% (BREEAM-NL) sustainability score for the building. A massive network of sensors recognizes people through their car’s license plate for automatic access and then to help them find a desk or a meeting room, as required. Employees who work here can regulate the light and the "climate" of their workplace with a smartphone or a tablet and sensors feed information about light, heat and motion back to the cloud. The building knows when the espresso machine needs to be refilled or the towel dispensers in the restroom need to be replenished.
Frasers Building (Singapore)
Frasers’ intelligent building management system, introduced in September 2020, supports a frictionless office experience with its contactless capabilities. Besides facilitating touchless entry into the building and all the way to the designated floor, the centralized platform also allows tenants to book amenities and events, as well as raise requests for concierge and maintenance services. In addition, it facilitates direct payment for service requests, and sends out alerts on the latest happenings in the building, including community events and promotions. Furthermore, the intelligent platform, which functions as a digital twin, monitors the indoor air quality, providing greater control of the temperature in leased spaces and zones. This in turn raises the comfort level of building occupants.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London)
Office spaces are not alone. Intelligent stadiums are elevating experience too. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the third-largest football stadium in England and the largest club stadium in London, boasts an integrated network with 1,800 screens with zone-specific content, including locker rooms. It includes public Wi-Fi access as well as a fixed and mobile points of sale that support a 100% cashless journey, all connected to the network. The platform is integrated into the venue's architecture to provide real-time monitoring for preventative maintenance and personalised visitor experiences, including aspects such as temperature and lighting conditions.
Fulton East (Chicago)
Located in Chicago’s Fulton Market District, this retail space is among the first commercial buildings specifically designed for a post-pandemic world. It deploys non-thermal, plasma technology throughout the building to help reduce cross-contaminant risks and provide employees with cleaner air and work surfaces. It’s touch-free key fob access and security system is pre-wired for Bluetooth Low Energy access via a mobile phone.
The Sinclair Hotel (Ft. Worth, Texas)
Cutting edge when it was built in 1930, this 17-floor,164-room property with a ZigZag Moderne façade and Art Deco interiors is modern once more. Power over Ethernet (POE) technology powers its lights, window shades, smart mirrors, and minibars. The smart, digital hotel uses digital smart building technology, in-room sensors, Internet of Things gateways and dashboards to run more efficiently and provide actionable insights to help the hotel serve guests better.
