Intelligent Building Systems

The idea of an Intelligent Building, Smart Building, or Connected Portfolio means different things to different people. Therefore, understanding project needs and articulating them clearly among all stakeholders are the keys to success.

Discovery/Assessment 

• •  No matter what type of facilities you may have, we have the design engineers and commissioning agents who can evaluate existing conditions in preparation for planning.

Programming 

• •  We help clients through the process of evaluating intelligent building systems based on their smart building and smart portfolio needs. We also team with strategy consultants to co-develop a vision that can quickly be put into action.

Planning 

• •  Intelligent building projects, whether single-building or portfolio, require specific planning in order to avoid unexpected issues and disappointing outcomes. We bridge program goals with the Owner’s organization as well as design and construction stakeholders to promote alignment.

Field Evaluation/Drawing Review

• •  We assess existing conditions or design documents to determine gaps between baseline and desired functionality.

Stakeholder Coordination

• •  We work with cross-functional stakeholders, particularly helping Facilities and IT groups speak the same language.

Generate Designs

• •  We provide design input to traditional trades to promote open and future-ready systems, improved sequences of operations, and designs for intelligent building systems such as metering, lighting controls, occupancy utilization sensors, etc.
• •  Division 25 Specifications are produced to describe the scope requirements for integrating building systems, defining stakeholder roles, describe converged network requirements, hardware required for integration and more. Division 25 is an effort stitch together all the traditional system silos and generate value.

Procurement Assistance

• •  Often, Intelligent Buildings strategies are a challenge to traditional project delivery systems, traditional general contractors and even procurement departments. We assist in identifying the best way to bring implementation strategies to market, oftentimes producing requests for proposals (RFPs).
• •  Selecting a Master Systems Integrator (MSI) is one of the most critical decisions a project team will make. We assist Owners requesting and evaluating qualifications, proposals, resumes, etc. by contributing qualified bidders lists, reviewing submissions, facilitating interviews, and confirming scope.

Standards Development

• •  Once an intelligent buildings platform and strategy set has been established, we assist in the creation of institution or enterprise-wide standards to assist the design teams, facility managers and IT departments with future projects.

Performance Optimization

• •  Utilize trended sensor data, analytics, and improved sequences to improve occupant comfort while addressing efficiency and sustainability goals.
• •  Utilize ongoing building performance reporting and automated analytics to continuously commission and optimize buildings systems.

Operational Efficiency

• •  Moving forward, facility managers will need to do more with fewer qualified personnel. Leveraging connected systems, facility maintenance and operations can be more efficient.
• •  Connected systems allow specialized personnel to better provide oversight and direction to multiple properties.
• •  Analytics allows better prioritization of projects, moving from disruptive reactive maintenance and wasteful scheduled maintenance to proactive and on-demand maintenance.
• •  Occupant utilization and other usage data help real-estate and human resources functions to better respond to workforce needs and reduce under-utilized space.

Occupant Benefits

• •  Facilities used to be a background fixture, but facilities are increasingly expected to respond and adapt to the occupants, meeting their comfort and productivity needs, rather than the occupants adapting to the building.
• •  Architects and forward-thinking companies are increasingly looking to facilities to enhance occupant productivity, health, and wellness. Research is showing there is not only a human case but a business case. Intelligent strategies help by instrumenting buildings with air quality sensors, providing sophisticated lighting strategies and connecting occupants with facilities departments and property management.
• •  Smart building systems can often contribute to health and wellness programs by monitoring air quality, increasing comfort and enabling occupants to take an active role in their environment.