Optimizing Performance With Smart Building Facility Management

Since 2020, there has been unprecedented interest in making buildings healthier and safer. At a time when the future of commercial buildings is uncertain, the ongoing conversations about what constitutes a healthy building and how to create it are particularly important. Many companies are developing hybrid work models where employees alternate between working remotely and onsite. This reimagining of the workplace is revolutionizing the way we use office space.

There is already a logical solution: the smart building. A growing body of research shows that smart building technology not only makes buildings greener and more energy-efficient, but it also makes them healthier places to live, work, and play. Investing in smart building facility management is the wise choice in a rapidly changing landscape.

Remote Work vs. Healthier Buildings

During the early stages of the pandemic, remote work was seen as a boon by many companies, enabling them to continue operations unabated. Though this upside kept them in business, it also introduced new challenges. These include:

• Difficulty coordinating and communicating about projects
• Distractions at home
• Lack of socialization and feelings of isolation
• Difficulty maintaining routines and life/work balance

Business leaders across industries saw that employees were less connected to companies and their cultures. This is one of the reasons leasing activity increased nearly 70 percent from the end of March to the beginning of September 2021; the office buildings provide real value. Though remote work will likely remain a part of many people’s jobs in perpetuity, for many, it does not replace the experience of working together in the same space. 

But while more people are going back to the office, it doesn’t mean going back to the way things were. Instead, the return to the workplace is facilitating the rise of health-centered smart buildings. With smart building facility management, indoor environments can become safe places to gather and collaborate once again. As a bonus, smart building technology increases asset lifespan, decreases carbon emissions, improves energy efficiency, and lowers operating expenses. 

Smart Building Facility Management Solutions

Data is the foundation of any smart building. Internet of Things (IoT) technology allows you to gather data from a virtually endless array of variables, from air quality to occupancy. Existing building systems, such as HVAC and lighting, also produce vast volumes of data. But making that data useful—and making a building intelligent—requires integration and automation. 

The centerpiece of a smart building’s tech stack is the smart building management platform. This innovative software gives you extraordinary visibility into building performance and transforms data from all connected sources into meaningful findings and recommendations. It allows you to:

• Implement automation strategies
• Track KPIs
• Command and control equipment and condition status in real time
• Receive prioritized notifications
• Adjust settings 
• Track work orders
• Customize reports

All of this makes it a powerful tool for health-focused smart building facility management and hybrid workspaces. Whether automating ventilation according to occupancy, monitoring air quality, or automatically adjusting heating and cooling functions according to unpredictable work schedules, a smart building platform provides the capabilities and flexibility needed in today’s world. It also gives you the objective data tenants need to feel comfortable.

Success Story: 800 Fulton

One of the best examples of a health-focused smart building is 800 Fulton, owned by Thor Equities Group.

Located at 800 West Fulton Street in Chicago, the eighteen-story, 500,000 square foot building capitalizes on smart technology to create a healthier work environment. At the heart of this building is Building IOT’s onPoint, a cloud-based smart building management platform that provides deep insight via a user-friendly interface. Building IOT’s master system integrator (MSI) team also became a long-term partner on the Fulton project, focusing on how the building’s systems would work together once the project was complete. 

Thor Equities Senior Vice President Peter McEneaney says: 

We are positioning 800 Fulton Market as a technology-first new building offering unique amenities, beyond the norm, to tenants of all types. We chose to work with Buildings IOT based on their understanding of data from multiple systems including but not limited to HVAC and lighting. The advanced analytics capabilities inherent in Buildings IOT's solutions allow us to easily view building health holistically and make modifications as needed, increasing our tenants' comfort and better serving their needs while also conserving energy and expanding the lifespan of our equipment assets.

From cutting-edge environmental monitoring to streamlined security features, 800 Fulton shows what is possible when smart technology is intelligently integrated.

READ THE FULL SUCCESS STORY

Thinking Ahead

The world is changing, and building owners must adapt to stay ahead of the curve. Smart building facility management is more than just hype. It’s the best way to create healthy, safe, and flexible buildings that work for today’s businesses and optimize the value of your assets. By making smart investments today, you lay the foundation for a brighter future.

Buildings IOT offers the state-of-the-art services and products you need for outstanding smart building facility management. Contact our team of experts to learn more about what we can do for you.