immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Smart Building

  • Smart building becomes a location factor

    Smart building becomes a location factor

    Smart buildings become a location factor when they first make ESG performance visible and controllable. Energy and resource consumption, CO² emissions, indoor climate and space efficiency can be measurably optimised through sensor technology, automation and data-based operation, and these key figures can be verified for green finance, ratings and regulatory purposes. Lighthouse projects such as The Edge in Amsterdam, Taipei 101, Roche Basel and The Crystal in London show how smart building technology can be linked to clear sustainability indicators and certifications and thus have an impact beyond the individual property.

    Smart building as a talent magnet
    Smart buildings are changing the working and innovation environment. User-centred buildings with high air quality, plenty of daylight, flexible spaces, apps and services are becoming a magnetic factor for talent and for companies that demand modern, healthy working environments. In such smart buildings, technology merges with workplace quality. From personalisable comfort parameters to intelligent space management, they directly strengthen employer branding and the attractiveness of a location for knowledge- and technology-intensive companies.

    From individual buildings to networked campuses
    Location and campus strategies are characterised by intelligent buildings. Data from many smart buildings is aggregated in neighbourhoods and campus structures. This creates controllable networks of energy, mobility and utilisation that position a city or region as an efficient, sustainable location, far beyond the individual building. This shifts the discussion. Smart buildings are no longer just a technical upgrade, but a strategic lever to make locations future-proof, regulation-proof and internationally competitive.

    edge

    The Edge in Amsterdam is regarded as a prototype of an intelligent office building in which architecture, technology and data were conceived as a digital system from the outset. Covering around 40,000 square metres, an extremely dense IoT infrastructure with around 28,000 inputs and outputs networks sensors, LED lights with their own IP address, building automation and a workplace app. Employees book their workstations based on activity in the 3D model, receive personalised lighting and comfort profiles and work in highly flexible, daylight-oriented spaces. Thanks to its efficient shell, geothermal energy, large photovoltaic surfaces, rainwater utilisation and e-mobility, The Edge achieves an energy-positive balance and reduces CO² emissions in the double-digit million kilogram range over ten years. The permanently collected usage, comfort and energy data forms the basis for predictive maintenance, cleaning and space optimisation and makes ESG performance in operation measurable and controllable instead of just being reported. As a BREEAM Outstanding property with international benchmark status, The Edge shows how a single smart building can characterise both the working environment and the location profile of Amsterdam as an innovative, sustainable economic area.
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    Taipei 101 in Taipei shows how an iconic supertall can be transformed into a green and “healthy” skyscraper using smart building technology. An integrated building and energy management system monitors and controls lighting, HVAC, pumps and lifts, supplemented by cloud-based analytics to increase efficiency. Double façades, LED retrofits, optimised air treatment, water-efficient fittings, rainwater harvesting and an improved cooling water system significantly reduce energy and water consumption. The green retrofit made Taipei 101 a LEED Platinum pioneer for existing buildings. in 2025, the tower again achieved LEED v5 O M Platinum with the highest score and WELL v2 Core Platinum. Over several years, around 160 million kWh of electricity were saved and at the same time the air quality, comfort and health of the users were significantly improved. A global ESG lighthouse project for existing buildings.
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    f. Hoffmann-La Roche AG

    Roche Campus Basel/Kaiseraugst is pursuing a smart building and smart campus strategy on the Basel/Kaiseraugst campus, in which a continuous IoT backbone connects existing and new buildings. Sensor technology, building automation and data platforms are used in such a way that energy efficiency, user experience and operational optimisation converge in a scalable digital infrastructure. Specific use cases include occupancy and presence measurement, indoor navigation, geo-referenced floor plans and smart logistics and material flows. Large new buildings such as Building 2, BSN8/11 and the pRED Centre will serve as supports in which sensor technology, automation and data architecture will be integrated from the outset. This makes the campus a strategic ESG lever. Energy monitoring, space and operational optimisation support decarbonisation, while user-centric working environments improve orientation and service quality. Consistent data and life cycle management creates transparency for FM and governance. At the same time, Roche is strengthening Basel as a life sciences location with internationally visible reference buildings and a clear systemic sustainability logic.
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    archDaily

    The Crystal in London is a compact but consistently developed smart building lighthouse project with a clear ESG link. It was built in 2012 in the Royal Docks for Siemens as an exhibition and conference centre, covers around 6,300 square metres and is considered one of the most sustainable buildings in the world with LEED Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding. The fully glazed, two-storey building combines an all-electric concept without fossil fuels with a finely tuned glass façade and an integrated building management system. Photovoltaics on the roof, geothermal probes with heat pumps, LED lighting, rainwater and black water treatment and water-efficient fittings significantly reduce energy and water consumption. The BMS networks heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and security, adapts operation to occupancy and weather in real time and makes all systems measurable, benchmarkable and finely adjustable. The result is a virtually self-optimising building that also serves as a publicly accessible learning space for urban sustainability and has become an international reference case for smart, ESG-oriented architecture with its transparent performance display.
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  • Advantages of intelligent building systems

    Advantages of intelligent building systems

    Porter, telephone operator and elevator operator – three examples of professions that used to be essential for the operation of buildings, but are now largely extinct. Access control, telecommunications, lifts and many other areas have long been automated. With digitalization, real estate is increasingly developing in the direction of “smart buildings”. A look at building automation shows what benefits this can bring and to what extent it also poses challenges.

    Networking trades
    Digitalization enables building automation to combine previously largely autonomous trades into a networked system. Continuous data exchange and optimized processes increase convenience for users as well as energy efficiency. In practice, however, this integrated approach is still associated with certain challenges, says Turan Babuscu, Head of Automation at Siemens Switzerland. “The coordination between the trades often takes place too late in a construction project.” This concerns, for example, the definition of interfaces and the clarification of responsibilities – topics that should be discussed as early as possible in the planning phase. “Only if integral collaboration is clearly defined from the outset can digitalization develop its full potential,” emphasizes Babuscu.

    Greater efficiency, more comfort
    The benefits of successful integrated building automation can be seen in operational efficiency, for example. If data is systematically recorded and evaluated, energy consumption can be reduced, faults detected at an early stage and needs-based maintenance cycles developed. The technical building systems thus require less energy and have a longer service life – two aspects that are of interest to owners and operators for both ecological and economic reasons.

    To ensure that all building services are networked and coordinated in a building automation system, the topic must be included at an early planning stage. (Photo: Siemens Switzerland)

    For users, on the other hand, the focus is primarily on the greater convenience that integrated building automation allows. One example of this is the adjustment of room temperature, lighting and air quality according to use, time of day and occupancy, resulting in a healthier and more productive indoor climate.

    AI provides support
    Babuscu predicts that the networking of different systems within a building will continue to increase in the coming years. “This requires open, secure protocols such as BACnet/SC or KNX Secure, which enable obstacle-free, encrypted communication between the trades and the cloud services.” And what about artificial intelligence (AI)? “It already has a firm place in building automation,” says Babuscu. “Many systems use learning algorithms to understand the building’s behaviour and optimize it automatically.” This development is set to continue. In future, AI is likely to increasingly make decisions itself, for example by determining the best operating strategy or the optimum time for maintenance. It is important that the use of AI is transparent, comprehensible and safe in order to gain the acceptance of those involved.

    Further information:
    https://www.swissbau.ch/de/c/vorteile-von-intelligenten-gebaeudesystemen.74100

  • Innovation impetus for the construction and property industry

    Innovation impetus for the construction and property industry

    Professor Adrian Wildenauer is to become the new head of the Centre for Smart Building & Real Estate at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences(HWZ). The centre will become part of the newly created Department of Banking & Finance, Controlling and Real Estate, according to a press release. The department will begin its work in January 2026 and will be headed by Nadine Rusch-Schenker.

    By taking on the new role, Adrian Wildenauer wants to play an active role in shaping the further development of the construction and real estate industry. He is currently a professor of digital construction at Bern University of Applied Sciences(BFH). Previously, he worked at SBB AG as Head of BIM Standardisation & Industry Activities and in other management positions in the real estate sector. His research focuses on the areas of Building-as-a-Service and digital construction.

    “With Adrian Wildenauer, we are gaining an internationally networked expert who combines theory and practice in a unique way. His work on smart building, digital twins and data-based services strengthens the innovative power of the HWZ in the field of real estate management,” said Brian Rüeger, Rector of the HWZ, in the press release.

  • ZHAW pools expertise in new competence group

    ZHAW pools expertise in new competence group

    A new unit is being created at the ZHAW Institute of Facility Management to actively shape the digital transformation of the real estate and construction industry. The Smart Building Management competence group is dedicated to the question of how buildings and sites can be intelligently planned, used and managed. The aim is to develop digital technologies, data-based services and integral strategies along the entire real estate life cycle in a user-oriented manner. A particular focus is on smart buildings, smart workplaces and resilient infrastructures that are geared towards the needs of society, the economy and the environment.

    International experience and in-depth industry knowledge
    The new head Andrea González has over 15 years of international experience in urban planning, real estate development, architecture, sustainability and digitalization. She has overseen large and complex projects in Europe and Asia, from site analysis, planning and construction through to operation, refurbishment and conversion. Her expertise in the application of innovative smart building strategies, the use of digital tools such as BIM and artificial intelligence as well as sustainable construction methods is particularly noteworthy.

    Her management experience ranges from leading interdisciplinary project teams to overall responsibility as Head of Real Estate and Architecture at a Swiss company. As a specialist, she combines economic thinking with a spirit of technological innovation and sustainable solutions.

    Building bridges between science and practice
    In addition to her work in real estate and construction practice, Andrea González has been active in research and teaching for many years. She has taught and conducted research at ETH Zurich, the University of Liechtenstein, the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, among others. Her scientific work focuses on the integration of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins and predictive analytics in planning and development processes.

    In publications and conference contributions, she has intensively examined the transformation of urban spaces and the future of smart buildings and smart cities. She is also involved in teaching at all levels, from Bachelor’s and Master’s degree courses to continuing education programs, and contributes to the development of new academic formats.

    Forward-looking perspectives for Smart Building Management
    With the appointment of Andrea González, the ZHAW is sending a strong signal for the further development of the real estate and construction industry in the direction of digitalization, sustainability and resilience. In future, the new Smart Building Management competence group will provide impetus for practical research and innovative solutions that support both companies and institutions in the transformation of their infrastructures.

  • Cooperation for intelligent lighting and building solutions

    Cooperation for intelligent lighting and building solutions

    The technology company ABB and the Austrian Zumtobel Group are working together on the further development of intelligent lighting and building solutions as well as direct current applications. According to a press release, the companies will focus on integrating ABB’s building automation solutions with the Zumtobel Group’s lighting management systems.

    Both companies expect the “combined expertise” to result in “more efficient, more sustainable and more user-friendly smart building environments”. To this end, the application of sensor-based lighting solutions will be accelerated with the aim of “optimizing energy efficiency, increasing the comfort of building users and maximizing the effectiveness of heating, ventilation and air conditioning control”. The added value is intended to benefit customers in the commercial, industrial and administrative sectors.

    The cooperation is intended to promote innovations in the use of direct current technology in large-scale industrial applications. The resulting synergies should make buildings more efficient, sustainable and user-friendly. The use of modern industrial power grids would allow renewable energy to be used on a larger scale. This saves resources, reduces feed-in power and leads to stable grids and an open system for users.

    “Our partnership concept enables us to better address innovation, standardization and sustainability and to continue to play a pioneering role in new technologies,” Lucy Han, EVP for Building and Home Automation Solutions at ABB, is quoted as saying.

  • Successful return of ineltec with a focus on innovation

    Successful return of ineltec with a focus on innovation

    A new start that convinces
    The return of ineltec was a complete success. The trade fair, which took place on 11 and 12 September 2024 at Messe Zürich, attracted a large number of visitors and impressed both exhibitors and trade visitors. With a clear focus on efficiency and innovation, the trade fair presented its innovations on compact, focussed stands that encouraged direct interaction between visitors and suppliers.

    Enormous visitor interest and exciting innovations
    ineltec attracted an impressive number of visitors: the halls were already packed on the opening day. Professionals from all over Switzerland crowded around the exhibitors’ latest developments and products. Exhibition Director Noëlle Marti was overwhelmed by the response: “The enormous interest and positive feedback from our visitors exceeded all expectations. It’s a wonderful feeling when our intensive preparatory work pays off in this way.”

    Breadth and depth of the range – the right thing for everyone
    With a clearly structured trade fair layout and a wide range of exhibitors, ineltec offered something for everyone: whether it was about smart building, the circular economy, electromobility or innovative technologies – trade visitors were able to search specifically for the topics relevant to them and find what they were looking for. The clear layout, which enabled visitors to move efficiently through the various exhibition stands, was particularly appreciated.

    Expert knowledge in the Speakers Corner
    A highlight of the trade fair was the extensive lecture programme in the Speakers Corner. Here, industry experts presented their latest developments and tools, including on the topics of artificial intelligence, electrical systems and electromobility. The moderated innovation pitches, organised by Electrosuisse, tested the presented technologies for their practical suitability – a valuable source of knowledge for all participants.

    Focus on young talent
    ineltec paid particular attention to promoting young talent. A total of 16 training classes visited the trade fair and were given guided tours to gain an insight into the latest developments in the industry and potential career opportunities. The promotion of young talent was supported by EIT.swiss, which presented the winners of a competition with high-quality measuring devices – a motivational boost for the next generation of the electrical industry.

    Networking and interaction at the highest level
    In addition to the professional highlights, the trade fair also offered space for entertainment and interaction. At the second marketplace, visitors were able to take part in virtual reality simulations, skill tests and interactive demonstrations – an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues and experience new technologies up close.

    A strong network and supportive partners
    EIT.swiss, the professional organisation for the electrical industry, was a strong partner of the trade fair and made a significant contribution to its success. Director Simon Hämmerli was delighted: “ineltec has once again proven that it is the perfect place to promote dialogue and networking within the industry. The large number of visitors shows that interest in technological development is unbroken.”

    Ineltec 2024 was a complete success and impressively demonstrated that the industry is lively and forward-looking. With the successful restart, the electrical industry is already looking forward to the next edition, which will take place on 9 and 10 September 2026.