Smart Buildings

'Smart buildings' are becoming increasingly common. Yet the term appears to have very different interpretations. Ingenium determines exactly what such a 'smart and sustainable work and living environment' is and brings projects to a higher level of ambition through consultancy and engineering.

For Ingenium, a smart building counts three important aspects. First is the integration of special technologies. Various sensors and meters, energy, safety and control systems in the building are linked to a digital management system. This increases both energy efficiency and ease of use through analysis and forecasting (whether or not self-learning through artificial intelligence). However, the building does not stand alone, but is also linked to the smart city on a third level through the smart buildings management system. For all these sustainability aspects, BREEAM* is our guideline.

For the user of the building, we take the principles of WELL as a benchmark. In a smart building, the user himself can intervene in such matters as the ambient temperature, ventilation, sun shading or brightness above the workplace. This gives him or her the key to increasing the quality, health and comfort of his or her working or living environment.

Third aspect is the requirements of the client and the user, which can vary from building to building. Each smart building will therefore be different, from simple and pared-down to high-tech. The starting point is always the "customer journey": how does the user move through the day in the building?

INGENIUM advises clients on the possibilities even before the architect makes an initial design and then takes care of the engineering and site follow-up. However, the added value of a smart building begins after completion, by ensuring lower TCO of the building and greater productivity of the user, who also experiences greater comfort.

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