Intelligent Buildings should move away from a focus on technology and building efficiency, to a focus on the needs of owners, their businesses, and most importantly their people. The key players should work in a holistic ecosystem to offer one common purpose: creating better experiences for people.
Intelligent Buildings have existed for thousands of years but different centuries and cultures express them in different ways so what is an intelligent building? Is it one that serves the needs of people in functional ways but is also beautiful not just visually but in the simplicity and sensory ways it achieves these needs?
In the 21st century, intelligent buildings tend to be ones that are very technology-driven but already we can see the impact of changes in society in that they need to be responsible for the health and well-being of the occupants so bring in a caring and humane approach that offsets the hard faces of construction and technology. Too often an intelligent building is reduced down to the choice of a building management system but there is much more to it than that.
Intelligent buildings can become energy generators not only in the literal sense but also to charge their users instead of depleting their vital life energy.
The key criteria for achieving good quality intelligent buildings are:
• Satisfying client and supply stakeholder objectives and needs;
• Meeting social and environmental needs
• Recognition of available resources.
An intelligent building starts with a good client brief and should comprise of:
• A clearly articulated project vision and mission;
• A recognition of the planning, design and procurement realities
• Clarity about the use of a whole-life value approach.
An intelligent building is one that is responsive to the requirements of occupants, organisations and society. It is sustainable in terms of energy and water consumption besides being lowly polluting in terms of emissions and waste: healthy in terms of well-being for the people living and working within it; and functional according to the user needs.
The built environment affects our physical, mental and social well-being. Many elements in the built environment contribute to establishing a milieu that helps people to be healthier and have the energy to concentrate while being free to be creative. We spend much of our lives in buildings, so they have an important role to play within this total picture. This demands us to embrace change and think beyond conventional wisdom while retaining our respect for it.
Derek Clements-Croome worked in the building design and contracting industry before entering university life. He has founded and directed courses including a BSc in building environmental engineering at Loughborough University and an interdisciplinary MSc in Intelligent Buildings at Reading University covering design and management of intelligent buildings. He has also worked in architecture and building engineering at the University of Bath.
He now offers strategic advice to clients, designers and facilities managers on attaining and managing healthy and sustainable environments in buildings of all types. He researches, writes and lectures on these issues for companies and wider audiences nationally and internationally.
Derek is the editor and founder of Intelligent Buildings International Journal. He was involved in several international research projects and publications on Intelligent Buildings, sustainable design, health and well-being.
He wrote several books of which Creating the Productive Workplace: Places to work creatively is the latest (2018). Right now he is working on a new book. Designing intelligent buildings and cities for people to enjoy and work creatively and effectively is the leading theme through his career.
More on https://www.derekcroome.com