Smart Offices and Digital Real Estate

The digital era is also considered as the way to the future in Real Estate.

Though what does it mean in practical terms? 

What are advantages and opportunities brought to real estate by the digital era?

With the digitalisation of buildings, it can improve livelihood as they will better know the individual needs of each user. The management of the building becomes easier and the CO2 emissions are reduced significantly. The return of the investment in Real Estate will increase and our daily life will become more pleasing. Firstly, we require to create a common knowledge of hat digitalisation is capable in the real estate sector.

What types of digitalisation exist?

It all depends on the different points of view, perspectives and interests that are requirements to digitalisation. A group with a major real estate portfolio has a completely different uptake of digitalisation then a projects promoter. The different perspectives on the subject need to be worked on and discussed so that the interested parties may be on the wavelength. In the future the smart buildings may be used in a different way through software updates or any other ways that may be adequate for users. Digitalisation may be beneficial for asset and property management, as well as installation management. The architects must be conscious of these possibilities and assess their clients’ interests.

Above all, the smart buildings can be used in a more flexible way, but there may be problems. 

The devil in the detail. E.g.: The problem of a magnetic coating, that is characterised by its ability to avoid the passage of radio waves, is that it will also impeach the digital reception in that part of the building. This measure is though feasible to be applied if we consider safety measurements, having to reconsider the reinstallation of Telecomms as part of that measure. After installation of such measure smartphones’ reception would be broken and new installations would be required to enable communication with the exterior world. ??

What are the greatest challenges for architects in digitalisation? 

To start off with the DPGR sets off alarms as smart buildings will collect data including those from its users. Who knows to which point and way that type of data collection is legal? I think that presently that there is still a lot of grey areas and lack of information and comprehension in the real estate market and its promotion. The know –how is also sought when we consider safety: What does cybernetic safety mean for wireless networks? It is necessary to start creating legislation and knowledge around this matter, as the future is around the corner and there is an increasing requirement due to the natural demand for innovation and, naturally, a growing demand for smart buildings and communicators with the exterior world, such as for mobility in urban city centres. We are not just speaking of new buildings, but a giant stock of real estate that will be digitalised gradually in the future. ?

Smart buildings are more costly, but they are worth the investment, there will be return on investment Only 2.5 to 5% of total construction costs are directed towards digitalisation. And the expectations on ROI rise due to demand and offer relations. To these reasons we can add the benefits of optimised efficiency and therefore there is a great potential in savings to be explored by digitalisation. 

There are other new possibilities that will influence companies as well, e.g.: a company that has 10000 employees but can only offer 1000 parking spaces. In the past this would not be feasible or considered feasible! Though now it is possible with a mobility integrated programme and a parking solution with offers for car share, then this would be possible to overcome.

In summary we cannot forget that both you working place and your home have direct or indirect consequences in nature. Considering new behaviours and new ways of living of each and every one and their concerns for nature, we cannot put aside that everyone needs to minimise the carbon footprint, adding smart buildings to this aim.