To qualify as smart, a building will have to be designed with the underlying infrastructure in order to maintain its’ relevance as technology evolves and human needs changes. Eugene Seah, Senior Director (Special Projects) Surbana Jurong, emphasised on the importance of an open architectural platform that keeps the building systems modular but integrated. An open architecture approach will allow a plug and play approach which will be more cost-effective as the replacement of system is not specific to a single vendor nor a proprietary system which could be outdated. This initial investment would attain building operational efficiency and the intangible benefits will come along.

Lam further stressed on the importance for developers and landlords to engage with tenants and understand their demands. This engagement will help to bridge the divide between the macro needs of a building and the micro needs of a tenant, hence enhancing the efficiency of a building. In addition, the use of predictive technology by conducting scenario simulations or entering actual building data into a digital twin can help to mitigate and reduce potential downtime, thus further streamlining building efficiency. The use of these relevant targeted technology can help landlords to optimise building operations to achieve better returns on their investments.

As agreed by all speakers, the adoption of technology in the built environment is driven by both the government and private sector. In today’s day and age, the combination of education and the availability of information has generated awareness and a subsequent change in mindset. Hence landlords are motivated and committed to innovate to meet societal needs and demands. Across the world, government bodies are also leading by example. In Australia, no government agencies will consider leasing tenancy spaces in buildings with NABERs rating less than 3.5 stars. Similarly in Singapore, with Singapore Green Plan 2030, the local government has put in place numerous incentives and approaches to quicken the implementation of sustainable efforts.

While heavy initial investment into technology may be unpalatable to some companies, the cost will be recalibrated over time with demand and scale as more companies adopt the technology. At the end of the day, the provision of technology catering to market demands determines and identifies leaders in the build environment industry.

ULI Singapore thanks our venue host

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