What is an intelligent building? It’s a thorny question to tackle because there seem to be many definitions. Indeed, we often use ‘smart’ and ‘intelligent’ as synonyms in this context which adds to the confusion.
The definition can often depend on who you ask. A facilities manager might say it’s a building that allows them to monitor performance, spot issues with equipment before breakdown occurs and track energy use.
A property manager might focus on a building that provides data on occupation levels, use patterns, and demand for meeting spaces. An architect may say a smart building is one that is sustainable with low embodied and operational carbon that supports occupant wellbeing with enhanced indoor environments.
Another challenge for anyone trying to pin down a definition of ‘smart building’ is that technology is moving so quickly that it’s hard to stay ahead of what’s currently possible and what’s a few years away from being achievable (and affordable).
One person who has spent many years pursuing, and often setting, the definition of ‘intelligence’ in the built environment is Derek Clements-Croome, Emeritus Professor at Reading University and Visiting Professor at Queen Mary University London. His other roles include being the founder and editor of the Intelligent Buildings International Journal.
His latest book is Intelligent Buildings and Infrastructure with Sustainable and Social Values published in November 2024 . Now in its third edition, this publication pushes the boundaries of ‘intelligence’ beyond the walls of individual buildings to envision a future where spaces are not only technically advanced, but also intertwined with sustainability and social wellbeing.
The first important point the book makes for anyone who designs, operates and manages buildings is that there is a significant difference between a ‘smart’ building and an ‘intelligent’ one. Professor Clements-Croome notes that, in the context of buildings, there is an important distinction to be made.
A smart building can monitor, learn and respond to specific stimuli, for example equipment alarms or faults. It can react to individual inputs but can’t adapt overall operation to achieve broader objectives. An intelligent building, on the other hand, can do this by varying its state in response to changing situations and learning experiences. As the Professor writes: “We can conclude that an intelligent building has a higher level of expectancies than a smart one.”
While this may seem like an academic point, it has significant implications for what we might consider to be intelligent characteristics in a building. For example, we are seeing increasing coverage of the application of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in buildings. But according to Professor Clements-Croome, that technology “can enable the building to be smart rather than intelligent.”
He and his fellow authors view intelligence as far broader than building management systems. It encompasses building form, orientation, mass and choice of materials that allow a building to respond to changes in the environment in a more natural way. An intelligent building needs to adaptable and flexible not only in terms of changing demands in temperature or lighting, but also in meeting the needs of occupants for private workspaces or informal meetings.
To illustrate this with an example, the book highlights The Edge Olympic Building in Amsterdam. This office building completed in 2018, is noted for its ability to apply this level of data analytics and responsiveness at scale. The building's ‘awareness’ of patterns of use, even down to societal trends like children leaving school early on Wednesdays in the Netherlands, allows it to adjust its operations, such as turning off lighting and heating on entire floors, resulting in significant energy and resource savings. This ability to anticipate and adapt to a wide range of factors, optimizing for both occupant needs and overall sustainability, is what elevates The Edge from a merely "smart" building to a truly "intelligent" one
The books chapters have been contributed by 32 authors in the field of intelligent buildings, with the work supported by 11 companies including Aecom, Zaha Hadid Architects and JLL, and 8 universities from around the world. As a result, the publication covers a lot of ground –
from the challenge of delivering intelligent buildings in a siloed construction industry, to biomimetic architecture, the circular economy and productive workplaces. Many case studies illustrate how intelligent buildings are delivered and their benefits in operation.
It would be difficult to summarise such broad scope, however, there are some key features of intelligent buildings which stand out, and which should be of interest to anyone involved in the design, delivery and operation of buildings:
* Responsiveness and adaptability – These two words appear frequently throughout the book, with an emphasis on intelligence as the capability to respond to an ever-changing external and internal environment. Dynamic responsiveness ensures a building is not only energy efficient, but also supports occupant wellbeing and productivity.
* Sustainability – This is considered a core principle of the intelligent buildings but goes beyond simply achieving net zero carbon emissions. Instead, an intelligent building actively contributes to a more sustainable environment through energy efficiency and energy independence by generating a significant proportion of their energy needs. They should also integrate with the circular economy by repurposing materials and minimising waste.
* Human-centric design - While technology is a defining feature, it should always serve the needs of occupants. Intelligent buildings prioritise the well-being, comfort, and productivity of those who use them. This means supporting health and wellbeing, providing a seamless and intuitive experience for occupants and fostering social value.
* Data driven operation - Intelligent buildings leverage data and analytics to optimize performance and personalize user experiences. This includes real-time monitoring and data collection and predictive capabilities.
* Holistic integration - Intelligent buildings function as interconnected ecosystems, where all systems and components work in harmony.
The business case for intelligent buildings
Of course, the question that will be on the minds of anyone in the construction and property sectors is whether the market will pay for an ‘intelligent’ building.
If we consider the emphasis on sustainability in this publication’s view of intelligent buildings, then the answer would almost certainly be yes. Time and again, recent reports from the commercial office sector have highlighted the increased demand for sustainable office space. Developers and tenants with carbon reduction goals expect their buildings to meet these standards, and lenders are also driving the market with ‘green’ loans.
We have also seen significant growth in projects that update existing buildings to meet criteria such as BREEAM and NABERS – viewed as investments that add value to existing buildings.
The elements of intelligence that encompass technology, such as monitoring, data collection and analytics are also increasingly vital within the context of achieving energy efficient and low-carbon buildings. Consider the importance of accurate data collection for the recently-launched Net Zero Carbon Standard.
There is also a growing demand for ‘smart’ building technology (the building management systems element of an intelligent building). A recent report projects that the global smart building market will grow from US $117 billion in 2024 to US $568 billion by 2032. The main driver of this growth is around energy management, but also spotlights a growing interest in making buildings more interactive and user-friendly.
One chapter of the book has been contributed by Matthew Marson of JLL and William Readshaw of Arcadis. They highlight the business benefits of intelligent buildings, pointing out that these go beyond energy-savings and operational efficiencies. With the right approach, an intelligent building will enhance the productivity of occupants, optimise space use and reduce energy use. As they write: “Ultimately, embracing intelligent building technology can position buildings as strategic drivers of increased revenues and reduced costs.”
Conclusions
As the property and construction sectors tackle the challenge of how to make the best use of digital technologies and AI, this book provides insights into how technology, sustainability, occupant wellbeing and societal goals could be achieved in a single approach – the intelligent building. It also examines how the construction industry must evolve to achieve these objectives.
As Professor Clements-Croome noted at the book's launch in November 2024: "This book is about how a more humane construction industry is emerging which will balance function, human and social needs with those for a more sustainable world."
The Professor and the other expert contributors to Intelligent Buildings and Infrastructure with Sustainable and Social Values highlight a possible future for buildings that are resilient in the face of climate change and which contribute to a more sustainable future for all. For anyone who wants to consider what lies ahead for construction and property, this book provides an insightful and though-provoking read.
Intelligent Buildings and Infrastructure with Sustainable and Social Values (Third edition) is published by Emerald Publishing, ISBN 978-1-83549-819-4