Intelligent Buildings

Intelligent buildings, also known as integrated buildings, are

complex structure whose information networks, like nervous
systems, branch into all of their parts using state-of-the-art
computer technology. These systems often go beyond
automated lighting, shading, and HVAC configurations and
involve advanced, real-time controls of the building’s energy
efficiency, comfort levels, access, fire alarms, and other
elements.
 Taguig City, Philippines
Mind Museum Ed Calma
• The ventilation system, which includes solar-
assisted air conditioners in the museum
office, is connected to a Dedicated Outdoor
System (DOAS) which supplies fresh air to
the circulating air within the facility. These
are all regulated by a building Management
System (BMS) which maintains a cooling
comfort of 24C. A Variable Air Volume
(VAV) mechanism also regulates the air flow
from diffusers per area to maintain 24c
within the building.

• Solar panels supply part of the total energy

consumption of the facility.
 Taguig City, Philippines
Mind Museum Ed Calma
• Saves 22 percent more energy than an
ASHRAE (American Society of Heating,
Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers) compliant building due to its
efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-
conditioning and cooling) system. Its lighting
system is 95 percent LED, the most cost-
efficient and environment-friendly lighting
available today.
 Makati City, Philippines
Zuellig Building SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merill)

• First premium office tower in the Philippines

to be erected since 2000
• 33-story office tower, 3-story retail annex, 5-
story basement parking
• A smart building control system that utilizes
sensor controlled lighting systems in
combination with efficient HVAC systems
has helped to reduce the buildings overall
energy consumption by 15% when compared
to conventional office towers.
 Makati City, Philippines
Zuellig Building SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merill)

• POWER-SAVING LIGHTING

• A daylight dimming system relying on

photocells maintains the necessary lighting
levels in common spaces by reducing
electric lighting, based on the intensity of
daylight in the space.
• INDOOR AIR QUALITY

• CO2 sensors are placed in densely occupied

areas and return-air ducts to indicate the
number of occupants and the quality of
fresh air in the space.
 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Al Bahar Towers Aedas Architects

• Aedas Architects have designed a

responsive facade which takes cultural cues
from the “mashrabiya”, a traditional
Islamic lattice shading device.
• Using a parametric description for the
geometry of the actuated facade panels, the
team was able to simulate their operation in
response to sun exposure and changing
incidence angles during the different days
of the year.
• The system is powered by renewable
energy derived from photovoltaic panels.
• Each triangle is coated with micro
fiberglass and programmed to respond to
the movement of the sun as a way of
reducing solar gain and glare.
 Charlotte, North Carolina
Duke Energy Center TvsDesign

• 54 floor office building

• LIGHTING:
• Automatic daylight sensors and electronic dimming
controls allow the output of the light fixtures to be
adjusted based on the amount of available daylight.
• HEATING AND COOLING:
• The Duke Energy Center is equipped with a state-of-
the-art energy management system that utilizes
digital sensors instead of conventional thermostats.
Building temperatures can be adjusted within a range
prescribed by building operating specifications
 Charlotte, North Carolina
Duke Energy Center TvsDesign

• KEYS & LOCKS

• In an effort to enhance the security and fire safety of
the building occupants, building management has
developed a master keying system and policy. This
policy and system allows the tenant to have
mechanical security while simultaneously allowing
certain members of the building's maintenance,
security, management and cleaning staff to have
access to tenant premises in conformance with life
safety requirements and the terms of the lease.

• FIRE SAFETY
• Duke Energy Center is equipped with a fire alarm
system to detect potential fire emergencies. This
system monitors for smoke, sprinkler system
activation, alarms and other indications of fire.
 Charlotte, North Carolina
Duke Energy Center TvsDesign

• ELEVATORS
• The Duke Energy Center features Destination
Dispatch™, a new concept in elevator controls
designed to help occupants reach their destination
faster. Instead of pressing traditional up/down
buttons to call an elevator, passengers tell the system
where they want to go before they board the cab.
Knowing this information in advance, the system is
able to assign elevators to passengers with common
destinations.
 Amsterdam, Netherlands
The edge PLP Architects
• office building
• A day at the Edge in Amsterdam starts with
a smartphone app developed with the
building’s main tenant, consulting firm
Deloitte.

• The solar panels create more electricity

than the building uses.
• The super-efficient LED panels,
made by Philips specifically for the
Edge, require such a trickle of
electricity they can be powered using
the same cables that carry data for the
Internet. The panels are also packed
with sensors—motion, light,
temperature, humidity, infrared—
creating a “digital ceiling” that wires
the building like synapses in a brain.
(28,000 sensors)
 Amsterdam, Netherlands
The edge PLP Architects
• The southern wall is a checkerboard of
solar panels and windows. Thick load-
bearing concrete helps regulate heat, and
deeply recessed windows reduce the need
for shades, despite direct exposure to the
sun. The roof is also covered with panels.

• Workers at the Edge don’t have assigned

desks, lockers serve as home base for the
day.

• Deloitte(multi national professional

service) is collecting gigabytes of data on
how the Edge and its employees interact.
Central dashboards track everything from
energy use to when the coffee machines
need to be refilled. On days when fewer
employees are expected, an entire section
might even be shut down, cutting the costs
of heating, cooling, lighting, and cleaning.
 Amsterdam, Netherlands
The edge PLP Architects
• The building adapts to the users’
preferences for lighting and heating via a
mobile app, which also allows users to
locate their colleagues and find free desks.

• Garage entry is automated. A camera snaps

a photo of their license plate, matches it
with their employment record, and raises
the gate.

• RoboCop and the Vacuum

• This little robot comes out at night to
patrol the grounds. If an alarm goes
off, the camera-equipped automaton
can identify the culprit or let security
know it was a false alarm.
• For smarter cleaning, activity is
tracked by sensors built into light
panels, so at the end of the day, the
people and robots responsible for
cleaning can focus on the areas that
have been used most heavily that day.
 Amsterdam, Netherlands
The edge PLP Architects