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There are a number of factors behind the increasing demand for buildings that may be described as ‘intelligent’ and they reflect not only significant advances in technology but changing attitudes to work and the workplace.

4.2.1 What do people want?

Demand for intelligent buildings and intelligent office space has been driven by clients looking for energy savings, a need for increased worker productivity, and the expectation of a healthier work environment. Tenants want greater utility of floor space. They are factoring in the impact (cost) of restructuring space as the organization restructures to either match market demands or match new organizational forms that aid in establishing a competitive advantage.

The results of post occupancy research by Ahuja (1999) indicate that people want a greater influence on the environmental controls and spatial layout of the workplace.

Duffy (1998) indicates that this does not necessarily mean more complexity and greater control but rather that the processes that govern the effectiveness of the workplace be more intuitive. For the intelligent building, this has meant greater distribution of systems and hence a greater need for integration and intelligence, creating or demanding systems that are capable of managing the complexity and range of attributes effectively, without impacting on the functionality of the building or reducing the building’s capabilities.

4.2.2 What is an intelligent building?

Can an intelligent building be defined? It is not necessarily a hi-tech, multi-storey building; it may be a ‘motivational building’ or a ‘quality built environment’, or perhaps it is better described as a ‘sustainable building’. For the purpose of this discussion the term

‘intelligent building’ will be used and some possible definitions given. Hartkopf (1995) states that, in a general sense, an intelligent building could be described as:

A building which responds to the requirements of its occupants.

The implications of this statement are many and varied. Certainly a variety of views and explanations are possible, each correct in its own right and all incorporating aspects of other views.

The Intelligent Building Institute (IBI) adopted the following definition (GK Communications, 2001):

An intelligent building is one that provides a productive and cost-effective environment through the optimization of its four basic elements: systems, structures, services and management and the interrelationship between them. The only characteristic that all intelligent buildings have in common is a structure designed to accommodate change in a convenient, cost effective manner.

By contrast, the European Intelligent Building Group (EIBG, 2001) states:

An intelligent building creates an environment that allows organizations to achieve their business objectives and maximizes the effectiveness of its occupants while at the same time allowing efficient management of resources with minimum life-time costs.

Both definitions point toward similar conclusions but their approach (the effective means to create an environmentally sensitive and productive centre) is different.

Stubbings (1988) limits his definition to ‘a building which totally controls its own environment’. The implication here is that there is an overriding technical mastery of the building.

Lush (1987) takes another perspective focusing on a multi-dimensional view of spatial efficiency, allowing for the inclusion of extrinsic aspects of the building (exterior spaces), and melding them with its intrinsic fabric, functionality, layout and its degree of responsiveness:

An intelligent building would include a situation where the properties of the fabric vary according to the internal and external climates to provide the most efficient and user friendly operation in both energy and aesthetic terms.

4.2.3 Intelligent architecture

Kroner (1995) describes intelligent architecture as architecture that is responsive. That is, the architectural components of the building can be replaced and/or modified as the building’s use changes.

Buildings have become products of well-established practices and principles. Most do not challenge the status quo, being designed for the ebb and flow of marketability.

Investors, developers, architects, engineers, occupiers and the community all influence the supply and demand to varying degrees, influencing the design and specification of the building. Each group has a competing interest that depends on the form of value it seeks to extract from the development process. The identifiable aspects of these buildings are not limited to external appearance or internal fit-out but also include building environments, both internal and external.

Buildings cost money but only function can add value. Minimizing design costs and time has created an environment that is not conducive to adding value. The design of intelligent buildings has value enhancement at its core. To achieve added value, integrated design that enhances functional and physical effectiveness is needed.

4.2.4 Intelligent technology

The use of intelligent architecture in isolation cannot provide the interaction and integration that allows the building to respond to the requirements of its occupants and meet performance objectives. Intelligent technology is needed to complement the intelligent architecture already present. It is through the technology, now forming part of the building structure, that the building endowed with an actual architectural functionality is able to exploit its capabilities.

Traditionally, the engineer views the building from the perspective of structure and performance, while the architect is more concerned with function and aesthetics. Both professions are fluent in the language of building technology specific to their field, but tend to see themselves as co-existent rather than complementary. In essence, they often do not understand the linkages that exist between the parts they play in the process of building.

Co-existence creates a cycle of innovative filtering, whereby ideas are progressively discarded at each stage of the building’s development (Smith, 1999a). Innovative filtering tends to result in the construction of a sealed, inert structure, shrouded in an inert façade.

Inside this dormant shell is a mechanical juggernaut automating and sterilizing the space with an eye on the delivery of a cheaper, energy efficient environment that may be at odds with the health of its occupants. In this case there is no scope to add value to either the organization’s business activities or the building’s functionality.

Loftness (1995) defines intelligent technology as technology that encompasses the use and integration of building systems, architectural structures, office automation, and information technology, ‘plug ‘n’ play’ furniture systems, management practices and operational processes. Intelligent technology is founded on sophisticated communications systems enabling more adaptive technology or technical functionality. The focus of technology is now knowledge rather than control of the environment and the emphasis is on user interaction and integration (Smith, 1999b). In this way the intelligent technology

Table 4.1 Performance criteria for intelligent buildings

Performance criteria Technology

Spatial quality 䊉 a dynamic mix of space types and integrated circulation

䊉 switchable (clear to opaque) glass panelling, ergonomic and adaptive furniture

䊉 column free construction and shallow floor plates

䊉 movable partitioning co-ordinatedwith zoning grid modules Visual quality 䊉 ambient uplighting and adjustable perimeter lighting

䊉 natural light, interior shading and exterior shading devices

䊉 dynamic shading/light diffusing

䊉 fully adjustable desk-based task lighting

Building integrity 䊉 personal environmental monitoring – occupant control

䊉 superwiring – integrated relocatable power and IT cabling

䊉 floor-based relocatable infrastructures

䊉 universal cabling – to integrate voice and data

䊉 micro zoning Air quality 䊉 fresh air architecture

䊉 constant volume ventilation, displacement ventilation Acoustical quality 䊉 acoustic ceiling systems

䊉 white noise generators and sound masking Building management 䊉 integrated building management systems (IBMS)

䊉 facility management information systems (FMIS)

䊉 computer aided facilities management (CAFM) Thermal quality 䊉 displacement ventilation systems, mixed mode HVAC

䊉 chilled ceilings, in floor HVAC

䊉 passive heating and cooling, radiant cooling

䊉 floor diffusers and radiant façades

considers the business and social context and the technical performance required in the building. Performance of the building is a critical value-adding measure. Physical performance, functional performance and financial performance are criteria that need to be understood to drive building success.

4.2.5 Total building performance

Hartkopf (1995) asserts that total building performance is composed of six building performance factors: spatial quality, thermal quality, air quality, acoustic quality, visual quality and building integrity. Integrated building systems and energy effectiveness programs underscore this. Table 4.1 outlines the performance criteria for an intelligent building.