The company behind the internationally-recognised digital connectivity rating scheme for real estate, WiredScore, has launch a new certification for smart buildings. It aims to provide clarity, definition and measurement for the growing smart building industry.
SmartScore certification was developed in response to increasing demand for guidance around what ‘smart’ really means in relation to commercial buildings, and how it can and should be implemented. The certification provides credibility and certainty to an industry rapidly pursuing digital transformation.
By establishing a common standard for smart buildings, SmartScore provides a shared vision for the growing smart building market, which is forecast to be worth US$ 180.9 billion (€150.41 billon) by 2025. The SmartScore certification intends to be as complementary as possible, and WiredScore has been working with BREEAM, LEED, RESET and the WELL building standard to create alignment with their certifications.
For the past year, WiredScore has been conducting extensive work with the WiredScore Smart Council, comprising over 90 tenants, landlords and property professionals from around the world, to develop an intellectual framework for smart buildings. Together, they have helped define what a smart building is in relation to its outcomes delivering cost efficiency, enabling sustainability, creating an inspiring experience and staying future-proof.
Globally, 70 buildings in 7 countries from 44 landlords are already committed to the SmartScore certification. These landlords include Allianz Real Estate, Art-Invest Real Estate, AXA Investment Managers and Sefri-Cime, Battersea Power Station Development Company, Benson Elliot, Boston Global Investors, British Land, CA Immo, Carttera, CEG, Columbia Property Trust, Commerz Real, Covivio, Derwent London, Dream Office REIT, EDGE, Gecina, Great Portland Estates, Greystar Real Estate Partners, HFD Property Group, Immovalor Gestion, Ivanhoe Cambridge and Hines, KingSett Capital, Legal & General, M&G Real Estate & Nuveen Real Estate, McLaren, MOMENI Gruppe, Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing, JLL and Anchor Line Partners, Ponte Gadea, Quadrant, Quadrum Global, RedTree Capital, Royal London Asset Management, Rudin Management Company, SIGNA Real Estate, Skanska, Standard Life Aberdeen, The John Buck Company, U+I.
UK buildings committed to SmartScore certification include 1 Broadgate, 100 Liverpool Street, 11 Belgrave Road, 16 Dufours Place, 160 Old Street, 177 Bothwell Street, 20 Southwark Street, 22 Bishopsgate, 40 Leadenhall Street, 50 Finsbury Square, EDGE London Bridge, EQ, Globe Point, No.1 Knightsbridge, One Globe Square, One Newman Street, Plot AZ Nine Elms, Plot A1, Canada Water, Plot A2, Canada Water, The Adelphi, The Earnshaw, The Featherstone Building, Sixty Six City Road EC1, The Hickman, The Post Building, The WORKX, White Collar Factory, 1 Old Street Yard EC1, YY London.
The SmartScore certification launches at a critical time for the market when building owners and tenants need to work together to entice employees back into the office. Smart buildings will play a key role in creating more attractive, efficient and sustainable workplaces that allow individual productivity to flourish and where people can meet and collaborate.
Indeed, a new report from WiredScore Smart buildings. Our future is smart. explores how smart building technologies can support owners and tenants in creating workspaces that offer experiences that home working environments can’t match.
The importance of incorporating digital technology to exceed evolving expectations is affirmed by the four fifths of office workers (79%) who say they would like to work within a technologically advanced office, and three fifths (63%) who state that the ability to work in an office that is environmentally sustainable is very important to them.
William Newton, president and EMEA MD at WiredScore, says, “The real estate industry and the demands put on it by tenants have changed significantly over the last year. The only way that landlords can deliver the experiences and value that are now expected is to become smart.”
“But to do that without really knowing what smart means and how to demonstrate it is impossible. Our hope is that by introducing a definition and a certification by which to measure, landlords will be able to finally take advantage of the benefits that smart buildings offer themselves, their tenants and of course the environment.”
Stephen Lewis, managing director, HFD Property Group, comments, “HFD Group are committed to delivering exceptional office accommodation that exceeds our occupier client requirements. The provision of a fully digitally enabled and smart building is one of the ways we do that. SmartScore provides our occupiers with independent assurance of the smart building functionality that is available and moreover how that compares with other properties.”
“Smarter buildings are the future,” says Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation. Harnessing technology to drive innovation, productivity and growth will be crucial in ensuring the property sector meets its ambitious net-zero targets and will dramatically enhance the value tenants get from our buildings.
“SmartScore sets a standard for and defines what ‘smart’ means for buildings, and this will be important in driving further positive change and understanding among the wider industry and other stakeholders of our sector’s ambitions to better serve its customers and communities.”
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