Smart tech drive for First Street office

Construction is due to start this year at Ask Real Estate’s No.9 First Street, which will have contactless technologies and other ‘smart’ systems installed following a tie-up with provider Smart Spaces.

Once complete, the Jon Matthews-designed building in Manchester city centre will deliver 260,766 sq ft of offices and 21,111 sq ft of retail across 10 floors.

As the master systems integrator, technology provider Smart Spaces will work with the project team throughout the building’s development, to connect systems such as heating, ventilation, lighting and energy metering to the property’s digital twin – a 3D interactive replica of the building, to provide a range of benefits. These include:

  • Touch-free access, lift, climate and lighting controls
  • Smart desk and meeting room booking
  • Seamless smart visitor management system
  • Real time occupancy with journey mapping
  • Predictive fault management
  • Real time energy footprint
  • Concierge, events and offers

The property management team will have access to the ‘digital twin’ through connected controls, enabling the team to simulate and effect changes in real-time via a web portal to make the building operate as efficiently as possible.

A community app has been developed to generate data about the building and how it is used, and drive occupier engagement through socialising, offers and events, and the creation of a sustainability strategy to help cut energy use across the building.

Occupiers will also be able to engage Smart Spaces to create their own branded app giving them control over their own workspace.

Smart Spaces has worked with other property companies such as Great Portland Estates in London, but No.9 First Street is its first project in Manchester and the wider North West.

The project manager for No.9 First Street is Chroma Consulting, the planning consultant is Deloitte, the structural engineer is Ramboll, M&E engineer is Cundall and landscaping architect is Planit-ie.

Ask’s managing director John Hughes said: “As First Street continues to expand and we work towards a start on site later this year, the commitment we have made in introducing Smart Space technology means that on completion, this building will be one of the smartest and most sustainable buildings outside London.”

Matthew O’Halloran, director of Smart Spaces, added: “Our technology can provide real estate solutions to enhance the efficiency of the building, while delivering a seamless user experience for occupiers to benefit all.”

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