Smarter by Design: The Next Chapter in Digital Buildings
Smart building ambitions are often set early in a project and then lost somewhere between design and handover. In this session, the Digital Building Council (DBC) shares highlights from 3 initiatives that look at where that value goes missing and how to keep it: Enhancing the RIBA Smart Overlay, BIM to Smart, and Healthy Buildings.
The speakers will discuss how smart building responsibilities can be embedded from the earliest project stages through to long-term operation, why building data is so often underused once a building is occupied, and how shared naming conventions, standards and well-governed AI tools can connect design models to live building systems.
The session will also address the less explored benefits of light, health and wellbeing, including how to specify technology that answers genuine operational questions rather than feed unused dashboards, and how healthier buildings can show a clear return on investment.
Session Speakers
As Development Director at zencontrol and Chairperson of the Digital Buildings Council, Jess works to promote collaboration, innovation and best practice across the smart buildings industry. With a background in commercial strategy, building controls and technology, Jess is passionate about turning the promise of smart buildings into practical outcomes for building owners, occupants and the environment. Through her work with the Digital Buildings Council, she aims to bring together perspectives from across the sector to explore how better data, governance, interoperability, standards and collaboration can support more sustainable, high-performing and people-focused buildings.
Brian is the director of Digital Services at Ethos Engineering and a founding member of the Digital Buildings Council. He is a seasoned digital transformation expert specialising in smart buildings, with a background in UX and digital innovation, he drives organisations to invest wisely in technology, aligning ICT strategies with business objectives to enhance operational efficiencies and user experiences. Championing AGILE methodologies, Brian leads multidisciplinary teams through complex projects, delivering innovative ecosystems for data-driven environments within the built environment. Brian leverages his wide range of experience to spearhead leading-edge Intelligent Buildings projects, contributing to Ethos' digital transformation and client-centric designs.
James Duncan is an Associate Director and Lead for Building Intelligence at Turner & Townsend. He works with commercial clients and the NHS New Hospital Programme to translate ambitions for smart buildings into practical requirements for building systems, data and operations. His work spans commercial real estate and healthcare, defining the use cases and value required before technology is selected or installed. He considers how intelligent buildings can support safer, healthier and more responsive environments for occupiers, patients, staff, visitors and operational teams, while improving day-to-day experience and adaptability over time.
