SMaRT Building Technologies for HE: How, Why, Now?
Universities across the UK continue to grapple with their finances. Mounting competition for students, a decline in international student numbers and a cap on tuition fees are among the pressures. Add rising operational costs and it can be seen that the case to move forward with SMaRT building technology needs to be compelling.
Beyond financial, further barriers can include stakeholder buy-in, legacy systems and the constraints imposed by heritage and listed buildings. Aleksandra Dasala, SMaRT Consultant at NuXform, discusses some of the issues around SMaRT being encountered by universities.
Demonstrating ROI & Justifying Investment
ROI is a hot topic within the HE sector, as in others, and an important driver when it comes to securing stakeholder buy-in. So, it’s important to examine how financial and operational benefits can be quantified during the early planning phase.
This might be achieved via the capture of the types of cost savings and benefits outlined here:
Energy Efficiency: smart building technologies can reduce energy consumption by 10-30%, depending on the building and technology used.
Maintenance Cost Reduction: implementing predictive maintenance technologies can reduce operational costs by 15-25%, via extended equipment lifespans and downtime reduction.
Space Utilisation: space optimisation tools such as occupancy sensors and data analytics can enhance space utilisation by 15-20%, allowing universities to optimise room bookings and reduce unnecessary space.
Such metrics can be aligned with institutional goals towards attracting and retaining students by enhancing their user experience, creating efficiencies for staff and addressing sustainability targets, for example.
In terms of ROI, whilst this can be considered at both building and campus level, the impact of investment into SMaRT buildings becomes more evidence and maximised when implemented on a larger scale, across more than one buildling.
The dynamics of every setting varies and we are open to working closely with our clients to develop better ways to qualify savings and investment returns with some academic rigour.
Bringing Together Fragmented Initiatives & Siloed Solutions
The technology itself can present hurdles too. Universities often face challenges with fragmented initiatives and siloed digital solutions led by different faculties and research projects. These can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities and present a layer of complexity at the outset.
Centralising strategy coordination by integrating disparate initiatives under a unified approach is an important first step in this scenario. Consolidating pilot projects helps identify which opportunities can be prioritised and scaled and ensure that successful solutions can be deployed across an entire building, even campus-wide.
This integration also fosters interoperability across different systems and faculty initiatives, thereby maximising value and enabling data-driven decision-making.
It’s important to understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all. The approach from one university to another can and should vary. For some, the way forward may be for a detailed campus-wide SMaRT Strategy deployed in phases across the entire portfolio. In other instances, it’s advantageous to focus on pilot projects in a key building to showcase the benefits of SMaRT deployment on a small scale before expanding campus-wide.
Traditional M&E Design and legacy systems
Many universities also have existing M&E systems or long-standing partnerships with specific vendor systems. Both can impact the adoption of SMaRT solutions and limit future flexibility and integration potential.
We discourage vendor lock-in, advocating instead for systems with open protocols and automation that promotes vendor-neutral environments. Without being tied to a proprietary system, universities can integrate diverse sub-systems and ensure their digital infrastructure can evolve. Focusing on open protocols, it’s possible to ensure the future-proofing of an institution’s systems and allow for seamless integration of new technologies without costly redesigns.
Challenges with Infrastructure Deployment
With solutions comes infrastructure and the potential for challenges surrounding day 2 deployment, particularly in the higher education sector.
Many institutions have heritage buildings and must navigate the associated regulations that impose limitations on where and how physical infrastructure can be installed. This demands a technology strategy that focuses on flexibility and adaptability in respect of these constraints, as well as smooth integration without compromise on integrity or functionality. For example, we work closely with clients to address these challenges with the use of adaptive wireless networks and IoT solutions to minimise disruption and maximise flexibility.
Proactive infrastructure planning should therefore commence at the very start of a project if a comprehensive physical and digital foundation is to be put in place for future expansions. This can also mitigate against disruptive modifications down the line, such as tearing down ceilings or walls to install additional cabling.
Moving Forward with SMaRT
At NuXform, we work in partnership with institutions to create a documented vision for their SMaRT journey. We help establish clear and measurable deliverables so that organisations are able to realise the financial and operational benefits of SMaRT building technologies as quickly as possible.
To speak with our team about a project, get in touch at hello@nuxform.com
