NEW FRONTIERS:
Focusing on technology in
facilities engineering and design
By Russell Clarke and Greg Powell
Special to North Carolina Construction News
The continued infiltration of tech-
nology into our daily lives has
brought with it advanced capabili-
ties, new efficiencies and greater
connectivity on many different lev-
els. It has also brought headaches
along the way. This same dynamic
(of technology advances causing
heightened expectations and com-
plexity) is occurring in today’s facili-
ties and buildings industry—driving
the need for skilled technology-fo-
cused engineers to design, inte-
grate, maintain and maximize the
increasingly complex, integrated and
connected systems.

Technology design and system in-
tegration expertise is developing into
a prerequisite for engineering firms
focused on vertical buildings, allow-
ing firms with strong system integra-
tion skill sets and user-friendly
analytical tools to capture a growing
market need.

Key benefits accrue to those
firms that can extend their techno-
logical expertise and capabilities
across a broader range of the facility
project life cycle—spanning the up-
front design, systems integration
and ongoing technical service
needs. This depth of expertise posi-
tions the provider as the first call for
new projects, as well as the trusted
advisor for future facility needs.

What Is driving the change?
Simply put, today’s buildings are
more complex and sophisticated
than in the past, and people have
higher expectations from their build-
ings. No longer are well-functioning
HVAC systems, smart lighting,
strong Wi-Fi, video-enabled meeting
rooms and classrooms, and easy
controls things that building stake-
holders want—these are now things
4 — Winter 2018 — The North Carolina Construction News
they have come to expect. New
buildings are designed and built with
the latest technology systems, and
owners are retrofitting older building
stock with new technologies. These
systems have made significant
strides from those even five years
ago, and now stakeholders expect
them to interact and function seam-
lessly as one.

Analysts predict there will be over
25 billion connected things in use in
2020, a major increase from the 4.9
billion in 2015. Sensors and systems
are interacting to deliver optimal
temperature, air quality, lighting lev-
els and security. As these tradition-
ally separate systems are integrated
and controlled as one, the ability to
enable effective inter- action is more
critical than ever before.

Garry Montgomery, vice-president
and head of technology at Dynamix
Engineering, states, “It is also the
most rapidly changing building sys-
tem. Technology systems impact
workflow, efficiency, expectations,
safety, communication, connectivity



and so many other things.”
The skill set needed to design
and then blend multiple systems to
function as intended is most valu-
able. Without the proper integration
of open protocol systems, buildings
will remain stuck in decades past,
even despite having the most up-to-
date “smart” systems. Additionally,
engineering firms with a product-ag-
nostic stance and flexible capabili-
ties can best allow the integration to
take precedent over the product. Fa-
cility stakeholders can therefore
achieve the goal of smooth and
proper functionality—all without
being reliant on one brand name,
proprietary system or specialty ser-
vice provider.

Roles of service providers are
continuing to blend as facilities be-
come smarter and more connected.

The blending of these roles further
drives the need for someone that
can “make sense of it all” and bring
the many moving (and traditionally
independent roles) together to work
as one. No longer does only the fa-
cilities manager control the building.

The roles of HVAC service compa-
nies, electricians and facility service
providers are all evolving as well,
with each entity relying on data-
driven, connected systems. In many
cases, facility managers act as the
boots on the ground but don’t nec-
essarily know how to utilize the data
and analytics. Engineering firms with
these technology and analytical ca-
pabilities can help with both pro- ac-
tive and reactive systems
management and optimization.

These firms bring significant
value by analyzing systems data to
Exhibit 1. Top Energy Efficiency Measures
United States
Global 68%
Building controls improvements
55% 65%
Heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning improvements
62% Energy focused behavioral or
educational programs
64% 55%
61% Integration of fire/life safety systems
Centralized building operations center
Integration of security systems
Fire/life safety system improvements
Onsite renewable energy
49% 60%
41% 59%
45% 58%
46% 57%
48% Source: “2018 Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey. United States.” Johnson Controls. 2018.

Opportunity abounds
The market is demanding increased technology capabilities across all facility service
providers, but the landscape of skilled providers as well as the underlying talent base
remains fragmented. Firms that recognize, develop and prioritize expertise in the initial
design of technology systems, system integration and ongoing technical services are
likely to benefit significantly. Capitalizing on this opportunity has greatly benefited early
movers in the industry and may benefit many additional firms as technologies continue
to advance and become further embedded in today’s facilities.

plan for maintenance activities and
direct the boots on the ground to
correct problems as they arise. This
solution relies on technologically so-
phisticated engineers who can de-
sign, internalize and leverage
systems data through remote moni-
toring. As this capability becomes
more widespread, the value that
these outside providers bring to on-
site facility and IT managers will con-
tinue to grow.

What are the skill sets?
The ability to bring fully function-
ing systems, simplicity and action-
able insights to end users requires a
unique blend of skill sets. These skill
sets span the facility life cycle from
initial technology design to integra-
Best People
Best Practices ®
Details @phccnc.com
919.532.0522 Your Business can GROW – When you’re in the KNOW
The North Carolina Construction News — Winter 2018 — 5