Treetops Hospice in the Spotlight
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Treetops Hospice.
A Derbyshire hospice which uses smart building technology to create a comfortable space for children dealing with bereavement will take centre stage at a Derby conference next week.
Published
Thursday, 30 May 2024
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Infrastructure
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News
Treetops Hospice in the spotlight!
Treetops Hospice in Risley will be one of a wide range of topics for discussion when delegates gather for the Workplace Technology Conference, which takes place at the Chocolate Factory in Siddals Road on Thursday (June 6).
The event will look at the ways in which innovation is changing the world of commercial and public sector property with the keynote speaker, Andrew Hughes, set to address the audience about his work advising the NHS on using technology to improve patient outcomes.
Andrew is the founder and managing director of ANHH Consulting, which is based at Keele University and works with organisations across a variety of sectors on ways to make positive changes to behaviour and processes in order to achieve their aims.
There will also be a talk from conference organisers, Derby-based IT and smart technology firm Scenariio, whose technical director George Pritchard will discuss the company’s work inside Treetops’ new therapy centre for children who have experienced a bereavement.
The building was erected as part of the BBC Children In Need’s DIY: SOS last year and Scenariio fitted a host of devices, including human-centric LED lighting and movement sensors, which are all linked to a Smartengine device to provide a snapshot of how the building is operating and is being used by those inside.
Treetops will also have a stand at the event and delegates will be invited to make a donation – and enter a raffle – in order to raise money to help it carry out its work.
Rob Pritchard, managing director of Scenariio, said: “Smart technology is transforming the experience of both operating and working in commercial properties across a wide range of industries but the potential benefits for healthcare are huge because of the possible cost-savings and improvement of the user experience. Andrew has direct experience of introducing technology into the NHS, which studies show could save millions of pounds each year on energy bills and improve patient wellbeing by investing in smart technology. I’m sure his talk will be fascinating, while we’re also looking forward to talking about our work at Treetops, who we are also delighted to be supporting throughout the day.”
Other industry experts taking part in the event include Simone Vieira, who is director, systems engineering Europe for Commscope, a firm which supplies communications equipment such as broadband systems, cabling and network cabinets, and Tim Miscovich, chief commercial of smartengine wtec, whose products link so-called smart devices such as LED lights and wall switches.
There will also be three panel discussions during the day looking at the cost-savings of intelligent buildings, integrating technology into workspace design and the role of AI in the workplace.
Registration for the event is free, but attendees will be invited to make a donation to Treetops Hospice.
Workplace Conference - Tim Miscovich to Talk
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Workplace Conference - Tim Miscovich To Talk.
Tim Miscovich, the outspoken chief commercial officer of tech innovator wtec, will use his address at the forthcoming Workplace Technology Conference, which takes place in Derby on June 6, to explain where he thinks the UK is going wrong.
Published
Friday, 24 May 2024
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News & Insights
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A leading voice in the global smart building industry is set to fly to the UK and tell delegates at a Derby event how cost-cutting and tradition are keeping the country’s commercial properties “stuck in the Dark Ages”.
Tim’s firm manufacturers smartengine, a network-powered lighting and sensor technology which provides energy savings and sensor data such as electricity usage, air quality, temperature and room occupancy levels to the building’s management system to enable operators to get a snapshot of their space.
The company has worked in buildings operated by some of the world’s biggest best-known companies, including Google, Meta, Apple, PWC and Gymshark.
And it has also fitted its smart building technology within high-profile projects in New York City, including on the 61st floor of SL Green’s iconic ONE Vanderbilt building and Remy-Cointreau’s new NY HQ, at Rudin Management’s 3 Times Square.
Smart building technology has been widely adopted and understood in the USA, which has embraced its benefits including sustainability, cost-savings and extra comfort that it delivers for the building’s occupants.
By contrast, Tim says, the UK’s take-up of the technology has been disappointingly slow, which he says is due to cultural attitudes towards building methods, taking risks and spending.
He said: “Compared to the United States, I would say that when it comes to smart building technology the UK, and in many respects wider Europe, is, sadly, stuck in the Dark Ages. Linking the horizontal and vertical technologies of a building is now becoming a standard practice in the US and other parts of the world and we are increasingly working with smaller, less well-known firms that are investing in these technologies so they can have the most intelligent, sustainable and user-friendly space. Saving energy is at the heart of this. Some people think that because we drive around in big trucks in the States we’re free and easy when it comes to energy use in our buildings, but they couldn’t be more wrong, because reducing energy waste is good business and we’re all about doing things that make sense. The UK has made some strides, but it hasn’t got there yet with technology that has been readily available, for the last 10 years. I would equate it to the conversion from analogue to VoIP phones.”
Tim will also talk about one bright spot in the UK’s property landscape – Treetops Hospice in Risley, just eight miles away from where the conference is taking place.
The hospice is home to one of the UK healthcare sector’s most advanced buildings, a therapy centre for children who have experienced a bereavement, was erected as part of the BBC Children In Need’s DIY: SOS last year.
Among the hundreds of plasterers, carpenters and landscape gardeners who gave up their time to create the project was a team from Derby firm Scenariio, which fitted wtec’s smartengine technology which integrates with the BMS to provide real-time data on aspects such as energy optimisation, human-centric lighting and indoor air quality.
Tim said: “It’s a perfect example of how everything works together to make the building more energy efficient and comfortable for the people who use it and I’m looking forward to a visit when I’m in Derby.”
The one-day Workplace Conference is being held at Derby’s Chocolate Factory venue, which is downstairs from Scenariio’s offices in Siddals Road. The event will offer a blend of exhibits and trade stands as well as discussions from Tim and other industry experts looking at issues including how AI can help create intelligent buildings that can offer occupants a more tailored and individual user experience.
George Pritchard, technical director of Scenariio, said: “Tim is right at the cutting-edge of the smart building industry and we’re really looking forward to what he has to say. Although he pulls no punches, his comments on how the UK is falling behind when it comes to smart building technology will certainly get people thinking and, we hope, will help to shake up the industry.”
Registration for the event is free, but attendees will be invited to make a donation to Treetops Hospice. For more information and to book your place, visit https://www.workplacetechnology.io/
Our Latest New Recruits - Conor Taylor and Lee Taylor
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Our Latest New Recruits - Conor Taylor and Lee Taylor.
A Derby smart building and IT infrastructure firm has made two key appointments to help it meet a growing demand from firms looking to technology to help make their premises more energy efficient.
Published
Friday, 24th May 2024
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News & Insights
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News
Scenariio, based in Siddals Road, has recruited software engineer Conor Taylor and sales manager Lee Taylor as it responds to an industry-wide increase in awareness of how smart building innovations can save companies money and cut energy use, as well as boost workers’ wellbeing.
Innovations include daylight-harvesting LED lights, movement sensors and air quality monitors, all of which can be used to send data such as room occupancy figures, CO2 levels and electricity consumption to a central hub, giving operators a snapshot of how their building is performing.
Conor’s role will be to configure and set up these data systems on behalf of clients, while Lee will be using his 30 years of sales experience to seek out new customers in a wide range of industry sectors across the UK.
George Pritchard, technical director at Scenariio, said: “We’re delighted to have brought Conor and Lee on board at Scenariio at a time when there has been a real gear change in people’s understanding of smart building technology and awareness of the benefits it has for workers and operators alike.
“That understanding has led to an increase in inquiries, meaning that we are increasingly busy serving current and new customers. Lee and Conor have had to hit the ground running and they’ve already made positive contributions to the business in what is already looking like a busy year.”
Established in 2013, Scenariio has installed IT cabling and smart building technology at premises across the UK on behalf of well-known clients including Severn Trent Water, Tarmac, Derby College and Treetops Hospice.
On June 6 it will host its second Workplace Technology Conference at Derby’s popular Chocolate Factory venue, bringing representatives from a host of leading manufacturers and installers from across the UK and elsewhere for a day of exhibitions, talks and networking.
Catch up on the latest news as Lee and Conor step into their new roles at Scenariio, read the full article here.
Midlands Workplace Technology Conference Returns
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Midlands Workplace Technology Conference Returns.
The Workplace Technology Conference, which is being held in Derby on June 6, will offer a blend of exhibits, trade stands and leading industry speakers discussing the latest thinking and developments in intelligent solutions and innovations in building design, fit-outs and facilities management across a whole host of industries.
Published
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
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News & Insights
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News
The event is being organised by smart infrastructure equipment and IT firm Scenariio, which is one of the region’s leading firms offering intelligent tech for the workplace, in conjunction with a host of world-leading technology providers.
It is being held at the Chocolate Factory, home to Derby’s Bustler Marker street food event, and follows in the footsteps of a similar conference, which attracted attendees from across the UK and from further afield, including Germany and Holland, last year.
George Pritchard, technical director of Scenariio, said: “Last year’s event was a huge success and showed how much interest there is in technology that meets the demands of companies who’re looking to attract and retain talent while delivering on their carbon reduction targets. An American study showed that simply by monitoring and automating just three things, your HVAC system, lighting and window shading, companies can save up to 50% of their annual energy bill, while swapping traditional lightings with human centric LED lights can improve workers’ well-being. This smart building technology is accessible to everyone, while a new generation of smart building technology powered by artificial intelligence, which is now being developed at a tremendous pace. This will all be explored in what promises to be an exciting conference, which is why we hope that as many building operators, architects, developers and landlords will come along to find out more.”
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Scenariio will also be talking about its recent installation at Treetops Hospice’s Children’s Counselling and Therapy Centre, where it installed a host of LED daylight-harvesting lights and sensors as part of last year’s BBC Children in Need’s DIY: SOS Big Build.
Registration for the event is free, but attendees will be invited to make a donation to Treetops Hospice. For more information and to book your place, visit https://www.workplacetechnology.io/
Global Smart Building Expert Praise Scenariio
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Global Smart Building Expert Praise Scenariio.
An award-winning world authority on smart building technology has praised a Derby IT firm after it brought companies together to discuss how innovation, design and data will revolutionise the workplace.
Published
Tuesday, 26 September 2023
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News & Insights
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News
Matthew Marson, an international speaker at events relating to emerging technology and net-zero design in the built environment, said a conference hosted by city smart building firm Scenariio last week will help raise awareness of the work being done to solve UK business’s most pressing issues.
The event, which was called the Workplace Technology Conference and took place at the Chocolate Factory – home to the Bustler Market – in Siddals Road, attracted delegates from more than 100 firms and organisations keen to explore how innovations making the workplace safer and more people- and eco-friendly.
They included circadian lighting – which is designed to mirror the different shades and intensity of daylight as it changes through the day – movement sensors, cameras, air quality monitors and a host of data-gathering devices linked to the Internet of Things and powered via ethernet cables.
It also featured talks and round table discussions tackling issues such as bringing people back into the workplace, achieving sustainability targets and, in Matthew’s case, looking at how AI technology can create a human-focussed buildings with individual personalities of their own.
Matthew, who works with a host of blue-chip clients and was last year crowned the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Young Engineer of the Year, gave two keynote speeches during the day and welcome the chance to share his thoughts and meet other delegates working in the smart building industry.
He said: “We are struggling to articulate the message when it comes to talking about the benefits of smart building technology so it’s good that Scenariio has brought the industry together to discuss the issues facing companies and what they might be able to do about them. Everybody know about the 2050 net-zero target and there is certainly a will to make a difference, however COVID has badly affected people’s confidence in our ability to achieve it and there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty about whether or not to invest in the technology that can help us do so. Conferences like this can certainly help with that and it’s been refreshing to attend an event that’s been held outside London. I’ve really enjoyed being here and I really love the venue!”
Attendees included landlords, architects, fit-out experts and tech firms
Among the firms represented at the event were Smartengine wtec, UKI CommScope, engineering consultants Cundall, Cisco Meraki, Nottingham Trent University, ISS and fit-out and refurbishment specialists Overbury.
Topics discussed on the stage, meanwhile, included how companies should now be looking providing a range of different working environments, including video call booths and smaller meeting rooms, how face recognition software will replace the plastic ID card and even how modern noise-cancelling speakers can omit the sound of a dog barking in the same room for people who are working at home.
Rob Pritchard, managing director of Scenariio, said: “We’re extremely pleased with how our first-ever Workplace Technology Conference has brought together such a diverse range of companies to showcase the very latest innovations and thinking in our industry. Although we specialise in installing smart building technology, today is a reminder that we operate in just one corner of a growing and multi-faceted industry which is already having a huge effect on changing the way our workplaces look and function. COVID has had a massive effect on employers and employees alike and it’s also been fascinating to learn about the changes it has brought about while showcasing the Chocolate Factory, which is a perfect example of a venue which has benefitted from smart tech.”
Established in 2013, Scenariio has installed smart building technology, including intelligent lighting, integrated and supplementary sensor networks and audio-visual systems, at premises across the UK.
Its clients include Gymshark, Severn Trent Water and Tarmac, as well as, closer to home, Derby College, LKAB and the popular Bustler Market street food venues in Derby and Nottingham.
Creating a "Destination" Premise to Lure Staff Back
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Creating a "Destination" Premise to Lure Staff Back.
Companies are transforming their premises into “destinations” using technology and human-centric design in a bid to attract people back into the workplace, according to a Midlands property refit expert.
Published
Thursday, 14th September 2023
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News & Insights
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Penny Mitchell, from UK fit-out and refurbishment specialists Overbury, says high-tech devices such as movement sensors, human-centric LED lighting and flat screen displays are increasingly in demand from clients as they look to bring staff back into the office following COVID.
Penny is one of a number of industry experts who have been lined up to take part in a Workplace Technology Conference, which will be hosted by Derby smart building firm Scenariio and held at the Chocolate Factory, in Siddals Road, on September 21. She will be taking part in a round table event looking at how technology can help reverse the working-from-home trend at the conference, which is free and aimed at property owners, architects, landlords and developers.
Overbury is one of the country’s foremost fit-out and refurbishment companies and its previous projects include a refurbishment project for the European Bank for Reconstruction in London’s Canary Wharf and the Victorian Citadel building in Corporation Street, Birmingham. It also recently won the contract to complete Nottingham City Council’s new Central Library, which is part of the new Broad Marsh car park and bus station complex.
Scenariio’s conference, which will explore a wide range of technology including sensors, LED lighting and AV equipment, comes in the wake of news that US video conferencing giant Zoom – whose technology made remote working possible during lockdown – was struggling to get its staff to return to the workplace.
They are far from the only ones, says Penny, who is a business development manager at Overbury’s Central office, based at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham.
She said:
“Technology matters to our clients because, post-COVID, they’re trying to make their offices a destination in order to get everybody working back in the office.
“Smart building technology can help them achieve that because it can give staff the experience they have at home. If premises don’t have the ability to set up their laptop anywhere, for example, or the air quality isn’t good enough, they won’t return.
“Technology can also help companies monitor their energy usage to ensure they meet their sustainability targets but it can’t just be retro-fitted.
“Companies need to put workplace technology at the heart of their thinking at the design creation stage, which is why an event such as this conference, which raises awareness of what’s out there, is so useful to our industry.”
Among the other experts who have agreed to take part in the event are Adrian Hayes, sales director of UKI Commscope, Alex Klein, managing director of smartengine wtec, Daniel Floyd, principal engineer at engineering consultants Cundall, and Dee Panchall, IOT specialist at Cisco Meraki.
Rob Pritchard, managing director of Scenariio, said:
“Penny is just one of a long list of extremely well-regarded professionals we’ve invited to take part in what’s shaping up to be a fascinating and well-attended event.
“It will showcase the very latest thinking and equipment to enable anybody who is involved in upgrading premises or relocations to understand what is available to help them achieve their plans.”
Established in 2013, Scenariio has installed smart building technology, including intelligent lighting, integrated and supplementary sensor networks and audio-visual systems, at premises across the UK.
Its clients include Gymshark, Severn Trent Water and Tarmac, as well as, closer to home, Derby College and the popular Bustler Market street food venues in Derby and Nottingham.
The event starts at 10am and will be followed at 5pm by an evening at Bustler Market, including karaoke, arcade games and a silent disco. For more information and to book your place visit https://www.workplacetechnology.io/
Scenariio Helps Street Food Business Growth
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Scenariio Helps Street Food Business Growth.
Street food venue Bustler, based in in Avenue E at Sneinton Market, says it plans to add more equipment to its existing IT monitoring system, which transmits up-to-the-date operating data such as ambient temperature, air quality, light levels and numbers of people on site.
Published
Wednesday, 31st May 2023
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News & Insights
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The company has operated its current outlet since October 2022 and is now expanding into a second unit next door, which will feature permanent kitchen space for three independent operators as well as an intimate espresso and wine bar.
Ever since Bustler was established in Derby in 2013, it has pioneered the use of smart building technology in conjunction with fellow Derby IT firm Scenariio, with which it was recently shortlisted in the Best Use of Technology category of the Restaurant Marketer and Innovator Awards earlier this year.
Both of Bustler’s Nottingham and Derby venues are bristling with human movement sensors, intelligent lighting systems, temperature monitors and CCTV cameras to give its operators an instant snapshot of what’s going on inside the venue at any one time.
It means that, just by looking at their phone, they know how many people are in the venue at one time, whether it is too cold or too hot and what the most popular areas within the venue are.
The lighting is also automatically adjusted to dim or switch off lights in areas that are not in use, or increased throughout the evening as the daylight outside fades.
Olivia Pritchard, managing director of Bustler, says the equipment helps her and her team to run a tight ship at both venues, adding that the lessons learned from the data in Derby has influenced the design and lay-out of Nottingham.
She said: “Running a venue like ours is a complex business and the data we receive from the technology is genuinely useful, not least because we don’t need a member of staff with a clicker on the door to monitor how many people are inside.
“That’s an instant saving, while it also ensures that no lights get left on overnight, so we save on energy as well. We will be installing mainly CCTV in the second phase but there is no doubt that the operational data from Derby and Nottingham has helped us to imagine the new space and will help us when it’s up and running.”
Scenariio’s technology is increasingly in demand from companies looking to use smart technology to help reduce operating costs and former clients include Gymshark, Severn Trent Water and Tarmac.
Tom Erskine, the company’s business development manager, said: “The hospitality sector is undergoing big operating challenges at the moment and although the equipment we supply does require an investment, it pays dividends in the long run.
“Bustler is definitely one of our success stories. Olivia and her team have been able to use the technology to save money and energy and to really understand their venues and how they are used from their customers’ point of view.”
Scenariio joins the PoE Consortium
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Scenariio Joins the PoE Consortium.
UK firms could be wasting thousands of pounds on electrical installation costs because they are unaware of the full range of capabilities of ethernet cables.
Published
Thursday, 20th April 2023
Category
IT Infrastructure
TAGS
POE Lighting, Smart lighting, Workspace analytics, Sustainability
As a country, the UK has fallen behind other nations in its understanding of how the cables can be used to a greater extent by carrying electricity as well as data to devices with increased power demands such as LED lights, security cameras, AV and monitors.
Earlier this year we became only the second UK firm to join the Power over Ethernet Consortium, a global industry trade group set up last year to promote PoE.
Its aim is to advance PoE education, advocacy and to share best practice so that more counties can learn about the ways in which it can save them money and reduce their carbon footprint.
PoE has been used for years to power telephones and laptops and is increasingly being used in smart building schemes to enable owners and operators to monitor and control heating, lighting and security via devices linked to the internet.
It saves money because there is no longer a need for a separate power source to each device, meaning there is no need to employ an electrician, no need for extra wiring, no need for safety approval and no need to modify building plans.
The likelihood of an LED light failure is also reduced as drivers – the component at the back of the bulb which regulates the power – are removed and now sit in a centrally accessible comms room, improving the longevity of the LED and making it easier to replace light fixtures.
The use of PoE technology is fast-growing, especially in the USA and other countries around the world including India, Germany, Mexico and the Middle East.
However, Rob Pritchard, our managing director, says while the rest of the world is waking up to its benefits – and despite the RJ45 plug found on the end of each PoE cable being a globally accepted power supply – the UK is lagging behind.
He said: “It is accepted that a traditional telephone cable provides electricity for the telephone as well as carrying the signal, and this same cable can power a number of devices at the same time, including LED lights, sensors and security cameras, without a separate AC supply.
“Installing only one type of cable on one infrastructure network from a central comms room reduces complexity and opportunities for issues. This makes it much more flexible and cost-effective and saves significantly on installation and cabling, but for some reason the take-up is still relatively low in the UK.
“We want to change that, which is why we’ve joined the PoE Consortium. It’s still early days but there are some major names involved and we’re very pleased to be lining up alongside them.
“In the low-carbon, post-lockdown world, smart buildings are the future and if UK companies are to deliver the cost savings and sustainability strategies they’re being required to achieve, then innovations such as power over ethernet is vital to their chances of doing so.”
Established in 2013, we have installed smart building technology, including intelligent lighting, integrated and supplementary sensor networks, and audio-visual systems, at premises across the UK, helping its customers reduce their carbon footprint, lower operational costs and create a working environment that boosts productivity and well-being.
Our clients include Gymshark, Severn Trent Water and Tarmac, as well as, closer to home, Derby College and the Chocolate Factory, home to the popular Bustler Market street food event.
FAQ
The consortium brings together manufacturers, consultants and integrators to shape how PoE is deployed globally. This includes developing guidance, sharing real-world use cases and helping align the market around consistent standards and approaches.
Key considerations include network capacity, power requirements and how existing infrastructure can be adapted. Early planning is important to ensure the network can support both data and power delivery at scale across multiple building systems.
PoE enables a shift towards a more IT-led infrastructure. Instead of separate systems for power and data, organisations can manage devices through a single network, making spaces easier to reconfigure and systems easier to maintain.
Beyond installation savings, PoE can reduce maintenance complexity, improve system visibility and support quicker fault resolution. Centralising components such as drivers also simplifies upgrades and ongoing management.
PoE is moving beyond low-power devices into wider building applications as standards improve. This will support more use cases across smart buildings, helping organisations create more connected, data-driven and energy-efficient environments.
Lighting the Way to a Sustainable Future
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Here + Now: smart lighting integration for a BREEAM Outstanding building.
Helping a landmark Reading office development meet its sustainability ambitions.
Published
Tuesday, 4th April 2023
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News & Insights
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News
Here + Now is a major office refurbishment at Thames Valley Park in Reading, created from two former Microsoft buildings into a design-led workplace campus focused on sustainability, wellbeing and long-term performance.
The development set a high benchmark for sustainable commercial office space. With 145,000 sq ft of workspace, net zero carbon credentials and a BREEAM Outstanding rating, Here + Now was designed to support the expectations of modern occupiers while helping the building operate more efficiently.
Scenariio was appointed to support the project through intelligent lighting integration, recommissioning and ongoing support. The result was a low-energy smart lighting system that retained much of the existing infrastructure, reduced waste and gave occupiers greater control over how their spaces are used.
Customer profile: BREEAM Outstanding commercial office campus.
Here + Now is a high-profile office campus in Reading, developed to attract occupiers looking for flexible workspace with strong sustainability, ESG and wellbeing credentials.
The project brought together BauMont Real Estate Capital and V7, with Overbury delivering the office fit-out and design works. The wider refurbishment focused on optimising existing buildings rather than starting again, helping reduce unnecessary waste while creating a workplace designed around people, performance and environmental responsibility.
The campus includes modern workplace amenities, indoor and outdoor fitness areas, cafés and external working spaces, all designed to support tenant experience and long-term occupier appeal.
The challenge: improving building performance while reducing waste.
The project required a lighting system that could support the development’s BREEAM Outstanding ambitions without unnecessary replacement of existing equipment.
For landlords, developers and facilities teams, this is one of the most practical challenges in sustainable refurbishment. A building may already have valuable infrastructure in place, but it needs to be recommissioned, upgraded and integrated so it can support modern workplace expectations.
At Here + Now, the existing intelligent lighting system needed to be brought back into effective use, upgraded with new software and adapted around the redesigned office environment. It also needed to support future tenant requirements, including feature lighting, daylight dimming, remote access and centralised monitoring.
The challenge was not simply to install new lighting. It was to help turn existing lighting infrastructure into a smarter, lower-energy system that supported the building’s sustainability strategy.
The solution: intelligent lighting integration for a smart building.
Scenariio recommissioned the existing intelligent lighting system and upgraded its software as part of the wider refurbishment works.
The team repositioned existing light fittings, replaced emergency lighting and helped bring the system back into operation quickly. This approach reduced the need for unnecessary replacement, helping minimise waste while supporting the project’s environmental goals.
Across the scheme, around 1,000 lights were connected using low voltage ethernet wiring. Each light had a sensor attached, with 23 smartengines supporting the system across 45,000 sq ft of the development.
When new tenants moved into the Now building, Scenariio returned to extend the system further. Remote gateways were installed to allow feature lighting and intelligent lighting to be integrated, including daylight dimming and dashboard-based monitoring.
Further gateways were later added so staff could control feature lighting in different parts of the office through the dashboard. This gave occupiers a more flexible, responsive system while giving building teams greater visibility across the lighting environment.
Smart lighting designed around BREEAM performance.
BREEAM certification assesses the sustainability of buildings across areas including energy, water, waste and transport. For smart buildings, lighting has a practical role to play because it affects energy use, user comfort, operational control and the ability to manage spaces more efficiently.
At Here + Now, Scenariio’s lighting integration supported these priorities by:
- Reducing waste through recommissioning and reuse of existing lighting infrastructure.
- Supporting lower energy use through intelligent lighting controls and daylight dimming.
- Improving visibility through dashboard-based monitoring.
- Enabling greater control for tenants and facilities teams.
- Creating a scalable foundation for future smart building technologies.
The system was designed so the building could evolve over time. Although the lighting continued to use some original hardware, the infrastructure was left with capacity for future additions such as indoor air quality sensors and Bluetooth beacons.
The outcome: a smarter, lower-energy workplace.
Scenariio helped Here + Now transform its lighting from legacy infrastructure into a smart building system aligned with the goals of a BREEAM Outstanding commercial office development.
The work supported the wider sustainability strategy by reducing waste, making better use of existing equipment and improving control across the building. It also helped create a more flexible environment for occupiers, with lighting that could adapt to different spaces, working patterns and tenant requirements.
For landlords and facilities teams, the project shows how intelligent lighting integration can support BREEAM certified buildings without a full rip-out and replacement approach. With the right recommissioning, controls and dashboard integration, existing lighting can become part of a smarter, more sustainable building strategy.
Project highlights.
Client: Here + Now, Thames Valley Park, Reading
Sector: Commercial office refurbishment
Building standard: BREEAM Outstanding
Project focus: Smart lighting integration, recommissioning and energy efficiency
Workspace: 145,000 sq ft campus
Lighting scope: Around 1,000 lights across 45,000 sq ft
Technology: Low voltage ethernet wiring, sensors, smart engines, remote gateways, daylight dimming and dashboard monitoring
Scenariio role: Recommissioning, software upgrade, integration, minor works, maintenance and support
Why sustainable buildings certifications like BREEAM are increasingly important?
For commercial landlords, property owners and facilities teams, BREEAM certification is increasingly linked to asset value, occupier expectations and ESG performance.
Here + Now demonstrates how smart lighting can support those goals in a practical way. By recommissioning and integrating existing lighting infrastructure, Scenariio helped reduce waste, improve control and create a scalable platform for future smart building technologies.
The result is a lower-energy lighting environment that supports both sustainability targets and everyday building operation.
The whole scheme comprised around 1,000 lights, each one powered via low voltage ethernet wiring and each with a sensor attached, and 23 smart engines, with the total area covered by the installation measuring 45,000 sq ft.
With staff demanding flexible working and energy prices affecting companies’ profits, intelligent low energy lighting systems are increasingly in demand by landlords and facilities managers, while the BREEAM rating incentivises property owners to install the kind of high-tech equipment that Scenariio offers.
George Pritchard, technical director at Scenariio, said: “The Here + Now development is one of the most high-profile projects in the Thames Valley and we are very pleased to have got involved.
“V7 has huge plans for the development and at the heart of its campaign is promoting sustainability, combined with a focus on optimising employee health and wellbeing in order to attract and retain talent.
“We minimised waste by not ripping out and replacing the original lighting and the system was quick and easy to recommission, so everything was operational ahead of schedule.
“We’ve helped create a smart building which achieves both of V7’s objectives, but the lighting is just the start. Although everything is running on some of the original hardware, there are no power limitations, so we can add indoor air quality sensors and Bluetooth beacons with just small additions of kit.”
Established in 2013, Scenariio has previously carried out work on behalf of Gymshark, Severn Trent Water, Tarmac, LKAB, Mondelez and Carlsberg Group, among others.
The article was originally published on 4th April 2023 and updated on 24/06/2026.
FAQs: BREEAM smart buildings and intelligent lighting
Smart lighting can support a BREEAM certified building by helping reduce energy demand, improve control and make spaces easier to manage. Features such as daylight dimming, sensors and dashboard monitoring give facilities teams better visibility over lighting performance, while helping occupiers create a more responsive and efficient workplace.
Yes. In many refurbishment projects, existing intelligent lighting infrastructure can be recommissioned, upgraded and integrated rather than fully replaced. This approach can help reduce waste, support sustainability targets and improve building performance without a full rip-out. At Here + Now, Scenariio reused and upgraded much of the existing lighting system as part of the wider refurbishment.
Daylight dimming helps reduce unnecessary energy use by adjusting artificial lighting in response to natural light levels. In commercial buildings, this can support lower energy consumption while maintaining a comfortable working environment. It is especially useful in modern offices where lighting needs to adapt throughout the day.
Lighting dashboards give facilities teams a clearer view of how lighting is operating across a building. They can support easier monitoring, more responsive control and better day-to-day management of different spaces. At Here + Now, dashboard-based monitoring allowed intelligent lighting and feature lighting to be controlled more effectively across tenant areas.
Yes. Smart lighting infrastructure can provide a foundation for wider building technology integration. Once a building has connected lighting, sensors and gateways in place, it can become easier to add other technologies such as indoor air quality sensors, occupancy monitoring and Bluetooth beacons, depending on the system design and building requirements.
Intelligent lighting can help commercial landlords improve energy efficiency, reduce operational waste and create a more attractive workplace for occupiers. For tenants, it supports comfort, flexibility and control. For landlords and facilities teams, it provides a practical route to better building performance and stronger ESG credentials.
Scenariio helps property owners, facilities teams and contractors integrate smart building technology in a practical, scalable way. This can include intelligent lighting, sensors, dashboards, gateways, network infrastructure and ongoing support. For BREEAM focused projects, Scenariio can help align building technology with energy efficiency, operational performance and long-term sustainability goals.