Certifying Buildings Based on Their Digital Infrastructure
When asked about workspaces in a recent survey, most U.S. employees—81%—revealed frustration. Of that group, more than half say they’re envious of the technology available in other office properties and lack amenities like building-wide Wi-Fi, sensor-controlled lighting and climate control, and the ability to access space across a network of locations.
In the past, tenant conveniences focused on things like fitness centers, impressive lobbies, outdoor gathering areas and onsite food and beverage options. Today, however, their needs are changing. Tenants expect—and need—something more. Whether it’s a multifamily facility or commercial office space, a building’s digital infrastructure now matters more than almost any other perk.
Tenants searching for an office want seamless digital experiences throughout the space—whether they’re working at their desk, sitting in a conference room on a different floor, getting in the elevator or standing in line downstairs to get coffee from the café. Renters looking for living space want digital infrastructure that will allow them to work from home, stream entertainment, enjoy video calls with friends and family, and select from a range of internet service providers.
Historically, evaluating a commercial building’s technology capabilities has been difficult. Is the space capable of supporting smart tech? Will wireless connectivity be available from everywhere? Is the mobile coverage reliable? Until the lease was signed and tenants moved in, it was hard to verify things like secure and resilient connections, available internet service providers and mobile signal integrity.
In their search for commercial real estate, tenants now want information about a building’s technology capabilities at their fingertips before they even consider a space. For some, what a space offers in terms of Wi-Fi or digital infrastructure can make or break the decision to sign a lease. Developers are interested in this level of insight, too: They may base their investment decisions on a building’s technology capabilities.
A Growing Movement: Independent Technology Certification
To help tenants and developers identify spaces that align with their technology requirements, independent third parties like WiredScore are working to create global standards for technology in buildings.
These organizations add a layer of transparency to commercial real estate by assessing and certifying digital infrastructure in new and existing facilities. To do this, auditors and engineers conduct a survey of the property to highlight valuable features and pinpoint areas that need improvement.
For example, WiredScore evaluates a building’s digital infrastructure across five categories:
- Resilience, which analyzes how tenants will be protected from broadband disruption and unexpected downtime.
- Future readiness, which determines the capability of the building’s digital infrastructure to support new technology and serve the needs of tech-forward tenants.
- Mobility, which verifies wireless connectivity and access, as well as 5G capabilities.
- Choice of providers, which assesses the number of available high-speed fiber providers to choose from.
- User experience, which evaluates the building’s ability to offer a seamless digital experience from the parking garage to the apartment or office suite.
Once the audit is complete and necessary improvements to digital infrastructure have been made, buildings are granted a level of certification—Platinum, Gold, Silver or Certified—based on the quality of their wired and wireless infrastructure and their ability to meet tenants’ technological demands.
Is Your Building Ready for Technology Certification?
From Portland to New Brunswick, buildings across the United States and Canada—and around the world—are seeking out independent third-party technology assessments to evaluate their digital infrastructure.
For tenants, the benefits of these assessments are clear: As they consider commercial real estate options, they can make decisions based on a building’s digital infrastructure and connectivity capabilities. A simple online search reveals information about connectivity capabilities, wireless infrastructure, redundancy and backup equipment, and available internet service providers.
There’s clear value in the process for owners and developers, too. Third-party verification of their building’s digital-infrastructure resiliency can boost tenant attraction and retention, provide a basis for lease-rate increases and offer guidance on future investments.
Are you prepared for what’s ahead? In the not-so-distant future, tenants may even start to require certain third-party technology certifications in commercial lease requirements.
Belden’s team can help you meet increasing expectations for in-building wireless connectivity—and make sure your digital infrastructure will support the technology that tenants, owners and developers want.
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About the Author
With more than two decades of experience in wireless, wired and IoT technology and infrastructure, Steve Carroll joined Belden’s team as the global account director for service providers and 5G infrastructure in early 2021. He’s focused on helping customers build scalable business solutions that increase productivity and communication while minimizing risk.