Few issues are impacting the business actual property (CRE) trade as a lot because the inflow of recent technological advances. At seemingly warp pace, tech is revealing new horizons of alternative within the improvement, building and administration of CRE.
“Most of our capital expenditures emphasize new applied sciences and practices that both improve the tenant expertise, scale back using vitality and water, or assist reduce waste. We regularly discover that the measures accomplish a mixture of these targets,” mentioned David Jenkins, senior vice chairman for capital challenge administration at KBS. “From the set up of sensors that may instantly detect pricey water leaks to the doable deployment of safety robots, we at KBS are frequently looking for out constructing improvements that improve our already amenity-rich properties.”
Electrical Car Charging Enlargement
Tesla has performed a significant function in creating one of the vital expansive charging networks within the nation. It’s a community that can assist help some 577,000 EVs offered within the first half of 2023 alone — a year-over-year enhance of 47% based on Cox Automotive.
Now that Tesla is opening up its community to extra automakers, resembling Ford and GM, it’s rising because the common connector for all electrical car charging.
EV chargers aren’t new to KBS. The corporate started putting in them at its properties greater than a decade in the past, with the newest set up of 12 EV charging stations at Financial institution of America Tower, a 300,000-square-foot mixed-use property that includes 10 ranges of workplace house above seven ranges of structured parking and lively first-floor restaurant house, in addition to 42 charging stations at Park Central Flats, a 286-unit multifamily improvement with 34,226 sq. ft of ground-floor retail house. Each best-in-class properties are located in prime areas inside Raleigh, North Carolina.
The rollout was so successful that the corporate is contemplating plans to proceed the well-received enterprise nationwide.
“The set up of EV charging stations at these property aligns with KBS’ dedication towards decreasing our carbon footprint every year,” mentioned Allen Aldridge, asset supervisor for every property and senior vice chairman, acquisitions/co-director of asset administration for KBS. “Financial institution of America Tower, situated in a distinguished North Hills web site, is a LEED Gold-certified, ENERGY STAR-rated constructing that has achieved the UL Verified Wholesome Constructing Mark for Indoor Air. This property and Park Central Flats are situated near transportation, purchasing, eating and leisure choices. Designed with useful resource conservation in thoughts, each buildings are ideally suited to be among the many first KBS properties to take part on this forward-thinking amenity.”
Electrical Shuttle Extends Atlanta Tenants’ Entry to Buying and Leisure
Situated within the coronary heart of Atlantic Station, KBS’ 201 seventeenth Road constructing was already inside strolling distance of close by eating places, retailers, a health heart and leisure venues. However with the latest introduction of KBS’ new all–electrical shuttle, tenants can now get a free journey from the property to extra native facilities.
Christened the “Electrical Shuttle Flyer,” it’s the primary of its sort within the space. Accessible from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the shuttle is especially helpful for lunch and dinner excursions, and shuttle service will be scheduled as early as 24 hours prematurely via the constructing’s app.
“Ours is the primary workplace constructing in Atlanta to supply a free shuttle service to its tenants,” mentioned Bryanna (Hollis) Roberson, assistant property supervisor of Cushman & Wakefield. “Our tenants are consistently on the transfer, and the Electrical Shuttle Flyer has grow to be a direct crowd-pleaser that’s straightforward to entry and environmentally pleasant.”
Exploring Robotic Safety Options
TV reveals like “The Jetsons” and movies like “A.I. Synthetic Intelligence,” “WALL-E” and “Star Wars” have given audiences an imaginative glimpse on the potentialities of what an AI-driven mechanism may sometime really grow to be. Whereas in actual life we haven’t but seen the likes of Haley Joel Osment’s David, not to mention the Jetsons’ robotic housekeeper, Rosie, know-how is marching exponentially nearer to creating it a actuality.
Right this moment, robots have taken on a variety of duties serving humankind, together with upkeep, meals deliveries and even canine strolling. With a watch on new applied sciences, KBS has been exploring using safety robots to patrol and enhance security measures at its buildings and property.
“As a result of the protection, safety and well-being of those that occupy and go to our properties are of the utmost significance at KBS, we’re consistently researching methods to reinforce measures already in place,” mentioned Jenkins, “just like the high-definition surveillance cameras we’ve put in for a larger degree of scope and readability — to not point out the chances unfolding within the discipline of robotics.”
Knightscope, a complicated public security know-how firm, was among the many suppliers KBS not too long ago thought-about. Primarily based in Silicon Valley, Knightscope builds autonomous robots that present safety, collect information and ship actionable intelligence.
Knightscope’s K5 robotic gathers info whereas “on patrol,” then passes alongside dwell footage through its slew of built-in cameras and sensors.
House enchancment retailer Lowe’s has launched a number of pilot packages involving the Knightscope robotic, which isn’t armed however is provided with options like thermal anomaly detection and ramp accessibility to spice up surveillance inside its space of operation.
A Breath of “Good” Recent Air
KBS has applied a number of technological measures inside qualifying workplace buildings to assist guarantee cleaner air.
First, it has upgraded air filters to MERV 13 (minimal effectivity reporting worth) score, which blocks 98% of pollution and captures viruses, micro organism, pollen, superb mud and extra. For perspective, most workplace heating, air flow and air con (HVAC) programs have a score of solely MERV 8.
Ultraviolet Units, Inc. (UVDI)-recommended filtration for HVAC service has additionally been employed in lots of workplace amenity areas, resembling lobbies, health and convention facilities and low bars. Based on the CDC, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is without doubt one of the handiest applied sciences to attenuate the unfold of dangerous airborne microorganisms.
“UVDI is our most popular software as a result of it’s suited to bigger HVAC models. We’re capable of seize a big filtration of air, which may eradicate viruses, resembling COVID-19,” mentioned Jenkins. “It takes the air and recycles it via a filter within the room but additionally runs it throughout a UV mild, which principally removes all types of viruses, molds and carcinogens.”
KBS can also be putting in sensors that assist HVAC programs preserve KBS’ buildings at an indoor humidity degree between 30 and 70% — an optimum vary based on tips established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Serving to Buildings Come to Their Senses
Getting advance warning of an issue makes a world of distinction when the stakes can show harmful, damaging and dear. This makes technologically superior sensors indispensable.
Sensors that may establish stress drops throughout air flow programs are a becoming instance. Stress fluctuations is usually a signal of soiled air filters and compromised indoor air high quality. By detecting these indicators in actual time, sensors in KBS buildings are capable of provoke quick upkeep to resolve the difficulty.
Detecting water leaks is one other means KBS is placing sensible sensors to the check. A sensor positioned in areas housing numerous constructing programs can ship textual content alerts to constructing engineers and safety personnel within the occasion of a leak — and even shut off the water when a leak is detected.
“Water financial savings has been of nice significance to us currently,” mentioned Jenkins. “By amassing and measuring system efficiency and standing with IoT-enabled sensor know-how, we will detect leaks in addition to handle the dangers of water harm. The truth is, we upgraded to those IoT-enabled sensors in one among our Atlanta buildings, and we’re wanting to see the outcomes.”
Making Connections
On the engagement and communication entrance, KBS has added cellphone boosters to buildings to bolster connectivity — notably in elevators, stairwells and different areas prone to dropped alerts.
“We’re actually centered on creating extra of a group within the workplace,” Jenkins mentioned. “Serving to folks keep related through their smartphones is only a small however essential piece of that puzzle.”
As well as, KBS is designing a brand new communications system that notifies tenants about constructing upkeep and different administrative issues; the knowledge is then displayed on screens positioned all through every property.
Additionally, wi-fi reservations programs for convention room bookings can match consumer necessities with room useful resource capabilities, together with group measurement and know-how units.
Furthermore, apps for property administration and tenant relations are being additional developed to incorporate digital work order programs that monitor developments, frequency and impression of repetitive tickets, due to this fact serving to to prioritize points based mostly on operational, monetary or occupant expertise standards.
Reaching Tenant Satisfaction Via Facilities and Expertise
Whereas it took a pandemic to persuade most workplace employees {that a} extremely superior air scrubbing system was one thing they might arguably want each bit as a lot as a handy place to get a fast café mocha, technological advances are offering instruments to make their total constructing expertise safer, cleaner, environment friendly and extra gratifying.
It solely follows that CRE managers want to remain a step forward of tenant wants, calls for and developments — whether or not it’s the addition of EV charging stations or the most recent and most revolutionary espresso outlets for his or her buildings. For instance, Chicago export Fairgrounds Espresso & Tea, a espresso store identified for its dazzling array of craft-roasted espresso beans, opened in 2022 at KBS’ Highland Park Place. Not your common espresso store, the Fairgrounds strives to seize a way of marvel, pleasure and discovery, making it one of many final Instagram-worthy cafés.
KBS is working tirelessly to make sure that the know-how of tomorrow is one thing tenants will get to expertise — and generally not often discover — right now.
Be taught extra by visiting KBS.com/Insights.
