The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) serves our members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities, and a sustainable environment. Smart building technology creates opportunities to enhance and innovate how we interact with, manage, and improve our built environment.
RIBA, with generous support of ScanTech Digital, Hoare Lea, Kier, and Glider Technology, is proud to have created the Smart Building Overlay to the 2020 RIBA Plan of Work.
Building intelligence is growing at a rapid rate as is the demand for smart, connected buildings. The Smart Building Overlay is therefore well placed as a resource for all built environment professionals, clients and end users, looking for guidance on how to incorporate smart building technology in any building typology within the framework of the RIBA Plan of Work.
The main objective of the Smart Building Overlay is to prompt discussions of smart building technology at each work stage to support timely decisions, so that the project aspirations articulated at the outset are delivered at completion. It encourages users to consider how the technology might support their desired project outcomes and helps them define ‘how smart’ they want their project to be.
This document therefore seeks to highlight the benefits of a smart building, introduce smart building terminology, and support timely decision-making throughout all work stages, while adhering to the existing RIBA Plan of Work framework.